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On New Year’s Eve, my cousin twirled in my wedding dress, admiring her reflection. with a smug grin. When Nolan Hendrix. saw her, his temper snapped. Without a word, he seized the delicate fabric and shredded it to pieces.
When I went to deliver his phone, the sight before me stopped me cold. Nolan had my cousin pinned against the towering floor- to–ceiling window, his presence casting an ominous shadow over her trembling form.
She clung to his neck, her voice laced with desperation. “Brother–in–law, I was wrong! Please… be gentle.
A cruel sneer curled on Nolan’s lips as he gripped her chin tighter, his voice dripping with venom. “Didn’t you say the drug would kick in after twenty minutes? If I hadn’t shown up, would you have thrown yourself at the first man who walked in? So desperate, weren’t you just hoping I’d
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treat you exactly like this?”
My cousin giggled, a coy sparkle in her eyes. “I was only trying on my sister‘ s wedding dress, and you got so… intense.”
Nolan’s hand froze mid–movement, hist expression darkening like a thundercloud. His voice turned icy. “Stop nurturing fantasies you have no right to. Trying to take Isabella Madison’s place? You don’t even come close to deserving it!”
The phone vibrated persistently in my hand, the sound pulling me out of my daze after three agonizing minutes. Without hesitation, I whispered to the receiver, “Mr. Lennon, I’ll take the overseas assignment to Cyveria.”
Meanwhile, in my wedding home, Dione Cromwell knelt at Nolan‘ s feet, her every action a plea for mercy as she groveled to appease his smoldering wrath.
The two of them continued their charade,
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completely unaware of my presence just outside the door, separated only by a narrow crack.
The streets on New Year’s Eve were alive
with laughter and bursting fireworks, painting the night sky in vibrant colors, but none of it reached me. Instead, an unbearable loneliness crept over me, settling like a weight on my chest.
Six months ago, my uncle’s sudden passing left Dione utterly adrift. Desperate and vulnerable, she came to me, seeking shelter.
I let her move in, thinking I was doing the right thing.
That same evening, she accidentally drank
from Nolan‘ s cup. His reaction was immediate; disdain flashed in his eyes as he picked up the cup and tossed it into the trash without hesitation.
Dione stared at him, her large, tear–filled eyes shimmering with grievance like a
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fragile doll left in the rain.
Nolan‘ s expression hardened, his voice cold enough to cut. “I don‘ t like dirty things!”
I couldn’t stay silent. “She’s just a timid. girl, Nolan! You didn’t have to scare her like that,” I scolded, hoping to soften hist edge.
“Simple? More like foolish. How do you even mix up someone else’s cup? I have zero tolerance for stupidity! Get her a place to stay and move her out!”
Dione, ever obedient, took his harshness without a word of complaint. Every
morning, she woke early to prepare breakfast for us. After a long day of job hunting, she returned to cook and clean as if trying to repay some unspoken debt.
Two weeks later, Nolan‘ s tone softened, though his words still carried an edge.
“The company needs a personal assistant. Ask your sister if she’s interested.”
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“Baby, I just don’t want you stressing about her job situation. This is her chance. But let her know if she screws up, I won’t hesitate to fire her.”
Relieved and hopeful, I sent Dione to work at Nolan’s company, urging her to make the most of the opportunity. To show my gratitude, I even invited her to stand beside me as my bridesmaid on the most important day of my life.
How naive I had been. I didn’t realize that what Dione truly desired wasn‘ t to stand by my side as a bridesmaid but to take my place as the bride.
Nolan had chosen the most painful place for her, the home meant to be ours.
The weight of betrayal from both love and family made the winter air sting sharper. Bowing my head, I let the tears spill, disappearing into the thick, unforgiving snow beneath me.
Dione’s messages struck like icy needles,
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each one embedding deeper into my heart.
“Sis, I know you saw everything. How long are you planning to endure this?”
“Your wedding home is beautiful, luxurious, and romantic. But don’t forget the crack in the floor–to–ceiling window your fiancé made. Remember?”
Her words were poison, and I refused to reply.
Aimlessly, I drove through unfamiliar roads until I found myself in a small, snow- covered town. I sank onto a roadside
bench, letting the snow drift down,
frosting my hair until it looked as pale as my resolve.
Time lost meaning until a tug on my sleeve startled me. A little girl stood beside me, her smile warm against the cold. “Miss, don‘ t cry! It’s New Year‘ s! Come with me–you’ll feel better!”
Before I could protest, she pulled me along, her laughter ringing through the
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night. “There’s an event! It’s called ‘A CEO’s Love for His Wife. If you write a blessing and hang it on the wishing tree, you’ll get a thousand–dollar red envelope!”
My steps faltered when we reached the square. On a massive LED screen, Nolan and Dione appeared, locked in an intimate embrace, their smiles glowing under the falling snow.
“This is our first New Year’s Eve
together, and we want to share our joy with all of you.”
The crowd erupted in cheers, their excitement electrifying the frosty air. Blessings poured forth like confetti, showering them with wishes for everlasting happiness and unwavering
love.
