Chapter 5---Please Be An Officiant To Our Wedding
1071 Words
Chapter 5-----Please Be An Officiant To Our Wedding
I let out a bitter laugh, turning my gaze to the busy street to steady myself before looking back at him with icy disdain. "Theodore, I don't run a recycling center for trash. No matter how much I loved you before, no matter what I sacrificed for you—the moment you betrayed me, you lost any right to my love."
I started to walk away but couldn't resist one last jab, spinning back to point at him. "Even if every other man on earth dropped dead tomorrow, I wouldn’t spare you a single glance. You disgust me."
Something in my tone must have finally pierced his delusion. He lunged forward, grabbing my arm in a desperate grip. "Ree, I do love you. These six years meant everything to me. But Alyssa is dying—she’s so pitiful, and this one small wish—"
"Let. Go."
"Ree, I swear, once Alyssa—"
SMACK.
I did not let him finish. My palm cracked across his other cheek, leaving his face perfectly, symmetrically ruined.
"Theodore, for the sake of every drop of blood I gave you—be a decent human being and never speak to me again."
This time, I walked away for good.
……
I did not announce the canceled wedding publicly. Only Grandma and Aunt Vanessa knew about it.
At nearly eighty, Grandma had weathered too much. She experienced the passing of Grandpa as well as my mother. Her health had been fragile for years. I thought the news would break her, but after a brief flare of anger, she cupped my face in her wrinkled hands. "Better to know his true colors now than after having children. You’re young, beautiful, and successful—there’s no rush to get married. Even if you never remarry, as long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters."
Aunt Vanessa later said to me, "Her eyesight might be failing, but her vision’s never been clearer."
Having watched my mother’s marriage destroy her, Grandma had long since seen through the lies of a cheating husband and their false promises.
Knowing that I have Grandma and Aunt Vanessa's support, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. I threw myself into work—now that the company was completely mine, I had even more reason to give it my all.
Just after my morning meeting, Birdie knocked on my office door. "Audrey, Mr. Nelson is here."
I froze. *Theodore?*
Before I could ask why, he appeared in the doorway. I waved Birdie off, and Theodore stepped inside.
"I’m picking Alyssa up from the hospital," he explained. "Thought I’d grab my things while I’m here."
He’d kept an office in the building, though he rarely used it. I didn’t even look up from my work.
Silence. Then, with a quiet click, the door closed behind him.
Thirty seconds later, I heard another knock on my door. Tt was Alyssa.
*What the hell does she want?* I thought.
"Theodore’s not here," I said flatly. "Try his office."
She stepped inside, shutting the door softly. "I came to see you, sis."
I stared at her, baffled—until it hit me.
"Let me guess," I said, leaning back in my chair. "There’s something else you want me to hand over?"
She had already taken my fiancé, my dress, my jewelry, even my wedding. What more could there be?
Alyssa drifted closer, her pallor ghostly, like a strong breeze might knock her over. Why wasn’t she in the hospital? Had she given up on treatment?
Then she dropped the bomb.
"I want you to be our officiant."
"Only if you publicly bless our union," she continued sweetly, "will the guests believe it’s all… amicable."
That short-circuited my brain.
"Alyssa, you—" My voice was pure ice. I stood, gripping the edge of my desk, every muscle coiled tight. "Are you stupid? Do you really think our friends and family will applaud instead of calling you out for what you are?"
If she didn’t look so frail, I might’ve given her a good, hard slap. This was beyond audacious.
Tears spilled down Alyssa’s cheeks. "Ree... you’ve always been better than me at everything. I admired you. I envied you. And now... I’m dying. I just want one happy memory—marrying Theodore. After I’m gone... he’ll still be yours. I can’t take him from you..."
I pointed to the door, hand trembling with rage. "Get. Out. Before I lose my temper."
"Please..." She rounded the desk, clutching my arm, her grip feverish. "I know I’ve hurt you. I’m sorry. Just this once—help me!"
"Let go." Her touch made my skin crawl.
"Ree, I’m begging—"
"I SAID LET GO!" I wrenched my arm free—
And Alyssa collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut, she crumpled. I reached out instinctively, but it was too late. She hit the ground hard.
And of course Theodore chose that very moment to walk in.
"Alyssa!" His face went white. He rushed forward, gathering her in his arms. "Where does it hurt? Talk to me—"
His panicked voice faded into static. I stood frozen, the explanation dying on my tongue.
The look he gave me said it all: Nothing I could say would matter.
Just as I expected, Theodore cradled Alyssa in his arms and turned to me with furious disbelief.
"Audrey! Do you have any idea how fragile she is right now? How could you lay hands on her? She's your sister, for God's sake!"
"Theodore, don't blame my sister... she didn't mean to..." Alyssa murmured weakly from his embrace, playing the martyr to perfection.
I let out a cold laugh, my expression utterly calm. "Just get out. If she dies here, it'll bring bad luck to my company."
Theodore's eyes widened—clearly shocked by my callous words.
"I don't even recognize you anymore!" he spat. "I'm the one who wronged you, so why are you taking it out on a dying girl? Have you no conscience?"
I smiled sharply. "You're the backstabbing ingrate here. If you're not afraid of karma, why should I be?"
Before Theodore could retort, Alyssa let out a pained moan. "Theodore... it hurts..."
He looked down to see blood at the corner of her lips and panicked. "Hang in there, Alyssa! I'm taking you to the hospital now! You’ll be alright"
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