Chapter 2

The door to the suite burst open with a loud crash, and Ryan stormed in, his face hard and unreadable. Behind him, Melissa sauntered in, a smug smile playing on her lips.

"Sarah," Ryan said, his voice cold and devoid of any warmth. "I think it's time we had a chat."

My heart pounded in my chest, and I clenched my fists at my sides. "Ryan, what's going on? What is this?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he stepped aside, letting Melissa come forward. She looked at me with a mixture of triumph and disdain, her gaze raking over my wedding dress.

"Oh, Sarah," she said, her voice dripping with false pity. "This is such a shame. You look so... pathetic."

Before I could react, she reached out and grabbed a handful of my hair, yanking my head back. I gasped, my eyes wide with shock and pain.

"What the hell are you doing?" I demanded, trying to pull away from her.

Melissa tightened her grip, her nails digging into my scalp. "You ruined my life, Sarah," she hissed, her voice low and venomous. "And now, you're going to pay for it."

With a swift movement, she tore at the delicate fabric of my dress, the sound of ripping material echoing in the room. I stumbled, the pain in my scalp mingling with the shock of her attack.

I shoved her hard, pushing her away from me. "Stop it!" I screamed, my voice hoarse with anger and fear.

But Melissa went limp, collapsing to the floor with a wail. "Oh, Ryan, she's hurting me!" she cried, her eyes filling with crocodile tears. "She's always been so violent."

I stared at her in disbelief, my mind reeling. This was insane. "Ryan, she's lying," I said, turning to him, but he just stood there, his expression impassive.

"Take her away," he said coldly, gesturing to the security guards who had been waiting outside the door. "She's causing a scene."

The guards moved forward, grabbing my arms and hauling me toward the door. I struggled against them, my heels digging into the carpet.

"This is insane!" I shouted. "Ryan, you can't do this! This is my wedding!"

But he just turned away, his eyes filled with a cold satisfaction that chilled me to the bone. As they dragged me out of the suite, I caught a glimpse of Melissa smirking at me, a triumphant glint in her eye.

They hauled me through the back corridors of the hotel, the staff and catering crew watching with a mixture of shock and curiosity. I could hear the whispers following me, the sound of camera phones clicking as they took pictures.

"Look at her, she's such a mess."

"What happened to her dress?"

"I heard she went crazy and attacked the groom."

The words cut through me like knives, each one twisting deeper into my heart. I felt like I was trapped in a nightmare, unable to wake up.

They finally shoved me out into the bright sunlight, the cool air hitting me like a slap in the face. I blinked, disoriented, and stumbled down the steps.

A taxi cab pulled up to the curb, and the driver looked at me with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "Miss, are you okay?"

I shook my head, unable to speak. I just collapsed into the back seat, my body shaking with sobs. The driver handed me a box of tissues, his eyes filled with sympathy.

"Where to, miss?" he asked gently.

I took a deep breath, trying to pull myself together. "Just... just drive," I said, my voice shaking. "Anywhere."

He nodded, and the cab pulled away from the curb. I leaned my head back against the seat, tears streaming down my face. My phone buzzed in my purse, and I pulled it out, seeing a string of missed calls from my mother.

But there was one number that made my heart skip a beat - James. My childhood friend, the one who had always been there for me. I hesitated for a moment, then dialed his number.

It rang several times before he picked up, his voice groggy. "Sarah? Is everything okay?"

I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. "James... I need you."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and then his voice was alert, filled with concern. "What's happened? Tell me where you are."

I took a deep breath, the words pouring out of me in a rush. "I'm in a cab. I don't know where I'm going. Ryan... he betrayed me. He married Melissa. I don't know what to do."

There was another pause, and then James's voice came through, firm and resolute. "I'm coming. I'll be on the next flight out. Just stay safe, okay? I'll be there as soon as I can."

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. "Okay," I whispered, the tears starting to fall again. "Hurry."