I pitied you

Carol’s hands tremble as she holds the prenup papers, her vision blurring as tears form in her eyes. 'Why is this happening now?'

She looks at Troy, hoping for some sign of warmth, some explanation that would make sense, but his face remains cold, detached, like the man she thought she knew is no longer standing in front of her.

**Sign it, and we’ll get married,** he signs and says, his voice flat, no love in his tone. **If not, I won’t risk my future.**

Risk his future? Carol’s heart pounds in her chest, the words swirling in her mind like a terrible storm.

'The future we were supposed to share? The life we were building together?'

Her fingers tremble as she picks up the pen. Her mind is screaming at her to stop, to ask more questions, but her heart… her heart still clings to the hope that this is just a mistake, something they can work through. Maybe he’s nervous. Maybe this is just about protecting himself, not about her, not about them.

Eunice’s voice cuts through her fog. **Don’t do this, Carol!** she signs urgently, stepping closer, her blue eyes blazing with anger and fear.

**You don’t need to sign anything for him. This is wrong. He’s making you sign this on your wedding day? Who does that?**

But Carol feels frozen, unable to move, unable to think. She looks back at Troy, her eyes pleading for some kind of explanation, for him to say something that will make all this make sense. But he only stares at her, waiting.

With shaking hands, Carol signs the papers. The pen feels heavy in her hand, each stroke of her name a piece of her heart being torn away. When she’s done, she pushes the papers toward Troy, her chest tight, her throat aching with the words she cannot say.

Troy grabs the papers quickly, his lips curving into a brief, satisfied smile. Without a word, he turns and walks out of the room, leaving her standing there, her heart shattered, her body numb.

What just happened?

Eunice rushes over to her, grabbing her shoulders. **Why did you do that?** she signs furiously. **Why did you let him make you sign that? Carol, this isn’t right. Something is off.**

Carol shakes her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. **I love him,** she signs back slowly. **We’re still getting married, right? This is just… a bump. We’ll get past it.**

But even as she signs the words, she doesn’t believe them.

Eunice sighs, her face full of frustration and worry. **Fine, let’s go. But I’m not leaving your side. Something doesn’t feel right.**

They walk toward the wedding venue, the soft click of Carol’s heels on the marble floor the only sound accompanying her as her world spins out of control. Her beautiful gown, the one she had so carefully chosen, now feels like a burden, weighing her down with every step.

'This is supposed to be the happiest day of my life. Why do I feel like I’m walking into a nightmare?'

As they near the venue, the soft hum of guests talking grows louder, but Carol can’t hear it. She can only feel the vibrations of movement in the air, the energy of the moment pressing in on her. She clutches the bouquet of lilies in her hands, her fingers digging into the delicate petals as she tries to calm her racing heart.

But when they reach the entrance to the venue, Eunice suddenly stops. Her face pales, her mouth falling open in shock.

Carol frowns, following her gaze toward the stage.

And there, standing at the altar where she’s supposed to be, is Troy.

But he’s not alone. He’s with another woman—a woman wearing the exact same wedding dress Carol is wearing, holding the same bouquet of lilies in her hands.

What… what is this?

Her breath catches in her throat, her chest tightening painfully as the scene unfolds in front of her. The priest is there, reading vows. Her vows.

Troy is holding the other woman’s hand, his face calm, almost serene, as if nothing is wrong, as if this is perfectly normal.

Eunice’s voice cuts through the air, her fury palpable. "What the hell is this?!" she screams, stepping forward, her voice rising above the shocked murmurs of the guests. "Troy, what are you doing?!"

Troy barely glances at her, his face still expressionless. “I’m marrying the woman I want to be with,” he says coldly, his hand tightening around the other woman’s.

Carol can’t move. She can’t breathe.

This isn’t happening. This can’t be real.

Her eyes lock onto the other woman—Isabelle, the woman Troy had once dismissed as nothing, a work colleague he barely tolerated. And yet, here she is, standing in Carol’s place, wearing Carol’s dress, holding Carol’s bouquet, taking what was supposed to be Carol’s life.

The priest’s voice echoes through the venue. “Is there anyone here who objects to this union?”

Eunice doesn’t hesitate. “I object! I object to this entire sham!” she screams, throwing her glass of wine toward Isabelle, the red liquid staining the pristine white dress. “You bastard, Troy! You ungrateful coward!”

Isabelle shrieks, clutching at her dress. “My wedding dress!” she cries, as if that’s the only thing that matters.

Carol steps forward, her body numb, her mind barely processing what’s happening. She looks at Troy, her hands trembling as she signs, **Why? Why are you doing this to me?**

Troy finally looks at her, his expression flat, emotionless. **I don’t owe you an explanation, Carol. I’m marrying Isabelle. She’s what I need.**

Need? Carol feels like the floor is crumbling beneath her.

After all these years, after all the love they shared, he’s choosing this woman over her? Over everything they had?

Her hands move rapidly, signing with desperation, **You made me sign those papers. You made me believe we were still getting married. Why?**

Troy shrugs, as if her pain means nothing. **The villa, Carol. That’s all I wanted. Now it’s mine, thanks to your signature. Isabelle and I will enjoy it together.**

Carol’s breath catches in her throat. **The villa. It was always about the villa.**

Her hands drop to her sides, limp and useless. She feels the tears streaming down her face, but she doesn’t wipe them away.

How could he do this to her?

Eunice, enraged, lunges toward Troy, fists flying, but Carol catches her arm, stopping her. **No,** she signs weakly. **He’s not worth it.**

Eunice glares at Troy, her chest heaving with anger. “You are scum," she spits. “You used her. You don’t deserve any happiness."

Troy smirks, wiping the wine from his face. **I’m not sorry, Carol. You were the fool who thought I loved you. I just pitied you. But now… I have everything I want. I don't need you. I don't even think anyone will marry you either**

"You son of Bitch!!!" Eunice screams at him, throwing some abrupt punches on his face, leading his nose to bleed. " Fuck you, You Jerk."