The Grand Magnolia Ballroom, with its opulent chandeliers and gilded walls, was supposed to be the perfect setting for my fairytale wedding. The city’s elite gathered, their laughter and clinking glasses creating a soundtrack of sophistication, completely unaware of the emotional tempest brewing beneath the polished surface.
I sat at the head table, my gown a cascade of satin and lace, feeling more like a decorative piece than a bride. My eyes followed Darius Vance, my new husband, as he charmed the crowd with his effortless charisma. He was everything one could wish for in a partner: tall, handsome, and socially adept. But right now, he was also the man about to shatter my life.
My sister Simone was there, too. Her dress, a shade of wine-red that matched her lipstick, hugged her figure perfectly. She was a vision of allure, and every sultry glance she cast toward Darius was a blade to my heart. I had grown accustomed to these glances, had learned to ignore the whispering doubts they sowed.
