Betrayal on My Wedding Day

With the bouquet in hand, I walked onto the stage alone, facing only Kyler Jordan's parents. My parents had passed away years ago, and aside from my brother who had just splashed wine on me backstage, I was without any family in this world...

Under the surprised gaze of everyone present, I calmly took the microphone from the emcee.

"I apologize for meeting everyone under such circumstances, let me first offer my apologies."

Kyler had already reacted and rushed onto the stage, grabbing my arm.

"Zendaya, what are you doing?"

"I'm doing what you probably should have done!"

"As everyone can see, my fiancé Mr. Jordan didn’t even bother changing his clothes..."

"He said this wedding was something I engineered, so I'm deciding not to meddle anymore. I hereby announce that Kyler and I are calling off the engagement! From now on, we go our separate ways!"

With those words, I tossed the microphone aside and shook off Kyler's hand, leaving the stage. Behind me, the venue erupted into chaos. Before me stood Lucian, looking panicked and pale. He reached out to grab me but hesitated when he noticed the glaring dark red stain on my wedding dress. Without slowing for anyone, I cast the bouquet aside and walked past Lucian.

At the entrance, Sloane had the car ready, looking visibly upset.

"Zendaya! Get in the car!"

Only after settling inside did I notice my hands trembling. In the rear-view mirror, my tear-streaked face stared back, makeup slightly smeared.

Sloane handed me a couple of tissues, muttering curses about Kyler.

"He used to be such a charmer back in the day, what happened to him?"

"He was so infatuated with you! Men can change faster than the weather!"

Her voice softened when she noticed me burying my face in the tissues, remaining silent for a long time.

"Zendaya..."

"I'm okay, Sloane, really, I'm just... thinking about my mom."

The car grew quiet. I leaned my head against the window, watching the scenery blur past, feeling like times had truly shifted. It turns out, I was the only one foolishly stuck in the past.

Actually, Lucian and Kyler were really kind to me when we were kids... really kind...

My mom was a famous wedding dress designer. She once promised to design the most unique dress for me, seeing me wear her love and blessings when I married the person I loved.

The year Kyler and I were betrothed in childhood, he shyly reached out to hold my hand, only for my brother to shove him aside.

"Get lost! You're supposed to hold hands when you’re grown, not now!"

The adults burst into laughter, and I shyly hid in my mother's embrace, where she gently stroked my hair. Back then, my mom hadn't been diagnosed with stomach cancer, and there was no Amina as my sister.

Everyone I cherished was with me. Mom passed away when I was twelve. Unable to guess my adult measurements, she modified the last wedding dress she made countless times, adding adjustable zippers around the bodice and waist.

This was the final gift my mom left me. But I almost lost this wedding dress too.

The same year she passed, Dad brought home a little girl, explaining she was the child of his old friend, fulfilling his friend’s dying wish.

"Lucian, Zendaya, this is your little sister now, be kind to her, alright?"

I thought I understood, but Amina clearly didn't...

I'd never encountered a child like her. One moment she fiercely snatched a doll from my hands, the next she was shedding tears in front of my brother and Kyler. Are people naturally inclined to sympathize with and trust the weak? I don't know.

What I do know is that the two who used to back me slowly began to side with Amina.

"Zendaya, you can’t do this! Amina lost her parents, she's so pitiful!"

"Exactly, Zendaya, you need to be kind to Amina. You have your brother and me, Amina has no one."

"..."

I can’t even recall how many times I’ve had such arguments with them. Every fight ended with them angrily accusing me of not being as gentle or sweet as Amina.

Gradually, I stopped wanting to argue altogether. But this compromise only made Amina more relentless.

She even tried to steal my mom’s wedding dress!

When I saw her dragging that white dress down the stairs, I was beside myself with anger. It was the first time I ever laid a hand on her.

She stormed into my room with Lucian, a bright red handprint on her face.

I was still carefully wiping the dust off the skirt's hem with clear water.

"Brother, don’t scold Sister. It’s all Amina’s fault for upsetting her. Sister hit me because of that, it's me who deserves to be hit!"

Lucian’s expression was unforgettable. Disappointment, bewilderment, even... a hint of disgust.

He said, "Zendaya, I never thought you’d turn so cold-hearted!

"Amina had never seen such a beautiful dress before, she only wanted to look at it. How could you do such a thing?"

I was so enraged my hands shook, arguing heatedly with Lucian. This commotion brought Dad into the room.

He glanced at the tearful Amina and gently consoled her, "Don’t cry, Amina. Dad will get you an even prettier princess dress, okay?"

After soothing her, he turned and saw me still standing there, his face suddenly awkward.

"Ahem, you both will get new dresses, how's that sound?"

Watching him and Lucian carefully wiping Amina’s tears finally hit me... I was the outsider.

I didn’t want a new princess dress, and even the wedding dress I cautiously locked away in a cabinet. It was then I realized... in this world, there was no one left who loved me...

"Zendaya, we’re here. I’ll go in with you so that brat doesn’t bother you again!"

Looking at Sloane, whose eyes were as red as mine, I hesitated and shook my head.

Over the years, just to defend me, she's taken countless hits from Amina. Sloane is impulsive and naïve, unable to see through Amina’s traps even when they were right in front of her.

Kyler, meanwhile, with his privileged position, blindly favored Amina, often driving Sloane to tears of frustration.

I'm about to leave here, and I can't drag her into any more conflicts.

"It’s okay, Sloane. I’m just going to grab my ID and passport, and I’ll be right out."

I took a deep breath, lifted my expansive wedding dress, and walked into the Jenkins family home. As soon as I entered, I saw Amina, whom Lucian and Kyler had said was crying sorrowfully, lounging on the sofa, playing with her hair and smiling at me.

"Oh, Sister's back? I thought Kyler had only left an hour ago, is the wedding over already?"

Feigning surprise, she covered her mouth, "What happened to your wedding dress? Kyler’s so awful; even if he hates you, he shouldn't have spilled wine on it. That was Mrs. Jenkins’ gift to you."

As I maintained my composure, the smile in her eyes slowly faded. I truly felt no anger towards her, only profound sadness. She even remembered it was the dress Mom had given me, but Lucian... seemed to have forgotten.

Before she could speak again, I cut her off.

"It wasn't Kyler."

She was taken aback, and I continued, "It was Lucian."

Amina's expression froze, her mouth opened several times, but no words came out.

"You don't have to bother competing anymore; Lucian and Kyler are yours. I want nothing from them."

I sidestepped her to enter my room, but she caught up, grabbing my wrist. Something I said must have struck a nerve, because Amina became incredibly agitated.

"Give it to me? What do you mean, give it to me? You lost it all by yourself; you were never good enough!"