Replaced Bride, Vengeful Heart

newal, a key PR event for my hu

g-induced haze, I found him a

ring my wed

lid the ring he'd given me onto her fin

d me because she was "unwell" and needed the ceremony. He called me a useless ho

sacrifices had built his empire, and he trie

rce, he showed up feigning amnesia from a car accident, c

games. I decided t

pte

e perfume in the bridal suite. It was supposed to be my vow renewal, the grand spectacle

the edges of my vision blurring. I' d had one glass of

he had said, his smile as bright an

ce of my wedding dress, the one I' d spent months designing, felt alien on

was Faith Dudley, her face a mask of triumphan

the officiant' s voice beginning the ceremony. A wave of nausea washed over me as t

d the main hall. Below, under a canopy of white roses I had chosen, Angel stood beaming at Faith. He slid a ring onto her finger, the same one he

spectacle, and I

press had their photos, until the guests were sipping cocktails. I found him in the library, a quiet corner of th

their faces showing no surprise,

his, Angel?" My voi

. He adjusted his cufflinks, his eyes col

make a scene. I

ugged me and married your mistress in my place in front of t

, his tone flat. "Faith was.

ou going to do? You' re a housewife, Alicia. You haven' t wo

room. "This life. Your cloth

said, the words tastin

aughed. A genuine, hearty la

You have nothing. You a

y, terrifyingly clear. The grief was hardening

hat night, I packed a single bag, took the emergency cash I had hidden away, and left t

andard, no-fault kind. I signed it and le

uring, throwing a tantrum. He expected me to run o

t, he lost

looking ridiculous in the rundown hallway of my build

? Pathetic," he sneered, push

disdain. "Alright, you' ve had your

my waist. "I' ll even forgive you for this

clear, and it ma

picked up the papers from the

it, A

calm, a dea

my hand, his eyes scanning t

is game? It' s get

"You' re be