“You’re… Thomas?”
Before I could answer, Lary jumped in. “Thomas, I think you’re forgetting your place. What kind of tone is that to use with my wife?”
The old classmates chimed in to support him. “Comparing Ms. Isabella to a dog? I think you’re the dog here.”
“Thomas, Ms. Isabella is offering you ten grand. Take the money and get lost. Stop making a scene.”
Yeah, how dare you insult her? If it weren’t for Lary’s wedding, you’d never even get to be in the same room as a goddess like Ms.
Isabella!”
I ignored their jeers, my gaze locked on Isabella’s eyes.
“Isabella, I didn’t know today was your wedding day.”
“Congratulations.”
The two words were forced through my clenched teeth, each one dripping with the ice of my shattered heart.
Realizing her game was up, the color drained from Isabella’s face. “Thomas, you… you have to let me explain…”
Lary froze, turning to look at her in disbelief. “Bella?”
“What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you’re scared of this loser?” He shot me another venomous glare. “Damn it, you piece of trash, you
scared my wife! I’m going to finish you right now!”
Just as Lary raised his foot to kick me, Isabella moved faster. She threw herself in front of me, shoving him so hard he stumbled
and fell.
“Bella?”
“What’s wrong with you? Why are you acting so weird?” Lary’s forehead was beaded with sweat, his brow furrowed in confusion.
“Don’t tell me… you actually fell for this loser?!” he shrieked, scrambling to his feet and grabbing Isabella’s shoulders.
I watched their little drama unfold, a silent, cold observer. The classmates were just as confused, their heads swiveling back and
forth between me and Isabella.
“No way, right? What does this loser have that Lary doesn’t? How could Ms. Isabella possibly be interested in him?”
“Maybe it’s an act? To mess with him? She’s about to drop a bomb and put him in his place.”
“I get it. She’s just trying to protect Lary’s reputation. She doesn’t want to make a big scene on their wedding day.”
The gossip flew thick and fast.
Seeing Isabella remain silent, Lary grew frantic. “Bella, I’m your husband! We can pretend this never happened, that you were just
messing around with him, but you can’t have real feelings for him! You can’t!” He shook her harder.
“Get off me!”
2014
Chapter 2
20 14 廈
Isabella ripped her hands free from his grasp. Her voice, trembling with either fear or rage, cut through the air.
The single command silenced everyone, including Lary.
No one could comprehend her sudden outburst.
But what truly stunned them into silence was what she did next. Isabella dropped to her knees beside me, gently and carefully wiping the blood from my face with the sleeve of her pristine wedding dress. Tears welled up in her eyes.
“Honey,” she sobbed, “I was wrong. Please, just let me explain!”
9
sem
Isabella’s sudden, desperate plea was so shocking it nearly made jaws hit the floor.
No one could process what was happening. Lary stumbled backward, his face a mask of horror.
“Did I hear that right?”
“Ms. Isabella… called that loser… honey?”
“Wait, hold on. Let me get this straight. What the hell is going on?!”
The classmates, finally snapping out of their stupor, all turned to stare at Lary.
His lips trembled, his face paler than paper. He collapsed to the ground. “Bella…”
“No… this isn’t real!”
“Why are you apologizing to him? He’s trying to ruin our wedding! Why are you apologizing to him?” Lary supported himself with his
hands, shaking his head violently, refusing to accept reality.
“You told me you loved me! You gave me gifts, you took me on your yacht! We were supposed to get our marriage license today!
Why are you calling him honey?”
“No, this isn’t happening! Isabella, tell me this isn’t happening!” Lary was hysterical, the veins in his forehead bulging.
Isabella turned, her gaze now icy cold. “Shut your mouth!”
“Lary Hansen, I was just playing a game with you. The only man I have ever truly loved is Thomas.”
“Do you hear me? My heart will always belong to Thomas!”
Her words were sharp and clear, aimed directly at me, a desperate, fawning performance.
But I knew the truth. Her heart had no room for me. She was just terrified that the life of luxury I had given her was about to be
snatched away.
“Honey, I was just toying with him, I swear. With you by my side, how could I ever look at someone like him?” Isabella turned back to me, her voice now a saccharine purr, trying the same old tricks she thought still worked on me.
Lary looked as if he’d been struck by lightning. He was utterly broken.
“Is that so?” I sneered, pushing her away and slowly, painfully, getting to my feet.
“So tell me. When did you start planning all this? When did you first orchestrate this scheme to get
