The Bride They Rejected

The cathedral buzzed with soft romantic instrumentals beneath the glowing chandeliers. I stood beside Maxwell before the altar, my veil falling over my shoulder as the priest finished the final word of the ceremony.

"Do you, Maxwell Carter, take Elena Jonathan to be your wife?"

"I do." His voice was smooth and confident.

The priest shifted his gaze to me. "And do you, Elena, take Maxwell Carter to be your husband?"

I felt my breath catch in my throat. I looked at the man standing in front of me, the one I had loved and imagined my future with. His hand held mine tightly, and his smile seemed practiced, as if he had rehearsed this moment a thousand times.

"I-" I paused, my heart racing as I slowly pulled my hand away. "No," I said softly. His smile disappeared, and whispers rippled through the crowd.

"Elena. Wh... What are you doing?" He stammered, but I remained calm; yesterday, I had still believed in that future, having been stupid enough to believe Maxwell Carter truly loved me.

My fingers curled at my sides as memories flooded back. Just hours ago, I stood in front of the mirror, the seamstress carefully pinning the last piece of lace around my waist.

The satin hugged my curves like it was made to tell my story. My reflection staring back at me was calm, elegant, and glowing.

Tomorrow, I would marry Maxwell; the name rolled in my mind like a gentle melody, carrying every dream I'd hidden between class notes and beneath my pillow since college.

"Wow. You are the most beautiful bride I've ever seen," a voice said behind me. I blinked as I turned to see Anne, my stepsister, leaning against a wall with a mischievous smile.

"Don't flatter me, baby girl," I teased, trying to hide how much the compliment warmed me. "Do I really look that beautiful?"

"You look like the kind of bride that makes every fairy jealous; Max is going to faint when he sees you," Anne replied, and we both smiled as she strode towards me, studying my dress carefully. There was a flicker in her eyes-something unreadable, but it disappeared before I could grasp it.

"Hey, Sis, I'm going to check if the cake is ready," she said, snapping me from my thoughts. I nodded as she waved and headed for the door.

I sat on the edge of my bed, overwhelmed with excitement for the next day when I would start my life with Max. Unable to contain my excitement, I decided to surprise Maxwell. Though it was raining, drumming like a thousand beats. But I didn't mind; it would only make it romantic.

I grabbed my car key and tiptoed downstairs, the house still buzzing with preparation. I slipped into my car and called him on the way, but he didn't answer. At the time, I thought nothing of it.

A few minutes later, I got to Maxwell's house. A wild smile spread across my lips as I imagined him flinging the door open and pulling me into a fierce, breathless hug.

I put on my Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, eager to record the very last happy memory before we became husband and wife.

I strolled majestically towards Maxwell's room. The moment I reached for the doorknob, my hand froze at the voice that spoke faintly behind the door.

The recognition hit me hard: my stepsister? No, this can't be. I hesitated. Why was Anne here instead of the pastry shop? I could see the pieces of the puzzle fitting together, yet my foolish, hopeful heart desperately fought against the truth.

Maybe they were working on the wedding plans together. Yes. That had to be it. But before the comforting lie could settle in, a loud, feminine, and intimate laughter drifted across the room like a poison in the air.

Through the narrow gap of the unlatched door, the truth laid itself bare.

"You needed to hear her earlier," Anne said, followed by a soft giggle that made me freeze. She was half naked, lying beside Maxwell on the bed while her head rested on his chest. My eyes burned with anger, brimming with tears.

My mind violently rejected the imagery. Because if this were real, then every smile, every promise, and every single time Maxwell had looked into my eyes and promised forever was nothing but a calculated lie.

My heart raced as I stood there, torn between anger and despair. I wanted to burst through the door and shout at them, to end this wedding before it even began.

But my family adored Maxwell; to them, he was the perfect future they had chosen for me and would never believe Anne could betray me like this. Without evidence, canceling this wedding would be blamed entirely on me.

I clenched my teeth as I fought back my tears. I looked down at the Meta glasses in my hand. the device that was supposed to capture Maxwel's first reaction and the romantic moment when he sees me. But now, it will record the proof that will destroy the life I have been dreaming about.

I quietly sneaked into the dark shadows of the doorway. I wanted to run, to disappear before they even saw me, but running will only let them decide how my story ends.

No.

If Maxwell wanted to destroy our wedding, he should live with the consequences. I wiped my tears and tapped the frame of the glasses to start recording. I carefully slid them onto a floating bookshelf facing directly toward the bed while they were too distracted to notice.

"It feels like an enchanting story, and I'm about to start having a fulfilling life after." Anne mimicked the exact same words I had told her earlier.

Maxwell let out a sharp, irritated scoff. As he spoke, the words sliced into me, and the tears I had been holding back finally spilled down my cheeks.

"She is so stupid," Maxwell sighed, his tone dripping with utter disdain. I never loved her, though. The only reason I'm doing this union is just to use her to build my company and power."

His response slammed into me; for a moment I forgot to breathe. Is this what he thought of me? Stupid, a fool, a stepping stone, not the woman he claims to love.

I couldn't believe the life I had dreamed about was a stepping stone for Maxwell; what should have been a quiet evening of excitement turned into unexpected heartbreak, igniting a fierce desire for revenge deep within me.

....................

Now, standing on the marble altar, my plan for revenge was coming to life.

The word "No" rang out in the quiet cathedral, clear and strong. He looked confused and shook his head.

"Elena," he whispered, his hand stretching out toward mine on the altar. Just as he opened his mouth to speak again, a loud crackle of static erupted from the church speakers as everyone turned.

The large screens positioned beside the altar flickered to life, casting a chilling video across the room, and a breathless gasp was heard.

The church went silent, watching the giant screen as a bedroom appeared on it. Maxwell stared, his eyebrow furrowed in confusion; Anne was on the screen, entangled with Maxwell the night before the wedding.

A woman near the front covered her mouth, followed by a whisper. "Oh my God."

Another guest stood halfway from his seat before slowly sitting back down.

The priest lowered his hands, his eyes widening in horror as he turned to Maxwell.

"No... this isn't true." Maxwell whispered as the footage continued, and his voice came through the speakers, describing how he wanted to use the wedding as a stepping stone, the words that made the truth impossible to deny.

Someone turned toward Anne; she stood frozen among the bridal party, her face white.

"Turn it off!" Maxwell suddenly shouted, but nobody moved. His eyes darted toward the back of the church, too late; everyone had already seen enough.

Maxwell spun around to face me, his eyes wide with disbelief. "W-What is happening? This can't be real!" His voice trembled, and I could see the fear creeping into his expression.

I stared at him, my soft resolve now replaced with a cold stare. I remained silent as I slowly lifted the veil from my face.

Even though seeing the video again broke something deep inside me, I remained calm, with no tears or trembling, and that frightened him more than anger could have.

I met his horrified stares, and a cold smile spread across my lips. I glance briefly at the screen before looking back into his eyes. My voice pierced through the silence. "This... is your true wedding gift."