“Uncle… is that marriage you once wanted for me still possible?” My voice shook, strained from holding back tears, yet I forced the words out. “If it is, come for me by next week. I’ll say yes—I don’t care anymore.”

For a moment, there was only silence. Then his voice came, confused and edged with alarm. “Althea? What… what are you saying? Isn’t today supposed to be your wedding with Dante? I’m sorry I couldn’t make it earlier—I was busy, but what’s going on? Why are you suddenly talking like this?”

I took a shuddering breath, trying to steady myself. “Because… he canceled our wedding. Again. And this time, it’s for Elise. I’m done waiting.”

“I… I can’t…” I faltered, then pressed on, voice steadying with cold resolve. “He’s never going to choose me, uncle. So come by next week. I’ll do whatever you want, just get me out of this… this humiliation.”

Before he could even reply, I ended the call. The words hung in the air like lead, heavy yet strangely freeing—as if I had finally cut the chains I’d been wearing for too long.

I lowered the phone slowly, hand trembling as I clutched the delicate lace of my gown. The garden around me glimmered with soft lights strung across branches, like stars scattered in the night sky. Roses and lilies, chosen carefully together, lined the aisle, their fragrance thick in the warm evening air. Tables overflowed with food, untouched, champagne glasses half-filled, waiting for a celebration that would never come.

But he wasn’t there.

My wedding had become nothing but a public display of pity.

Guests drifted over in small clusters, voices hushed, faces heavy with sympathy.

“I’m so sorry, Althea.”

“You don’t deserve this.”

“He’ll come back around. Don’t lose hope.”

Every word felt like salt poured onto an open wound. I stood there in the gown I had dreamt of since childhood, the white silk trailing across the grass, now damp with tears I fought to hide.

Dante didn’t show.

When I finally called him, pleading for some explanation, his voice was maddeningly calm, as though he had no idea of the storm he had left behind.

“Althea… I’m sorry,” he said, soft and measured. “Elise’s running a high fever. I couldn’t just leave her side. We can… do this later. Maybe next week. Or we can skip the whole ceremony and just register—it’s really the same thing.”

Elise.

The name twisted inside my chest, a bitter pang of resentment and heartbreak. I closed my eyes, gripping the phone until my knuckles turned white. Twenty years—twenty years of growing up side by side with Dante, the perfect childhood couple, everyone expecting us to marry at twenty-five. Fate, destiny—they had promised it all.

And it almost came true.

The wedding had been planned. A year ago, my gown was ready, my vows written, our lives mapped out. But Dante went on that cursed cruise. The accident left him broken, missing for months. And when he returned, he wasn’t alone.

Elise came with him—the woman who had nursed him back to life, who had saved him when he needed someone most. His family insisted she stay; the debt had to be repaid. Dante promised her happiness.

At first, I understood. I told myself it was only fair—without Elise, he might not have survived. I accepted it, thinking she’d leave once he was better. But she never left.

Dante’s focus shifted. Our future became secondary. Everything was about her, about Elise.

When the wedding was first postponed, I forgave him. Love required patience, I told myself. But ninety-nine times… ninety-nine excuses… ninety-nine moments where he put her before me.

I wasn’t his priority anymore. I wasn’t his choice.

The voice of the venue manager snapped me back. “Miss Althea… the food’s ready. The guests are waiting.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “Donate it,” I said sharply. “Give it to anyone who needs it. I don’t care.”

I grabbed my bag, my heels clicking against the marble floor as I walked out, leaving everything behind.

The ride home was quiet, but my chest burned with memories, with broken promises. The house loomed ahead—the one Dante had promised me as ours, as our future. Now it was just a hollow reminder of what had never been.

Inside, I tore through drawers, gathering every gift, every keepsake from Dante and his family. Diamonds, gold, letters, tokens of a love that had rotted from within. My hands trembled, but I packed everything with deliberate resolve.

The door creaked.

Dante appeared, climbing the stairs, guilt and relief warring on his face. “Althea…” His voice softened, arms reaching as if one embrace could erase months of neglect. “I’m sorry—for standing you up, for leaving you alone. I regret it, truly. But Elise was sick, and I couldn’t leave her. You understand, right?”

I tore myself from his arms, gown rustling, eyes blazing. “That’s your excuse? Dante! This wasn’t a dinner you could postpone. This was our wedding. Our wedding!”

He tried to reach for me again, calm, almost pleading. “Althea, it’s just a ceremony. What matters is us, our love. We can register anytime. Tomorrow even. The guests will forgive. Families will understand… but Elise—she needed me—”

I grabbed the ring he had given me, once sparkling with promise, and flung it at him. The metal clattered against the marble, a thunderous echo of betrayal. Then I shoved the box of his gifts into his chest.

“Take it. Take everything back.”

He froze, stunned. “Althea, wait—what are—”

“There’s no wedding!” My voice cracked, raw and trembling with heartbreak. “Because I’m ending this engagement. I’m done.”

“There will be no wedding!” My voice cracked, raw and ragged, carrying the weight of a heartbreak too heavy to bear. “I’m ending the engagement. It’s over.”

The room fell silent. Dante stared at me, stunned, as if I had spoken in a language he didn’t understand. His lips parted, then curved into a smirk that wasn’t remorse—it was disbelief.

“You’re overreacting again,” he said, and actually laughed—like my pain was some trivial joke, a passing mood. “Althea… you can’t just leave me like this. You love me too much for that.”

His arrogance struck harder than any blow.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, chest heaving. “I can. And I will. Watch me.”

I wanted him to argue, to beg, to pull me into his arms like he used to. But Dante simply shrugged, turning away as if I were nothing but a minor inconvenience.

“Go to bed. We’ll talk tomorrow,” he said.

Tomorrow. Always tomorrow.

Before I could yell at him, a soft, hesitant voice drifted from the hallway. “Dante… Althea… are you arguing… because of me?”

Elise. She stood at the doorway in a silk robe, hair tousled, pale as if the night had drained her color. Her hands were clasped together, fragile, delicate, like she might shatter if I touched her wrong.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, almost breathless. “The wedding was postponed… it’s my fault. I was sick. Please don’t blame Dante. You can always do it again.”

Something inside me broke.

“Don’t apologize,” I spat, my voice trembling with fury. “Be honest. You wanted this. You wanted him. And now you have him. Congratulations.”

“Althea!” Dante’s roar shook the walls. “What are you doing? She’s unwell! Why pick a fight?”

Elise stepped forward, eyes glistening, shaking her head. “Please… don’t hate me. I never meant to come between you. I just… wanted to say I’m sorry.”

Her hand reached for mine—soft, hesitant, fake.

I slapped it away.

The sound echoed through the hall. Elise gasped, stumbling back, eyes wide. Dante froze, stunned.

Before either of them could speak, I spun, stormed into my room, and slammed the door, locking it.

“Althea!” Dante pounded on the wood, fists shaking it. “Open up! Don’t make me punish you. Hear me?”

I pressed my back against the door, tears streaming freely.

From the other side, Elise’s voice cut through, trembling but venomous. “She deserves it, Dante. Don’t let her treat me like this. Don’t let her ruin you.”

Her words pierced deeper than the slap I’d given her.

“Don’t worry,” Dante’s voice said finally, calm now. “I’ll deal with her tomorrow. For now, you should rest.”

And they were gone.

I sank to the floor, sobs wracking me. Back then, when I had been angry with Dante, he would move heaven and earth to make me forgive him. Standing outside my dorm in pouring rain with roses. Writing me letters daily, sliding them under my door until I laughed through tears. He never let me cry alone.

Now? He left me here, behind a locked door, while Elise whispered poison in his ear.

The tears didn’t stop. My chest heaved violently, my sobs shaking the room. And outside, their laughter—her laughter, his laughter—cut into me like ice.

Then the moaning began.

I pressed my hands to my ears, but it didn’t help. Their voices seeped through every crack, cruel reminders that I was no longer wanted, no longer chosen. Exhaustion dragged me down eventually, and I fell into a restless, tear-stained sleep.

Morning sunlight burned through my swollen eyes. The door burst open. Dante stood there, towering, fury in every line of his face.

“Get up.” His voice was steel. He yanked the blankets off me.

“What—” I gasped.

“Did you think about last night?” His tone was sharp, unyielding. “Apologize to her. Now.”

I pushed myself up slowly, voice raw. “No. I won’t. I did nothing wrong. She ruined this—ruined us.”

Dante’s gaze darkened. “Do you hear yourself? She saved me, Althea. Without her, I might not even be alive. Can’t you show some gratitude?”

My lips trembled. “I was grateful. Not anymore.”

I tried to walk past him, but his hand clamped onto my wrist. Then the sting came.

His slap rang out, sharp and deafening.

“That’s for slapping her,” he spat. “Now get dressed. We’re going out.”

I clutched my cheek. “Why would I go anywhere with you?”

“Because Elise wants to go out to eat. And you’re coming. She wants you there. If you want to marry me, you’ll have to deal with her. That’s how it is. Fix your attitude—or there really won’t be a wedding.”

The words stole my breath. My heart twisted in my chest, but minutes later, I was dragged into the car.

Dante drove. Elise sat beside him, laughter spilling like poison into the air. And me? I sat behind them, invisible, forgotten.

By the time we reached the restaurant, dusk had turned the sky gray. Snowflakes swirled in the bitter wind. The asphalt was slick, the air sharp and cold.

We stepped into the parking lot, heels clicking on icy ground, arms wrapped around ourselves for warmth.

Then it happened.

A truck skidded down the street, horn blaring, tires screeching. Chaos erupted—screams, flashing lights, pounding footsteps.

I froze at the crosswalk, headlights blinding me. My body refused to move, my mind empty.

Dante ran—but not to me.

He lunged for Elise, pulling her into his arms as if she were the only thing that mattered.

I was left standing alone.

The impact hit like thunder. Pain shot through every nerve, ripping the breath from my lungs. The world exploded into snow, red lights, and screaming voices.

And then—darkness.

By some miracle, I was still alive.

When my eyes flickered open, the harsh white of the hospital ceiling greeted me first, and the rhythmic beeping of machines anchored me painfully to reality. Pain pulsed through my body, sharp and insistent, dulled only slightly by the medication coursing through my veins.

I shouldn’t have made it. Even the nurse didn’t hide it.

“You’re lucky to be here,” she murmured, adjusting my IV with careful hands. “The impact was severe. You’ll have scars, and the recovery will take time—but you’re stable enough to go home tomorrow.”

I gave a faint nod, unable to speak. But inside, something inside me was breaking all over again.

Memories of another fall clawed their way back—years ago, when I had slipped near the cliff on that trip. I could still feel the wind tearing past my screams, the ground rushing up at me. And Dante… Dante hadn’t hesitated. He’d climbed down himself, hands scratched and bleeding, shaking with the effort, until he had me back in his arms. He had never let go.

That was the Dante I had loved.

But now? Now, on that street, frozen and terrified, he hadn’t even glanced at me. His arms, his protection, his devotion—they had all gone to Elise.

I was invisible. Replaceable. Disposable.

That night, I lay in the sterile hospital bed, staring at the ceiling as snow drifted silently outside the window. Dante didn’t come. Not once. My phone buzzed at midnight, and I snatched it up with desperate hope—only for it to break me further.

Dante: Elise was traumatized after nearly being hit. She needs me tonight. Stay strong.

Stay strong. As if my pain meant nothing.

A second message followed—from Miranda, his mother.

Miranda: Althea, it’s my birthday tomorrow. Please come. I miss you, my daughter.

For a moment, I wanted to refuse, to curl in on myself and vanish. But Miranda… she had been my anchor when my parents died. She had handled everything I couldn’t, guided me until I could stand on my own. She was more mother to me than anyone else had ever been.

So, against my better judgment, I went.

The party was lavish, golden lights spilling across Miranda’s estate, laughter echoing in the grand hall, crystal glasses clinking. I lingered at the edge, trying not to be noticed—but the voices reached me.

“Dante, what are you thinking?” Miranda’s voice was sharp, slicing through the warmth of the room. “You let her get hurt for that woman? Althea is your fiancée! She’s the one meant to be with you!”

Dante’s voice was firm, defensive. “Mom… you know it’s different. Elise saved me. I owe her everything. I’m just returning the favor.”

My chest constricted.

“And what about Althea?” Miranda pressed, trembling with barely contained frustration. “Hasn’t she saved you countless times? I told you to take care of Elise, not replace Althea!”

“I think… maybe it’s time to replace her,” Dante said. “Elise is better.”

The words hollowed me out. For a heartbeat, I couldn’t breathe. The room spun as my legs faltered beneath me.

When I finally stepped into the hall, I felt like a ghost. Dante and Elise sat together, hands entwined, faces glowing with warmth, while I lingered like a shadow at the edge. My place in the family—and in his life—had vanished.

Later, Miranda found me, her face soft, guilt etched in every line. “Are you alright, my dear?”

I forced a smile. “I’m fine. Happy birthday, Auntie.”

Her hand rested lightly on my arm. “Come, sit with us at the table.”

I shook my head, eyes flicking to Elise nestled beside Dante. “There’s no need. She’s here. You don’t have to make room for me.”

Her gaze darkened with regret. “I’m sorry, Althea. It’s our fault for letting her in.”

“I understand,” I whispered, turning away toward the bar.

The burn of alcohol slid down my throat as I drank, glass after glass, trying to numb the ache. The guests’ chatter blurred around me, hazy and distant.

Then a hand pressed against my back—too low, too rough. I stiffened and spun around. A man leaned close, breath smelling of liquor.

“Don’t look so lonely, beautiful,” he murmured.

“Leave me alone,” I snapped, shoving him away.

But he tightened his grip, pressing against my waist. Panic surged, and I yelled, voice echoing through the hall. “Help! He’s harassing me!”

All eyes turned. Silence fell. The man smirked, loosening just enough to feign innocence.

“Harassing? No, no… she came onto me. Tried to seduce me.”

Gasps and whispers rippled through the room like knives.

And Dante? He watched. Did nothing.

Finally, he stepped forward, face cold, eyes sharp. He grabbed my arm. “Is this true? Were you… seducing him?”

“No!” My voice cracked, desperate. “I wasn’t—Dante, I swear!”

But the damage was done. All around me, people stared—whispering, pity and judgment in their eyes. My body shook as shame swallowed me whole.

I tore myself free and ran, tears blinding me.

“Althea!” The voice chasing me wasn’t Dante’s—it was Miranda’s. Her heels clicked against the marble as she caught up. “Don’t go, my dear. Stay. You belong here.”

I shook my head violently, sobs wracking me. “No. I can’t. I can’t be part of this family. I’m ending the engagement.”

Her face fell, sorrow deep in her eyes.

“Please,” I whispered, clutching her hands. “If you care for me, don’t let your son know I’m leaving. Don’t let him find me. Promise me.”

Her lips trembled, tears glistening. She nodded.

And just like that, I turned away, leaving everything behind, my heart shattering one final time.