Chapter 1 — The Wedding That Wasn't Meant to Be
The chandeliers of Elysian Hall shimmered like falling stars, casting their glow on hundreds of polished faces. The grand piano hummed softly in the background, the melody almost too perfect — like the calm before a storm.
At the center of it all stood Elena Seo, dressed in an ivory gown that fit her like a whisper of silk and sorrow. Everyone said she was the luckiest woman in Silverwood City — the daughter of one of the most powerful families, about to marry her long-time love, Noah Han, the charming heir of Arden Group.
But Elena's smile was made of glass.
Because deep down, she knew — this wedding wasn't built on love. It was built on lies.
Her mother, Madam Helena Seo, stood proudly at the front row, pretending everything was perfect. Her father, Chairman Victor Seo, greeted the guests with his usual cold smile — not a father's warmth, but a businessman's pride. Elena felt more like a showpiece than a bride.
As the ceremony began, the crowd turned to watch Noah. He was radiant, his smile effortless — the kind that once made her heart race. But today, something was wrong. His eyes weren't on her.
They were on Vivian Seo, Elena's younger sister.
Vivian stood beside the bridesmaids, her red lips curving in a smirk that only Elena noticed. It was small — a flicker of cruelty, gone in an instant — but it burned deeper than any wound.
The officiator's voice echoed:
"Do you, Noah Han, take Elena Seo to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
Noah hesitated for half a breath.Everyone thought it was nerves.Elena knew better.
He looked at her, then at Vivian again. "I do," he said — but the words felt hollow, like a contract signed in deceit.
The applause that followed was thunderous. Cameras flashed. Guests cheered. And as Elena turned toward her new husband, she caught Vivian whispering something to him when no one was watching.
That moment — that tiny betrayal in front of a hundred smiles — shattered the last piece of her faith.
Later that night, when the celebration ended, Elena stood alone in the bridal suite, staring at her reflection. The room smelled of roses and expensive perfume, but all she could feel was emptiness.
Her phone buzzed.A message.
From Noah.
"Don't wait up for me. I'll be late."
She closed her eyes, her heart trembling — not from surprise, but from the bitter confirmation of what she already knew.
Somewhere across the city, Noah was with Vivian.
Elena smiled faintly, the kind of smile that comes right before tears."Congratulations," she whispered to herself. "You've married into your own trap."
Outside, the rain began to fall — soft, cold, and merciless.Just like fate.