Draped in an elegant white dress, adorned with a shimmering diamond necklace, I embody Ronald's vision of an ideal bride. Yet, as I stand before the mirror, there is nothing about the reflection staring back at me that I can claim as my own. The weight of expectation suffocates me, pressing down like an iron grip. My own eyes betray me, shimmering with unshed tears, the only genuine thing left in me.
Ronald desires me to be ready, and so I am. He wishes for me to embrace the grandeur of high society, yet he belongs elsewhere—with Laura. It is time. Today, I will demand that he choose—between me and his mother. But deep down, I already know his answer. That certainty is the very reason I instructed Theo to prepare the plane.
What is he doing to me, and why? The answer lingers all around me, yet the question remains unanswered. My chest tightens as I squeeze my eyes shut, allowing the first tear to escape down my cheek. I have watched everything unfold on social media, every post, every whispered rumor. But today, I need to hear the truth from his lips.
"Miss Rose, the plane is ready. We are awaiting your orders."
The voice snaps me out of my turmoil. I step out of the room, my fingers tightening around the engagement ring nestled in my palm. Its weight feels oppressive, as though it is anchoring me to a fate I never chose. This day will mark my commitment, a reluctant surrender to marriage as Laura desires. It is also the day I lose my husband. But this time, I will fight—not for love, but for myself.
I take a deep breath and walk forward, the polished floor beneath my heels clicking softly with each determined step.
"Hey."
Ronald turns to face me, and the sight of him steals my breath. My eyes glisten with unshed tears as I take in his impeccable form. How can someone so cruel possess such devastating beauty?
"You are gorgeous, Rose."
The words should warm me, but instead, they sear my skin like fire. He has not addressed me as his wife—not once today. Why? A hollow smile stretches across my lips as I let myself fall for him one last time.
"You're not looking bad yourself."
He stands before me in a tailored tuxedo, the brooch I once gifted him pinned neatly in place. His emerald eyes gleam under the evening lights, his strong jaw accentuated by the dim glow. He has taken the time to fix his hair today.
"Mr. Ronald, where do you want me?"
His fingers entwine with mine as he leads the way. The entire path is adorned with roses and candles, a spectacle meant to impress. I can only wonder how many facades are buried beneath this meticulously planned display. How foolishly extravagant everything seems. The overwhelming scent of flowers clogs my senses, making it difficult to breathe.
"This is all for you."
His voice carries a forced warmth, yet the sky betrays him. The weather mirrors my heart—dark and unsettled. I had hoped for the rain to cease, but it persists, a cruel reminder of the past. Each raindrop erases the fleeting traces of happiness I once held.
"Do not worry. It will be over soon."
Yes, it will. Soon.
His laughter rings hollow, an echo of pretense. We have reached the precipice of our story, the final chapter. But we are not alone. My breath hitches as my gaze lands on her.
Laura.
She is already seated at our table, a glass of wine poised elegantly in her grasp. A queen awaiting the demise of her opponent.
"Mom! What are you doing here?" Ronald's voice is laced with confusion, his grip on my hand faltering. I can already feel the distance settling between us, as inevitable as the storm above.
"Rose, please wait! Give me a—"
"She invited me here." My voice is firm, unwavering.
Ronald's expression shifts into one of pure disbelief as he turns to me. The hands that once held mine are now empty. I let them go willingly. This is the moment I have been waiting for—the moment of truth.
"Rose!"
"Let's end this charade."
I extend my fist toward him, my fingers slowly unfurling. The engagement ring glistens in my palm, its brilliance mocking me. Ronald's face pales, his features betraying a flicker of fear. Are you afraid, Ronald? You should be.
"Finally, her senses have returned." Laura's voice slithers into the air, laced with triumphant venom.
I hold my ground, my gaze locked onto Ronald's. "I have only one question for you. What does this mean? Speak now."
"Rose, it's not—"
"Don't you dare!" My words cut through the tension like a blade, sharp and unforgiving.
Laura's laughter follows, cold and merciless. "I told Ronald everything. It is time to end this filthy little game. What were you thinking, hmm? That he was yours? That he loved you?" She leans back in her chair, her smirk widening. "You poor, foolish girl. It was our plan all along. Every moment he spent with you was a carefully crafted lie."
The ring in my palm suddenly feels unbearably heavy. My fingers tremble as it slips from my grasp, falling to the floor with a deafening clink.
"No… it…"
"Is it mere coincidence that you're standing here in this office? No, it is a meticulously orchestrated plan. On Christmas, I saw you, working in a restaurant, a poor girl struggling to make ends meet. I never revealed this to Ronald, but that moment was intentional. You walked right into our trap. Ronald and I agreed—exact revenge upon you, but not in a simple, straightforward manner. The deepest agony is not in mere betrayal; it is in being deceived by love, in having your emotions manipulated by someone you cherish.
I can neither hear nor comprehend fully. His presence chills me, fear tightening around my throat like an invisible vice. Is he toying with me? He has played his role exceptionally well until now.
"No! Is this your plan? The nights..." I whisper, my voice barely audible, trembling with the realization of it all.
"There was someone before you," she replies indifferently. "You are nothing more than a fleeting amusement to him. He has had his fill. You are free to leave."
My gaze shifts to Ronald, searching his face, hoping for an inkling of the man I once loved. His eyes, burning with anger, glare back at me, filled with betrayal. He despises me so much that he has willingly used me as nothing more than a pawn in his twisted game.
"Ron..." I barely manage his name, my throat closing with emotion.
"Fine," he says coldly, his tone like shards of ice cutting into me. "Let's end this charade here and now. I want you to feel what you did to me years ago. Feel the anguish, the torment. You killed me that day, and now, look at me—I am nothing."
His words stab into my heart deeper than any blade could. He has slain me without ever laying a hand on me. How could he weave such a cruel game without even knowing why I did what I did? Yet, through the sheer pain of it, laughter bubbles up within me. I cannot help but find this suffering amusing in some twisted way.
"How foolish am I?" I say, my voice laced with mockery at my own naivety. "I believed you loved me. Every moment we spent together, I cherished. Your promises—"
"It was all a lie," Laura interrupts, her voice cutting through the air like a whip. But his eyes—they betray him. His body, his expression—none of it aligns with his words. I shiver, recalling our nights together, the intimacy we shared. Suddenly, I feel exposed, bare before him. Wrapping my arms around myself, I take a step back, shaking my head, desperately trying to deny the truth I now see.
"Okay, fine. You used me for your pleasure," I continue, my voice growing stronger despite the tremor in my heart. "But why marriage?"
He looks away, unable to meet my gaze. "Look at me," I demand, my voice breaking slightly. "Tell me that you were only playing with me for revenge. Tell me it meant nothing. Then why is your fist clenched as if you are ready for battle? Why are your eyes brimming with unshed tears?"
Laura chuckles softly, a malicious smile playing on her lips. "It was all a coincidence," she muses. "But I did advise him to extend the act for additional amusement. He performed brilliantly, didn't he? He is my son, after all. He never disappoints me. Well, in two weeks, he will be marrying Jenna. The arrangements have already begun, right after he proposed to her."
The words echo in my mind, but I cannot register them fully. There is only an endless ringing in my ears, the sound of my own devastation reverberating through my soul. This man before me—he is no longer my Ronald. My Ronald died years ago. The man standing here is nothing more than a stranger wearing his face.
A thousand tiny pinpricks dance along my skin, taunting me mercilessly.
"You play superbly. Even I believe you with closed eyes. But there is a difference between us. You have a cause for what you did to me today, but you are also responsible for what I did years ago. I'm hurt, and I'll never forget your play. You never told me how much you loved me, and now I understand why. But now you aren't worth it. My love has ended here."
The words fall from my lips like an irreversible decree, and his gaze meets mine. Tears glisten in his eyes. For a moment, I see the Ronald I once knew—a broken man, lost in his own pain. A beggar seeking solace in his grief. I see it for the last time before I turn away, my heavy palm reaching out to grab the brooch from his chest.
"Oh, wait! I have something for you."
Laura extends her hand, and in it—a check for one million dollars.
One million. The price of my love, my trust, my soul.
"One million for every night, every moment, every conversation. You have assigned a perfect value to me." I laugh bitterly, shaking my head. "You sold me, Ronald."
With that, I step out, the check clutched in my fingers like a cruel reminder of my worth in their eyes.
As I walk away, Theo, Krystal, and Neil are all standing in the hallway. Their eyes speak volumes. Krystal's gaze is heavy with sympathy. But why? What are they sorry for?
"Theo, I want to go now," I whisper.
No one protests. No one stops me.
I enter my room and change out of these clothes, shedding the remnants of this torment. There is nothing left for me here. I arrived empty-handed, yet I now carry the burden of memories that will haunt me forever.
"Miss Rose, we're ready," a voice calls softly.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what lies ahead.
"Then let's go," I say.
And with that, I walk away, leaving behind a world that was never truly mine to begin with.