Chapter 1
When we reached the ring exchange, Edward Carter's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen and answered it without hesitating, completely ignoring our wedding ceremony.
Lily Evans' voice came through the phone. "Uncle Edward, I slipped in the shower."
The moment I heard her voice, I knew Edward and I were finished.
*****
Lily's broken sobs came through Edward's lapel mic and instantly filled the entire venue. "What if something's wrong with the baby?" Her voice cracked. "Uncle Edward, I'm so scared. Can you come be with me?"
Edward's face changed, and he dropped the ring he was about to place on Nancy's finger. "Lily's in trouble," he said quickly. "I need to check on her."
The guests exchanged glances and stared at the scene in disbelief.
"Edward, today is our wedding day," Nancy said quietly.
The carefully chosen wedding ring clattered to the floor. Nancy forced a smile in front of all the guests and kept her voice steady. "Don't worry, I'll send someone to check on Lily."
"Lily only trusts me!" Edward snapped.
He frowned, and his voice turned sharp with impatience. "We can get married any day, but she's pregnant and has no one taking care of her. Can you handle it if something goes wrong?"
He stepped closer, and his tone grew harsher. "Nancy, I already promised I'd marry you and I will. Stop being unreasonable!"
His words echoed through the hall. Nancy's lips turned pale, and humiliation rose inside her, but she forced herself to stay calm. "Edward," she said softly, "this is the third time. We're live right now."
The first time, Edward made her wait at the venue all day. He wouldn't answer his phone, and finally called in the evening to say Lily had a high fever and they'd reschedule the wedding.
The second time, Nancy learned her lesson and contacted Edward early. But right before they walked down the aisle, Lily called, crying about stomach pain.
Nancy was left behind again while Edward rushed Lily to the hospital, where they discovered she was pregnant.
He was furious and demanded to know who the father was, but Lily only cried.
Edward couldn't bring himself to blame her. He frowned and said, "Nancy, Lily is a kid I raised. She's innocent and doesn't understand anything. Let's put the wedding on hold until she's stable."
Nancy agreed. She thought three times was the limit. The wedding had been postponed twice already, and both families finally pushed them to try again. To make up for the first two disasters, they made this one bigger and invited the media for a live broadcast.
She never thought the same person would ruin her wedding three times in a row.
"What?" Edward's eyes narrowed. "Are you threatening me?"
Humiliated in front of everyone and worried sick about Lily, Edward's temper snapped.
He practically shouted at her, "Nancy, are you that desperate to get married? Can't you wait a few more days? Lily's my niece, and you're supposed to be her elder, but you've always had it out for her.
"Now you're throwing a tantrum at a time like this? Are you really this petty? This jealous?"
His voice cut through the microphone and turned razor-sharp. "If it wasn't for this arranged marriage, you think I'd marry a stuttering mess like you?"
The sound pierced through the speakers and echoed across the venue.
The wedding of the century had just imploded, and the reporters weren't about to miss it. Camera flashes erupted in a blinding frenzy.
Nancy's ears rang, and her skin burned where it was exposed to the air. The atmosphere felt suffocating.
"Who the hell are you calling a stuttering mess!"
Amber Gold, still in her bridesmaid dress, charged forward and jabbed her finger at Edward's face. "What niece? You're not even related by blood! Who are you trying to fool? She pulls this crap every single time, Edward. Are you brain-dead? Can't you see what she's really after?"
Edward's face darkened, and rage flashed in his eyes. "Nancy! Control your friend's mouth!"
His voice thundered across the room. "If she keeps running it, I won't let her get away with it."
The venue descended into chaos. Amber's face flushed red with fury, and she looked ready to throw punches. Nancy stepped forward to stop Amber from doing something stupid, but Edward shoved her aside in his anger.
She hadn't seen it coming. Her heel caught on her dress, and she fell backward straight into the champagne tower below.
Glass shattered with a deafening crash. Champagne and shards exploded outward as guests screamed. Nancy hit the ground hard, and pain shot through her body. Blood soaked into her white wedding dress and created a horrifying scene.
Through her blurred vision, she watched Edward stride past her without breaking his pace and head for the exit.
Amber rushed over and frantically threw her own dress over Nancy's body to block the prying eyes and camera flashes. Her voice cracked as she screamed after him, "Edward, I hope you rot in hell!"