The church was silent, too silent.
Nora stood at the altar, her heart pounding as all eyes rested on her. Her white gown shimmered under the soft lights, her hands trembling slightly as she held her bouquet.
Today was supposed to be the happiest day of her life.
"Ethan," the priest said gently, "do you take Nora as your lawful wife?"
There was a pause, a long uncomfortable pause.
Nora's lips parted slightly, her breath catching as she turned to look at the man she loved.
But Ethan wasn't looking at her.
His expression was cold, Detached almost… annoyed.
"I don't."
The words fell like a bomb.
Gasps filled the church.
Nora froze.
"I don't want to marry her," Ethan continued, his voice calm but sharp. "She's not on my level. I made a mistake."
Her ears rang.
"What…?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Ethan finally looked at her, his eyes filled with something she had never seen before.
Disgust.
"You were just convenient, Nora," he said. "But I can't tie myself to someone like you."
Tears blurred her vision as murmurs spread across the crowd.
Her family.
His family.
Everyone watching.
Humiliation burned through her chest like fire.
"So this is it?" she asked, her voice breaking. "After everything?"
Ethan said nothing.
That silence was louder than anything.
Amara slowly nodded, her grip tightening on the bouquet before it slipped from her fingers and fell to the ground.
Her dream wedding.
Ruined.
Her love.
Destroyed.
But as she turned to walk away, something changed inside her.
Something cold.
Something dangerous.
This wasn't the end.
It was the beginning.