Gabriella's POV

I didn’t react. I simply turned back to my book, turning the page with a bored look on my face.

Thomas glanced at me, then he sighed. “Let’s go to the study.”

As they walked away, I waited for a minute, before I closed the book in my lap and quietly got up to follow them.

Thomas shut the study door behind them, but I pressed my ear against the door.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Claire hissed. “Why have you been ignoring me?”

He groaned. “Claire, calm down—”

“Don’t tell me to calm down! Do you have any idea how humiliating it was to have to come here because you refused to answer my calls? What is going on?” She snapped.

There was silence, then Thomas released a sigh. “Ella is still recovering. She has been acting strange, and I don’t want her getting suspicious.”

Claire scoffed. “Suspicious? Suspicious of what? You were supposed to poison her, Thomas, not nurse her back to health like some caring husband!”

I clenched my jaw.

“I did what I had to do,” he snapped back. “If I hadn’t taken care of her, she would’ve known something was wrong. I can’t rush this, Claire. We need her to trust me.”

She groaned. “Trust you? Ugh, it’s pathetic watching you play the perfect fiancé. You’re enjoying this, aren’t you? All the attention she’s giving you, all the love. Tell me Thomas, have you fallen in love with her?”

“What kind of question is that?” He retorted. “I am trying to make this work. She has to think I’m her everything, that I would never hurt her. That way, when the time comes, she won’t even see it coming.”

My stomach clenched, and I ignored the pain that shot to my heart. I knew all these already.

She huffed. “But—”

Thomas cut her off in annoyance. “No buts, Claire,” He snapped, “You’re ruining everything with your clingy attitude.”

She gasped, clearly shocked. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” He growled. “I’ve been handling this perfectly, but you keep pushing. You couldn’t even wait for me to call you back? You had to show up here like some jealous girlfriend?”

She snorted. “Jealous? Of her? Don’t be ridiculous.”

Thomas scoffed. “Then stop acting like it. You’re making things complicated. I need her to trust me completely. If you keep behaving like this, she’ll start asking questions.”

Claire groaned. “You act like she’s smart enough to suspect anything.”

They thought I was so stupid, and I guess I had been. Not anymore.

He sighed, his voice was quieter, “You don’t understand, Claire. If I push too hard, if I make the wrong move, she’ll back out. And if she backs out, we get nothing.”

She groaned in frustration. “Then hurry up, Thomas! The wedding was already postponed once because of her last miscarriage. We can’t afford to wait again.”

So, that was why Thomas had been trying to coddle me after this miscarriage. He didn't want the wedding to be postponed like it had been before.

She continued, “It’s very annoying. Just like the last time we were close to ending everything, then she got pregnant, and we had to get rid of it. It’s like bad luck follows her womb or something.” She snorted cruelly.

My fists clenched at the reminder of the pregnancies that I had lost because of them.

Thomas didn’t respond, after a moment, he muttered, “It’s not bad luck.”

She huffed. “Obviously. It’s just her stupidity. She actually thought you wanted to have kids with her.”

Thomas's voice was quiet as he replied. “She wanted a family.”

She snorted. “And? That’s not our problem, Thomas. And it’s starting to look like you don’t actually want this to end.”

He scoffed. “Shut up, Claire. I just don’t want to rush this. What nonsense are you saying?”

“Bullshit,” She spat. “You’re starting to feel guilty, aren’t you? Tell me, are you starting to like her?.”

“I never said that,” He snapped, his voice was sounding really angry. “What is your problem?! If you want to keep acting like an insecure girlfriend and ruin everything, then go ahead!”

Claire stammered, “I'm sorry, I—”

Thomas cut her off. “You're acting so impatient because of jealousy. Do you know how far we've come? And now because of your stupid insecurity and impatience, you want to destroy everything!”

“We've been planning this for years, Claire! You're the one who even brought up this plan, do you remember?!”

Claire’s voice was quiet as she repIied. “Of course, I remember.”

She paused for a moment before continuing. “I saw her first. I was the one who realized how rich she was. And then I came to you with the plan.”

Tears welled up in my eyes. They had been together… before I even met them?

I swallowed hard, holding the wall for support. It had all been planned. From the moment I met Thomas, everything had been a lie.

Some minutes later, Thomas returned, with a blank expression. Claire followed behind him with irritation on her face.

I picked up my book again, flipping the page casually. “Everything alright?” I asked, keeping my voice steady, as if I wasn't breaking inside.

He forced a smile. “Yeah, just some last-minute wedding details.”

She released a fake giggle. “You know how I am, Ella. I just want everything to be perfect for you.”

I smiled back at her, making sure it looked very genuine. “I appreciate it, Claire. Thank you.”

She blinked at me in surprise, then she quickly hid it with another fake smile.

“You're welcome,” She replied.

Gabriella's POV

I couldn't pretend like everything was fine. I couldn't smile when I knew my life was a lie.

I had refused to take part in any of the wedding preparations, because I knew they were all useless.

“Which flowers would you prefer?” Thomas asked, holding three samples of flowers.

I shrugged, without looking at him, flipping through the magazine in my hands. “You can pick anyone you want. It doesn't matter.”

He nodded, picking a flower. Some time later, he came back.

“What song would you like us to dance to for our first dance?” He asked.

I shrugged again, not looking at him. “Choose anyone you like.” I replied blankly.

There was a short silence.

“Are you okay?” Thomas asked. His voice was soft, and filled with concern.

I turned to look at him with a forced smile. “I’m fine.”

He hesitated before he stepped inside. “Ella… you don’t have to pretend with me.” His voice was gentle. “You can tell me if anything is bothering you, okay?”

I released a sigh. “It’s just… the wedding. I'm just nervous, that's all.” I replied.

Thomas nodded slowly as sat beside me on the edge of the bed. “I’ve been thinking about that too,” he admitted. “And honestly, I feel guilty.”

I glanced at him, surprised because he sounded sincere. “Guilty? About what?” I asked.

“Yes.” He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “You just had a miscarriage two weeks ago. Yet, we're still going ahead with the wedding. Maybe we should postpone it. Just for now, until you feel better.”

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

What about his plans with Claire? I thought to myself. Was he backing out of them?

It wasn't easy, but I took a deep breath and shook my head. “No, let’s go on with the wedding.”

Thomas watched me carefully with an unreadable expression on his face. “Are you sure?”

I hesitated, before I nodded. “Yes.”

To my surprise, he looked… sad. He didn't look relieved. He looked like he had secretly wanted me to say yes to postponing it.

However, before I could think too much about it, his phone vibrated. He pulled it out and quickly typed out a message when he thought I wasn't looking.

(Still on. Nothing to worry about.)

My heart hardened even more. He had just been trying to look like a concerned fiance, to make sure I wasn't thinking about backing out.

I cleared my throat. “I need to make a call,” I said, standing up.

He looked up at me with a small smile. “Is everything okay?”

I nodded, forcing a small smile. “I’m just finalizing some things for our special day.”

Tears blurred my eyes as I left the room, gripping my phone tightly. As soon as I was far enough, I dialed the private detective’s number.

The moment he answered, I spoke firmly. “I’m ready. Contact my lawyer and finalize everything.”

~

The night before my wedding, I stood in front of the mirror, staring at myself.

Tomorrow, I was supposed to wear a white dress and vow my life to a man who had never loved me. A man who had poisoned me. A man who had killed my children.

I smiled bitterly. Maybe love wasn't for me.

My suitcase was already packed hours ago, when Thomas had gone out to finalize the wedding arrangements for the next day.

Downstairs, I could hear Thomas’s voice as he spoke to the wedding planner on the phone, acting like the perfect fiancé.

I forced a smile when he came to bed. I allowed him to kiss my forehead, and pull me into his arms.

Tomorrow, he would wake up expecting to marry me, but I would be long gone.

By 2:30 AM, I opened my eyes. Thomas was still asleep, his arm was wrapped around my waist.

Carefully, I climbed out of bed, and I quietly grabbed my suitcase.

A car was already waiting outside to drive me to the airport where a private jet was waiting for me. Immediately I got in, I released a deep breath.

“Drive,” I said softly.

As the car drove away, I pulled out my phone, removed the SIM card, and tossed it out the window. The last link to my past was gone.

It was time for a new beginning.

When Thomas woke up the next morning and didn't see Ella next to him, he thought she had gone to Claire's place to prepare.

As he approached the church, a weird feeling settled in his stomach, but he brushed it off. Today was a special day, and he was probably just nervous.

Thomas began cross-checking all the arrangements, to make sure everything was in order. Everything had to be perfect for Gabriella.

He scowled when he realized that the flowers weren't what he had ordered.

“Hey!” He barked, calling the attention of the wedding planner.

The woman flinched at the sharpness of his voice and hurried over. “Yes sir?”

“What is this?!” He demanded.

The wedding planner looked confused. “I…I don't understand, sir. What do you mean?”

“These aren’t the peonies I ordered!” he snapped, gritting his teeth in annoyance.

The woman’s eyes widened slightly. “Oh, um, but sir, the flowers—”

Thomas didn’t let her finish. “What the hell is your problem? How hard is it to follow one simple instruction?” He ran a hand through his hair. “I specifically told you that Gabriella’s favorite flowers are peonies. So why are there lilies here?”

The wedding planner swallowed nervously. “Sir, please peonies are very rare to get this season, and when we couldn't find them, I assumed—”

“You assumed wrong!” Thomas cut her off.

Before the planner could stammer out another excuse, Chris, his best man, walked over with a small frown.

“Dude, chill,” he muttered lowly. “It’s just flowers. It's not like you really care about this wedding.”

Thomas shot him a glare, but before he could snap at him, Claire rushed to him.

“Where the hell is Gabriella?” She demanded, grabbing him by the arm.

Thomas removed his arm from her tight grip. “What are you talking about? Isn't she with you?” He asked with a frown.

She scowled at him. “How can she be with me? I haven't seen her today.” She replied.

That weird feeling increased, but he brushed it off. She might have gone somewhere else, and she is probably running late now. There was no use to worry.

Thomas pulled out his phone to call her, but before he could, he was interrupted by Chris.

“Hey man, I just took a look at the ring you gave me. Isn't this your grandmother's ring?”

Thomas clenched his jaw. He was still annoyed by the flower mix-up.

“What?” he muttered, turning to face his best man.

Chris held up the ring, raising a brow. “Your grandmother’s ring, dude. The one you said was meant for ‘the real thing’. So why the hell are you using this for a wedding that’s not even real?”

Claire’s eyes snapped to the ring, then back to Thomas, with suspicion and a hint of jealousy on her face. “Wait, you’re using that ring?” she asked slowly.

Thomas scoffed, crossing his arms. “Yeah, so what?”

Claire’s gaze sharpened. “Why would you use something so significant and personal for a fake wedding?”

Chris nodded in agreement. “Seriously, man. This isn’t like you. You’re going through all the trouble of making sure everything’s perfect, freaking out over the flowers, snapping at the planner, and now you’re giving her your grandmother’s ring?” He shook his head. “That doesn’t add up.”

Thomas scowled. “It’s just a ring. I didn’t want to waste money on something new.”

Claire’s eyes narrowed. “Bullshit.”

Thomas shot her a glare. “Watch it. It’s a wedding, Claire. It has to look real.”

Claire scowled. “Oh really? So it’s just because you want the wedding to look real? Then why not pick any random ring? Why use something that actually means something to you?”

Thomas glared at her. “It doesn’t matter,” he said through gritted teeth.

Claire stepped closer, “Is this really just about the money, Thomas?”

He scoffed at her, but he didn't reply. “Enough. I don't have time for this shit.”

Claire shook her head. “No, answer me, Thomas. Is it just about the money?”

Thomas gritted his teeth, about to snap back, when the wedding planner rushed forward frantically.

“Please, where's the bride? She hasn't even worn her gown, and the wedding is about to start.”

His stomach twisted.

This entire time, they had been arguing about the flowers, and the ring, when Gabriella wasn't here yet.

Without saying a word, he quickly dialed her number.

“The number you are trying to reach is currently switched off.”

His heart skipped a beat.

He immediately tried again.

“The number you are trying to reach is currently switched off.”

A strange, cold sensation washed over him.

“Her phone is switched off.” He mumbled slowly.

Their eyes widened in shock.

Thomas released a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. “She’s probably on her way.”

Before anyone could say anything, the church doors opened. They all turned toward the entrance expectantly.

But instead of Gabriella, a delivery man stepped inside with a small envelope in his hand.

“Uh… I have a delivery for Mr. Thomas Carter from Ms. Gabriella Lewis?”

Thomas's heart raced in his chest as he slowly walked forward and took the envelope from the delivery man.

He ripped it open with shaky hands. Inside there was a note with familiar handwriting.

Thomas,

I don't love you anymore. Let's break up.

Goodbye forever.

~ Gabriella

His blood ran cold.