A young blonde woman in a simple black dress stepped out of the taxi that stopped right in front of the five-star hotel entrance. Her hand gripped the small paper bag's strap tightly. Her eyes were moist, and her nose was red, with traces of tears still visible on her pale, beautiful skin. Everything was concealed behind dark sunglasses that masker part of her face.
Lieve exhaled heavily, rubbing her stomach, which had begun to swell. She put on a pair of sunglasses and entered the luxurious building with determined steps. Her goal was one, to fight for a life that was so precious to her.
Inside, the prominent Cornell family, a respected conglomerate, was holding a wedding for their firstborn son, Hazard. The man stood tall beside his parents, wearing a custom-made black suit that radiated the charisma of a distinguished family heir. A faint smile graced his face as he greeted important guests.
Rows of guests in luxurious attire began to crowd the area outside the five-star hotel's ballroom. Reporters from various media outlets were also present, busy capturing the major moment of two multinational company heirs uniting.
Then, a commotion in the distance made every head turn. A woman, clearly pregnant, broke through the line of guards. Two men in neat uniforms tried to restrain her, but her high-pitched voice brought the atmosphere to a hush.
"You can't do this to me, Hazard! After everything we've been through?! You think I'll just stand by and watch you marry that woman?!"
Hazard frowned. He turned his head toward the woman. He had no memory of her—not her voice, her face, or her appearance. He raised his hand, gesturing for the guards to back off.
The woman immediately moved forward, her steps faltering yet full of determination. Some guests began to whisper among themselves, cameras were raised, and reporters started recording with enthusiastic faces. The scent of scandal hung thick in the air.
She stopped right in front of Hazard, staring at him with an expression no one could read.
"How could you do this to me?" she asked softly, but it was clear enough for everyone present to hear. "I sacrificed everything for you, Hazard...."
Hazard watched her in silence. His face remained flat, but his shoulders tensed. Lieve took something out of the paper bag in her hand.
"Look at this, Hazard Alaric Cornell! This is our child!!" she yelled, throwing the ultrasound photo at the handsome man's face. The photo sailed and fell in front of Hazard's polished shoe.
"After you asked me to get two abortions, you think I'd let you marry another woman?!" Lieve continued in a hoarse voice.
The crowd began to buzz. Some guests looked at Hazard with disgust. Unpleasant murmurs started to spread.
"Oh my God! I heard some rumors about him, I never thought they were true..."
"The first son of the Cornell family, it's true, isn't it—he can't keep his pants on."
"A scandal on his own wedding day? That's crazy ...."
Hazard's gaze immediately pierced one of the commenting guests. A vein in his jaw tensed. He then turned sharply toward Lieve with a murderous glare. His pride had cracked, almost shattered.
In one swift motion, he grabbed Lieve's arm. "Who sent you to ruin my wedding?" he asked in a low voice, more like a cold, sharp hiss, but enough to make one's skin crawl.
His face moved closer. His hand rose, intending to remove the sunglasses that covered part of Lieve's face.
Lieve seemed to falter, but she kept trying to break free. Several reporters tried to get closer to capture the moment.
Just then, a drink cart was pushed past them. In one quick motion, Lieve grabbed a glass of sparkling wine from the cart and splashed it right into Hazard's face.
Startled, Hazard immediately released his grip. The liquid soaked his face and the front of his tuxedo. Some guests gasped quietly, and others immediately took photos. Camera flashes flickered.
Lieve smiled subtly and ran away from the scene. Hazard was about to give chase, but a loud voice stopped him.
"Hazard!" Mr. Cornell called, his voice booming.
Hazard turned. His mother looked on the verge of fainting, supported by a loyal attendant. Meanwhile, his father's face was beet-red. "What is all this?! Is that woman really carrying your child?!"
Hazard didn't have time to answer. An assistant whispered urgently into Mr. Cornell's ear. The old man's face grew even darker.
"Savana has heard the commotion and has now called off the wedding. Are you happy now that you've shamed the family name?!"
**
Lieve looked left and right in a panic as she jogged toward the parking area. The loose maternity dress she wore flapped in the afternoon breeze. A few people looked, but didn't truly recognize her. She quickly made her way to a white SUV parked somewhat hidden on the west side of the hotel.
Without hesitation, Lieve opened the passenger door and got in. As soon as the door closed, she took a long breath and removed the sunglasses, the fake baby bump, and the blonde wig that had been concealing her true identity. Her jet-black hair fell perfectly, touching her slender shoulders.
In the driver's seat sat a woman in an expensive mermaid-style wedding gown, a striking contrast to her relaxed expression. Savana Greys, the bride-to-be who was supposed to walk down the aisle today, was sipping a matcha latte while scrolling through her phone as if nothing had happened outside.
"You're crazy this time, Savana! Absolutely crazy!" Lieve cursed, staring at her best friend with wide, disbelieving eyes.
Savana just glanced at her, then laughed innocently. "You said you wanted to help me call off this damn wedding, didn't you?"
"Yes! But not with... with... drama this insane!" Lieve massaged the space between her eyebrows, frustrated. For some reason, she was starting to get scared when she remembered the way Hazard had looked at her.
Savana took another sip of her matcha latte before speaking. "Come on, Lieve. I entrusted my honor to you. And look at the result—perfect."
"You had me pretend to be a pregnant woman and yell at a man I've never even touched—in front of his family, important guests, and reporters! I could be in the news tomorrow morning!" Lieve scoffed.
"And he could be in hell," Savana interjected quickly. She grinned, turning her phone so Lieve could see the screen displaying the trending topics from the recent incident. Their masterpiece. "Did you see Hazard's face? Priceless."
"You should have been an actress, you know?" Lieve muttered.
"I know. But who'd want to spend their life with a guy who only eats, parties, gambles, and plays with whores?"
"We're going to get sued."
"I'll treat you to a steak in Santorini if we get away with it."
They stared at each other for a moment before laughing quietly, as if the chaos that had just unfolded was nothing more than a small joke between two friends.
"Now, let's go before his family sends lawyers after us."
Savana immediately stepped on the gas, and the gleaming white car sped away from the hotel parking lot—leaving behind a chaotic ballroom, and one vengeful man who would not stay silent.
**