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Diane’s palm instantly blistered as if scorched by fire. She shrieked and flung the champagne glass from her hand. The boiling liquid splashed across her delicate gauze skirt, and the powder I had rubbed on her skin began to react.”
A piercing scream tore through the hall.
In seconds, she dropped to the floor, writhing in agony. “Help! Help me! Andrew, save me!“}
Her screams echoed through the grand banquet hall. Guests gasped and rushed over, trying to make sense of the chaos.
Andrew darted forward and caught her in his arms. “Diane! What’s wrong?! What’s happening?!“}
Diane couldn’t speak–she was clawing at her dress, her face contorted in pain. When she tore it open, the fine fabric shredded under her nails, and her body was exposed to the crowd. Angry red burns marred her skin, horrific and unmistakable.
Flashes lit up the room as the reporters pounced, capturing every grotesque second.}
Andrew quickly shed his jacket and tried to shield her from the cameras, but she was in so much agony she thrashed wildly, shoving him
away.
“It hurts! Andrew, it’s burning–save me, please!“}
“I’m calling the doctor! Hang on!“}
The Weber Family’s private physician arrived moments later. After a brief examination, his face darkened.
“She’s been exposed to formazan strong acid powder. It reacts violently when activated by heat. Someone must have laced her dress or body with it.”
Diane writhed on the floor, tearing at her gown, her screams shrill and unrelenting. The scene was pure chaos.
I stood quietly to the side, my expression calm, watching the fate that had nearly been mine unfold in full view of the city’s elite.”
Then, as expected, her loyal friend stormed toward me, eyes blazing. “You! It was you! You did this to Diane!“}
Andrew turned to me sharply, his voice cold. “Was it you?“}
Of course. Just like always, he didn’t need evidence. If Diane pointed a finger, he followed.
I stepped back, feigning fear. “But… I only took the glass from Miss Knight’s table. She was the one who gave it to me first. When she spilled it on me, I didn’t feel anything.“}
The murmurs started at once.
“I saw her take the glass from Diane’s seat too.”
“If the water burned Lin but not Geneva, maybe…“}
“Could it have been Diane who…”
“Enough!” Andrew snapped, his face like ice. “I’ve always known you were jealous of Diane. For years, I’ve treated you too well. Even now, you still don’t understand–you were always just a stand–in.“}
The room fell into stunned silence.}
With just one sentence, he erased every shred of dignity I had left in the eyes of the crowd.
The tide turned instantly.
“I knew Geneva had bad intentions. She’s been pretending this whole time.”
“She attacked a blind woman! How despicable!“}
“Sir Andrew, punish her! Break her legs! She has to learn her place!”
The guests jeered with righteous fury. Andrew’s bodyguards began advancing toward me.
And then–clap, clap, clap.
The sharp sound echoed like gunshots across the room.
“What a thrilling wedding,” came a mocking voice. “When did the bride ‘get replaced with a writhing caterpillar?“>
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Wendell was the first to bark: “Who dares to be so insolent at the Weber Family’s wedding?!“}
All eyes turned to the entrance.
There, under the crystal chandelier, stood Marco, dressed in black, a wry grin tugging at his lips. He looked like a man here not to attend- but to destroy.
“That’s Marco! The same one who rose to rival the Weber Family in just five years!“}
“What’s he doing here? Hasn’t he always been at odds with Andrew?“}
Andrew’s face darkened. “I don’t recall inviting you.”
Marco strode confidently to the stage, stopping beside me. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arm around me.”
“Sorry to interrupt,” he said coolly. “I’m here to steal the bride.“}
From the comer of the hall, Dr. White clenched his fists silently.”
I brushed Marco’s hand away and gave him a cold glance.
“I agreed to marry Andrew. That makes me a part of the Weber Family. You and I… have nothing to do with each other.“} Marco’s smile faltered for the first time. He studied my face carefully, trying to read me.”
12:17 PM
“You’re really going to marry him?” he asked, voice low.
No message had come from Leander. No mental health certificate to save me from this union. I had no choice but to continue the performance.
I turned to Andrew, eyes wide with false vulnerability. “Andrew, I won’t go with him. I’ll be yours… for the rest of my life.“}
The same pitiful obedience I had shown him ten years ago. A posture everyone in the room had grown used to.
Andrew looked at Marco triumphantly.
“See?” he said. “She won’t leave me. No matter what I do, she’ll always crawl back like a loyal dog. Do you believe me now?“>
He turned and walked toward me, the crowd parting as he passed.
“If you’ve hurt Diane,” he said, “you’ll pay for it. Now, kneel down. Apologize.“}
Marco stood frozen, his expression unreadable.
In front of the entire banquet hall, dressed in white lace and a plastic–lined wedding gown, I slowly lowered myself to my knees before Diane.&
12:17 PM
