I slid the bracelet off my wrist, the one I had always worn.

The day James came to ask for my hand, he slipped the bracelet onto my wrist himself. He told me it was a cherished Clark family heirloom, passed down to new brides.

When Sean caught a glimpse of the bracelet, his face twisted with even more fury. "Ella, you're such a liar!" he spat. "Flaunting a knockoff and claiming it's a Clark family treasure?

"My own mother never laid hands on it. What makes you think you're worthy? Where'd you get this fake?"

The house was already buzzing with guests, but Sean's outburst drew an even larger crowd.

"Disgraceful woman," someone hissed.

"She steals and then has the gall to fake a family heirloom, trying to worm her way into marriage. She's an embarrassment to us all."

The crowd, sensing a scandal, eagerly piled on.

Their words grew wilder, and the pain in my body mounted until my hands shook.

"I'm no thief."

Anyone paying attention could see the fury I was fighting to contain.

Mandy, however, was having none of it. Gone was any pretense of weakness, her eyes gleamed with malice.

"Got the nerve to steal but not to confess, Ella?" she taunted. "I'll teach you a lesson for Sean's uncle."

She swung at me, but I caught her wrist and slammed it down, ignoring the pain shooting through my other hand. I shot a defiant look at the onlookers.

"Think I'm a thief? James will clear things up when he gets here."

Panic flickered in their eyes, but Sean was unfazed. "Quit your act. My uncle is getting married today. He's got no time for your theatrics."

Mandy was out for blood, determined to see me humiliated.

As she maliciously picked off the diamonds from my wedding gown, everyone braced for her next cruel jab. However, her face suddenly registered shock.

"My God, they're real diamonds."

Sean looked on, puzzled, his gaze fixed on me.

He gave his friends a covert nod, and they lunged at me like predators.

I shrank back into a corner, my voice trembling as I said, "Sean, what are you doing? I'm your uncle's bride! What do you want with me?

"Don't touch me. Back off, all of you, just back off!

"Sean, do you really want to make a fool of your uncle?"

With a harsh slap, Sean pinned me to the ground.

"Shut up, Ella. Guys, strip her, take pictures for the press. She'll learn what it means to mess with my uncle's reputation."

At Sean's command, they swarmed me, their intentions clear and vile.

"She's hot. I can hardly help myself."

"I'm first, let me at her..."

Their greedy eyes swept over me, hands daring to grope. In the turmoil, someone's hands snaked under my skirt.

"Sean, get off, don't touch me!"

My wedding dress was no match for their numbers. Stripped of it, I huddled, vulnerable.

"Serves you right," they jeered, indistinguishable from one another.

Tears streamed down as I pleaded, "Please, don't, I'm begging you..."

However, my cries only fueled their frenzy.

As they were about to force my hands apart, James's icy voice cut through the church.