Beneath the swirling lights, Lorelei clung to Ryan, appearing like the perfect couple everyone envied.
No one seemed to notice that I wasn’t the bride, nor did they care about my absence. It was as if all the guests had agreed that Lorelei was the woman Ryan intended to marry.
But soon, my mother sensed something was wrong.
With the murmurs of the crowd around her, she rushed forward, her voice ringing out in accusation. “Where’s Alexis? Why are you with this woman?”
All eyes turned to her, focusing intently on the confrontation.
Lorelei feigned concern, grabbing my mother’s hand. “Mrs. Harding, Alexis didn’t show up. You can’t blame Ryan for that!”
My mother, however, didn’t buy her flimsy excuse. She immediately pulled her hand away, fury lighting up her eyes. “You’ve tried to sabotage Alexis more than once! You must have done something to keep her from coming! What did you do with my daughter?”
My mother’s urgent questions ignited whispers among the guests.
“Oh! So this isn’t Mr. Wolfe’s fiancée? What is she doing here?”
“Is she trying to ruin their relationship? Is she a mistress?”
–
As I listened to their words, I noticed Lorelei’s eyes glistening with unshed tears. She tugged at Ryan’s hand, a hint of vulnerability in her voice. “Ryan, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to make you the center of all this!”
Her act seemed to work on Ryan, who smiled at her, offering what looked like a comforting gesture.
But then, his gaze turned cold as he glanced at my mother. “Your daughter has done something so disgusting, and you still dare to talk about her?”
My mother stood frozen, taken aback by his fierce glare.
Ryan, still holding Lorelei’s hand, bypassed her and approached the podium.
