I felt a wave of nausea hit me. So that’s what this was all about! All this time, I thought I was the one helping Darren get ahead, but really, he’d been using me the whole time. And now, here he was, planning to marry Amber, showing off his connection to a successful, well-known entrepreneur.

Inside, the chatter was nonstop. I scanned the crowd, spotting familiar faces from my past. Everyone was here for Amber, all here to watch her step into a new life with Darren. I hung back near the back, unnoticed at first.

Amber stood under the big banner, glowing in her white wedding gown. The crowd buzzed around her, all excited and envious.

“Amber, you’ve outdone yourself! Marrying Mr. Herault? And here of all places?! Wow.”

“I can’t believe you kept this a secret! The CEO of the International Group of Companies! What a match.”

“Our little Amber, finally making it to the top. Don’t forget us when you’re a high-society queen!”

Even our old high school science teacher, Wilma Rudolph, was there, practically gushing. “Amber, I always knew you were destined for big things. That’s why I never pressured you in class. I mean, a girl like you doesn’t need grades when she has natural charm!”

Amber was loving it, smiling bigger with every compliment, looking like she was the star of a Hollywood movie.

I stayed at the back, bitterness swirling inside me as I clenched my purse. Amber’s words from the live stream replayed in my mind, and now seeing her, acting all perfect, only made my blood boil.

I wasn’t going to make a scene—at least, not yet. I needed to stay calm.

But staying calm was harder than I thought.

As I moved closer, the atmosphere shifted. The people who’d been fawning over Amber just seconds ago now turned their attention to me, their faces twisting from curiosity to disdain.

One of Amber’s little followers stepped forward, her eyes darting to the black sports car parked behind me. She sneered. “Elliana, really? Renting a luxury car to show off at Amber’s wedding? That’s desperate, even for you! Pff.”

The others joined in with their mocking comments.

“No wonder you’re here. Trying to steal the spotlight, huh?”

“Let me guess— you borrow it from a friend.”

“Some people just don’t know when to quit. As if pretending to be rich can ever compare to Amber’s real-life fairytale!”

I held my ground, not letting their words get to me. “It’s not borrowed,” I said, keeping my tone calm. “It’s my car.”

The group fell silent for a moment, their faces unreadable.

Then Amber’s voice cut through the air. “Your car? Huh!”

I barely had time to react before her hand swung through the air and slapped me across the face. The sting was instant, my cheek burning from the hit.

Amber’s face twisted with rage. “Don’t you dare lie to me! That’s Darren’s car—my fiancé’s sports car!”

The crowd gasped. Whispers rippled through the room.

“I knew Darren was seeing someone behind my back,” Amber spat. “But I didn’t think it was you, bitch! You shameless tramp! Driving his car to my wedding? Are you here to taunt me?”

That was it. I couldn’t keep quiet anymore. I straightened up, locking eyes with Amber. “Amber,” I said, my voice steady, “you might want to think carefully before making accusations you can’t back up.”

Her nostrils flared. “Accusations?! You’ve been sneaking around with Darren behind my back, haven’t you? Admit it!”

I took a slow, deep breath, ignoring the murmurs around me. The crowd was hanging on every word like they were watching a reality show.

“Amber, is that really Mr. Herault’s car?” someone gasped, voice full of disbelief.

Amber just smirked, chin up in that smug way she always did when she had something to flaunt. “Of course, it’s his!” she said, acting like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Why would I lie about something so clear? It's my Darren's car!”

Then, with exaggerated flair, she pulled out her phone and started scrolling through pictures of her and Darren, all smiles and posing together in the car, showing off their ‘perfect’ relationship. There were shots of them laughing, cuddling up, and, of course, photos of Darren proudly standing next to *his* sports car.

“No way… It really is Mr. Herault's car! So, Elliana must’ve been the one messing around with him all along!”

Amber’s face twisted, her eyes narrowing at me. “I knew it!” she snapped, her voice full of hate. “You were always playing the other woman, weren’t you?”

People started muttering, all eyes on me now. It felt like the whole world had turned against me.

“I can’t believe this! Elliana always acted like she was better than everyone, and now we find out she was sneaking around behind Amber’s back?” someone whispered loud enough for me to hear.

“Ms. Elliana Rosewood! I always thought you were the quiet, mysterious type. Guess that was just an act!” even my science teacher added, full of disgust.

A third voice joined in, “She’s been showing off that luxury car everywhere, and now it all makes sense. She's just another woman trying to latch onto Darren for his money!”

I clenched my jaw, trying to stay calm. There was no way I was going to let Amber win this. No way I was going to let her control this moment.

But before I could say anything, Amber sneered and pointed at me. “Oh, look at you, still pretending to be innocent. You’re not fooling anyone. You’ve been hanging around my fiancé for months, acting all high and mighty, but now the truth is out!”

The crowd held its breath, waiting for me to respond, all eyes burning into me. I had to stay strong. “You think Darren cares about you, Amber? He’s been using you. You’re just a pawn in his game.”

“Don’t you dare talk about Darren like that!” she hissed. “He loves me, and I’m going to be his wife! You have no place here.”

The crowd fell silent for a moment. Then, Amber’s eyes flicked to the car, and a wicked grin spread across her face. “That’s Darren’s car, right? You think you can show up here, driving his car? Trying to act like you’ve got it all?” she mocked.

Before I could respond, Amber bent down, grabbed a jagged stone from the ground, and dragged it across the side of my car. The screech of stone on metal made my stomach twist.

I stared at the deep scratches carved into the paint, my heart sinking. “You’ll regret this, Amber.”

But…

Amber wasn’t done! Fueled by anger, she picked up another stone and threw it at the windshield with all her might. The glass shattered instantly, spiderweb cracks spreading across it. She didn’t stop. Grabbing another stone, she smashed the headlights, the mirrors, and the hood. Her rage was completely out of control.

“You don’t deserve anything nice!” she screamed.

The crowd, hyped up by Amber’s destruction, joined in. People grabbed anything they could—stones, sticks, even their shoes—and began tearing into my car. I just stood there, watching, as my once-beautiful luxury car was reduced to nothing.

“Isn’t this just perfect?” someone from the crowd shouted. “Elliana’s been pretending to be something she’s not, and now she’s getting what she deserves!”

I stood tall, refusing to let them see how much this was breaking me. Their insults stung, but nothing compared to the betrayal that still burned inside me.

Then, one of the onlookers pried open the trunk, their voice rising with excitement. “Hey, look what’s inside! She’s got designer bags and shoes in here!”

Amber’s eyes lit up as she stepped forward, her cruel smile growing. She pulled out a limited-edition handbag, the fine stitching and craftsmanship unmistakable. She held it up for everyone to see.

“Elliana,” she sneered, “a woman like you owning something this exclusive? You’re a joke!”

I met her gaze without flinching. “Those items are worth more than you could ever imagine,” I said, calm despite everything. “You don’t know what you’re messing with.”

Amber laughed bitterly. “Oh, I know exactly what I’m doing.” With that, she tossed the bag to the ground and stomped on it, grinding her heel into the delicate leather.

She grabbed another item—a pair of limited-edition heels—and waved them in the air. “These? From Darren, right?” she demanded. “You think you can take what’s mine?”

Before I could even respond, she threw the shoes to the ground and smashed them with a nearby rock.

“Everything in here probably came from my fiancé,” Amber spat. “And since it’s technically mine, I have every right to destroy it. I absolutely HATE mistresses!”

The crowd cheered her on as she wrecked my belongings—bags were slashed open, heels snapped in half, and people joined in, tearing and stomping on whatever they could grab.

“You should’ve stayed away from Darren!” Amber screamed, throwing a pair of broken shoes at my feet. “You’ve been nothing but a parasite, clinging to him for money and gifts!”

I clenched my fists, holding back the tears that were threatening to spill. “You’re wrong about everything,” I said quietly, but firmly. “And when the truth comes out, you’ll regret all of this.”

Amber’s face twisted in fury. “The truth?” she mocked. “The only truth here is that you’re a shameless homewrecker!”

I reached for my phone to call the police, but Amber lunged at me, snatching it from my hand. With a smirk, she threw it to the ground and stomped on it, smashing it into pieces.

“You think you can call the cops after what you’ve done?” she yelled. “You don’t get to play the victim!”

Then her eyes landed on the bracelet I was wearing—a delicate piece with a shimmering gemstone. Her expression darkened. “That bracelet. Did you get that with my fiancé’s money too?”

Before I could react, she yanked it off my wrist, leaving me gasping!

“Give it back!” I shouted, reaching for it.

Amber smirked, dangling the bracelet between her fingers. The delicate chain shimmered in the sunlight, but in her grasp, it felt tainted—like everything else she touched. “This?” she mocked, her tone dripping with cruelty. “You should’ve stayed in your place, Elliana. You never belonged in Darren’s world.”

My chest tightened, but I forced myself to stay calm. “Amber, please. That’s not just a bracelet. It belonged to my mom. It’s all I have left of her.”

Amber’s grin widened as if my pain was her fuel. “Oh, save it. You didn’t care about anyone else’s feelings when you went after Darren. Now you want sympathy?” She lifted the bracelet higher, taunting me like a cat playing with its prey.

I clenched my fists to stop my hands from trembling. “Amber, you don’t understand… My mom gave that to me before she died! Please… just give it back!”

Her laughter was sharp and heartless. “Your mom must’ve been as pitiful as you if this trash is all she left behind!”

Her words sliced through me like a knife. My mom wasn’t just a memory—she was the strongest person I’d ever known.

She had fought a brutal battle against cancer when I was barely a teenager, pouring every ounce of her strength into making sure I wouldn’t feel alone after she was gone. The bracelet was her final gift to me. I could still hear her soft, tired voice: “Elliana, this is for you. Whenever you feel lost, wear this and know I’m always with you.”

I hadn’t taken it off since the day she died. It wasn’t just a piece of jewelry—it was her love, her strength, and my anchor when the world felt too heavy.

“Amber,” my voice shaking with restrained anger, “hate me all you want, but leave her out of this. Give me the bracelet!”

Her smirk turned wicked. “Or what? Huh?” Before I could answer, she tossed it to the ground. The delicate chain hit the pavement with a sharp clink.

“Noooo!!!” I dropped to my knees, scrambling to pick it up.

The clasp was broken, the fragile links snapped. My hands trembled as I gathered the pieces, tears threatening to spill over.

Amber loomed over me, her shadow blocking out the sunlight. “Look at you…” she sneered. “Crying over some broken junk? Maybe you should’ve thought about your poor mom before you decided to ruin someone else’s relationship!”

I shot to my feet, my anger finally boiling over. “You don’t know anything about me or my mom!”

Her smug expression flickered for just a moment before she recovered. “Oh, I know enough. And here’s what I think of your precious bracelet.”

Before I could stop her, she slammed her heel down on the fragile chain, crushing it into the ground.

“Amber!” I screamed, and without thinking, I slapped her. The sound echoed in the air, cutting through the stunned silence.

Amber’s head snapped to the side, and for a moment, she looked truly shocked. Then her eyes blazed with fury. “You little—”

The crowd, who had been silent up to that point, suddenly came alive.

“Did you see that? She hit Amber!”

“Elliana deserves it, though, doesn’t she? Pretending to be better than us!”

Amber’s confidence surged again, bolstered by their voices. She laughed and turned to face them. “Let’s have some fun!” she announced. “Whoever puts her in her place first gets a reward!”

Before I could react, hands grabbed at me, shoving me to the ground. Dirt was kicked in my face, and insults flew like daggers.

“Look at her now! Not so high and mighty anymore!”

“Bet all of this is just an act to get Darren’s money!”

Amber stood back, arms crossed, watching with smug satisfaction. “You wanted to make me regret this?” she taunted, pressing her heel against my cheek. “Go on, Elliana. Show me how tough you really are.”

The pull of the shift clawed at me, my wolf pacing beneath the surface. The Alpha blood in my veins burned, begging to be unleashed. My muscles coiled with the need to protect myself, to end this.

But the cool pendant around my neck kept me grounded. I bit back the urge, knowing I couldn’t shift here. Not in front of so many humans.

I closed my eyes, bracing myself, when a sudden roar of engines shattered the chaos. The crowd froze as sleek black SUVs pulled up, their presence commanding attention.

Just then, a line of sleek, high-end cars rolled up, halting right in front of the gathering.

Darren stepped out of one of the cars, his usual smug expression plastered across his face.

As soon as Darren appeared, the noisy crowd fell silent, as if someone had pressed the mute button.

Everyone's attention shifted toward him. His presence was magnetic, drawing all eyes.

The people who had been surrounding me instantly backed away, straightening up, their gazes locked on Darren.

Amber, who had been standing near me, quickly stepped aside, her posture suddenly all grace and poise.

Darren was dressed in a sharp suit that hugged his lean frame, exuding an air of confidence. His entrance was as grand as any CEO's.

Pff.

"Is that really Mr. Herault from the International Group of Companies?"

"Yeah, that's him! Check out the cars! This guy really knows how to make an entrance."

"He’s the one who got that promotion last year, right? Guess that's what being successful looks like."

"And he's not just powerful, he's good-looking too! Honestly, who wouldn’t want a guy like him?"

"Amber is so lucky! I mean, look at her—she’s marrying into power!"