Having already made up my mind to cancel the wedding, I knew I had to handle the hotel arrangements.
Without wasting a second, I jumped into my car and sped toward the banquet hall.
As I stepped inside, the venue was already alive with the glow of wedding decorations, the air thick with the kind of festive atmosphere that made it all feel sacred.
My gaze lifted to the stage at the front.
To my shock, Elliot was already there.
Dressed impeccably in a suit that seemed to have been tailored just for him, he stood like a prince from some long-forgotten fairy tale.
Beside him stood Tessa, clad in a wedding dress.
Seeing them together felt like the weight of a thousand stones crushing my chest.
The moment Elliot saw me, his face twisted with contempt. “What are you doing here?”
I froze for a second before forcing a bitter smile. “You're right. I shouldn’t have come to disturb you.”
I turned to leave, but just as I did, Tessa burst into tears.
“Leah, are you blaming me?” she sobbed.
“I just wanted to experience what it felt like to marry Elliot.”
“Even if it’s fake... even if it lasts only a day, I could die with no regrets.”
Elliot rushed to her side, holding her tightly. His voice shook with distress.
“Tessa, don’t say that. You have to live; you have to live well.”
Tessa buried herself in his embrace, her tear-filled eyes meeting mine.
"Leah, can I be Elliot’s bride today?" she asked, her voice trembling.
I barely looked at her as I replied, "You can. You can be his bride every day from now on."
"I’ve broken up with Elliot. You two can get married."
"I spent 200,000 dollars decorating this wedding. Just send me the money."
"Elliot is yours now. So is this wedding."
I thought those words would be enough to silence her, that she would finally find peace.
But to my surprise, Tessa cried even harder. "Leah, I know you're mocking me."
"But I just want to have Elliot for one day. One day is all I ask."
"Leah, please, can you give us your blessing?"
"Just pity me and lie to me, even if it’s a lie."
I rolled my eyes and turned, walking away.
But before I could escape, Elliot’s hand shot out, grabbing my arm.
His expression was dark, his eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite read.
He snatched a shopping bag from the floor and shoved it into my hands.
"Put this on," he ordered.
I opened it and found a bridesmaid dress inside, its fabric mockingly elegant.
Suppressing the rising tide of anger, I looked at him coldly. "Sorry, I’m not interested in playing along with your little game."
Without warning, he shoved me hard, forcing me into a corner.
He growled in my ear, his breath hot against my skin.
"Leah, Tessa is already begging you. Why are you still pretending?"
His words dripped with contempt. "Are you really going to push her into another depressive episode? To the point where she might harm herself?"
"How can you be so heartless?"
"I'm warning you, put on that bridesmaid dress, give her your blessing and help her recover."
I wrenched my arm from his grip, my chest tightening.
"So being sick gives her the right to hurt others?"
"Elliot, we’re done. We’re not bound to each other anymore. Don’t touch me."
"I wish you both a lifetime of happiness. Goodbye."
The finality in my voice echoed between us as I turned away, feeling the weight of his eyes burning into my back.
Like an enraged lion, Elliot lunged at me, his grip tightening around my throat.
"Leah, if you walk out that door today, you’ll be condemning Tessa to her death."
"I won’t let that happen."
"You’re going to be the bridesmaid today, whether you like it or not."
He shot a cold, commanding glance at the attendants. "Ten thousand dollars each. Get her into the dress."
Greed gleamed in their eyes as they grabbed me, pulling me into the dressing room and forcing the bridesmaid dress over my body.
Tessa stood nearby, her smile like that of a triumphant queen. She dipped her head slightly, her voice dripping with saccharine sweetness. "Leah, thank you. Your blessing makes me so much happier."
But Elliot, his voice thick with disdain, sneered. "Tessa, why are you thanking her? This is what she owes you."
