From abandoned girlfriend to tycoon’s lover (Copy)

💔 Chapter 5 — My Wedding, Her Stage

Before I could walk away, Isabel spoke again.

“María…” she murmured sweetly, “do you know when the wedding will be?”

I paused, hand on the doorframe.

“It’s going to be your wedding,” she continued softly, “only this time… I’ll be the bride.”

For a moment, I didn’t understand.

Then it hit me—like a brick to the face.

They weren’t just stealing my fiancé.

They were stealing the entire ceremony.

I turned slowly to face her.

Carmen, seeing the fury rising in my eyes, decided to add salt to the wound.

“Everything’s already paid for, dear. The venue, the catering, the decorations… why waste it? Better to just go ahead with it. Besides,” she smiled smugly, “we’re family. Sharing is caring.”

I stared at Antonio, hoping he would say something. Deny it. Stop it.

He just stood there, clearly uncomfortable.

So it was true.

Six months of planning—every single detail chosen by me. From the floral arrangements to the guest favors, the invitations hand-delivered, the dress I made with my own hands—all of it… now hers.

Antonio must’ve seen the hatred in my eyes. He stepped forward cautiously.

“María, I’m sorry. I know how much effort you put into this wedding. That’s why I didn’t want it to go to waste. And Isabel, she’s your sister…”

My voice came out low, dangerous.

“So you’re saying this is a family thing now?”

He nodded awkwardly.

“Exactly. It’s still your wedding in a way. Think of it as a gift… to your dying sister.”

My lips curled into a bitter smile.

“Right,” I said slowly. “Keep it in the family.”

Carmen beamed, clearly mistaking my sarcasm for acceptance.

“Exactly! That’s the spirit! As her older sister, you should feel proud to make this sacrifice.”

I turned toward her, my smile growing colder.

“Then I’ll prepare a special gift for the altar.”

Her eyes sparkled with greed. “What kind of gift?”

“A wreath of black funeral flowers.”

Carmen’s expression dropped in an instant.

“Excuse me?!”

“In ancient tradition,” I continued sweetly, “when a woman steals her sister’s groom, the villagers would leave black flowers on her doorstep. It’s a symbol of mourning… for her lost shame.”

They stared at me in silence, stunned by my calm venom.

There was nothing they could say. I hadn’t insulted them directly—but the message landed like a slap to the face.

Just like when I threw firecrackers in the hospital. Everyone knew what I meant, but I played the fool. And what could they do?

This was my new game now.

“Get out! Get out right now!” Carmen screamed, face turning red.

She turned to my father. “Mariano! Do something! Your daughter’s a snake, a disgrace—how can you let her humiliate us like this?”

Mariano, eyes burning with rage, stepped forward. His fist clenched at his side.

“I want you to apologize,” he growled. “Right now. To your sister.”

I held my head high. “For what? For speaking the truth?”

“She’s dying, María!” he barked. “And you… you dare bring shame to her wedding day?!”

I raised a brow. “Her wedding day? You mean my wedding day.”

He lunged at me, his hand raised.

I didn’t flinch.

But Antonio stepped in just in time and took the hit instead.

The slap echoed through the room.

Isabel gasped. Carmen screamed.

Antonio blinked in shock but held firm, rubbing the side of his face.

“Dad, that’s enough,” he muttered. “Violence won’t fix anything.”

Mariano, panting and red-faced, glared at me.

“You fix this,” he said to Antonio. “Or next time, I won’t stop at a slap.”

Antonio nodded slowly and turned to me. “María, can we talk? Alone?”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

He grabbed my arm, gently but firmly.

“We need to talk.”

“I said—let go of me!” I jerked my arm away, and before I could stop myself, I slapped him across the face.

Hard.

The same cheek Mariano had just hit.

Now they matched.

Isabel, still weak in bed, let out a strangled sob. “María! Why did you hit him?! This is my fault! If you’re angry, take it out on me!”

I looked at her and smiled cruelly.

“Why would I dirty my hands for someone who’s already halfway in the grave?”

The silence was thick.

Then I walked out, slamming the door behind me.