Chapter 6: The Wedding That Became a Trial
The ceremony was supposed to begin at three o’clock.
Instead, at three o’clock, I was sitting in a private room with a ruined wedding dress, a stack of evidence, and the realization that my sister had spent months preparing to destroy my life.
But I refused to let Vanessa take the day completely.
“Claire,” Daniel said softly, “we don’t have to do this.””
I looked at him.
“Do what?””
“Get married today.””
For a moment, I thought he meant he was having doubts.
Then I saw his expression.
He wasn’t leaving.
He was protecting me.
“You mean we can postpone.””
He nodded.
“If you want.””
I looked through the window.
Outside, the garden was filled with white roses, candles, and guests waiting for an explanation.
My dream wedding was still there.
It just looked different now.
“No,” I said.
Daniel looked surprised.
“No?””
I stood slowly.
“I spent my whole life letting Vanessa decide what moments belonged to her.””
I touched the damaged fabric of my gown.
“She doesn’t get this one.””
A small smile appeared on his face.
“That’s my Claire.””
But before we could make another decision, the door opened.
My wedding planner, Sarah, rushed inside.
“Claire.””
“What happened?””
She looked nervous.
“There’s a problem downstairs.””
I immediately knew.
“Vanessa?””
Sarah nodded.
“She’s telling people you’re having a breakdown.””
My hands tightened.
“She’s what?””
Sarah looked ashamed.
“She told guests the dress incident was your fault. She said you became emotional and accused her because you were stressed.””
Daniel stood.
“She’s rewriting the story.””
Exactly.
That was Vanessa’s greatest talent.
She never just hurt people.
She changed the story afterward.
She made herself the victim.
Jonathan grabbed his folder.
“This is actually good.””
I looked at him.
“How is that good?””
“Because she’s speaking publicly before she knows what we have.””
He tapped the evidence.
“She’s creating witnesses against herself.””
I knew what he meant.
But I also knew Vanessa.
She was not going to stop.
We walked downstairs together.
The moment I entered the garden, every conversation stopped.
Hundreds of eyes turned toward me.
Some looked worried.
Some looked curious.
Some looked uncomfortable.
And standing near the wedding arch was Vanessa.
She looked perfect.
Her hair was flawless.
Her makeup untouched.
She had changed into a beautiful blue dress.
She looked like someone who had done nothing wrong.
When she saw me, she smiled.
“There she is.””
The sweetness in her voice made my stomach turn.
“Claire, everyone has been so worried.””
I walked closer.
“Have they?””
My mother stepped forward.
“Please, not here.””
Vanessa immediately grabbed her hand.
“Mom, it’s okay.””
Then she looked at the guests.
“I know everyone is confused.””
Nobody moved.
Vanessa continued.
“Claire has been under a lot of pressure lately.””
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“She’s lying.””
Vanessa ignored him.
“I think we all know how emotional weddings can become.””
I almost laughed.
She was actually doing this.
In front of everyone.
She was trying to make me look unstable.
Then she made her mistake.
“She was already upset before the dress was damaged.””
A few guests looked confused.
Because that wasn’t true.
I stepped forward.
“Really?””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Yes.””
“What was I upset about?””
She hesitated.
Only for a second.
But everyone saw it.
“You know.””
“No,” I said.
“I don’t.””
The garden became silent.
I pulled out my phone.
“I think everyone should know exactly what happened.””
Vanessa’s smile disappeared.
“Claire…”
I pressed play.
The security footage appeared on the large screen near the wedding area.
Sarah had connected it.
The video showed Vanessa entering the bridal room.
Looking around.
Taking out the glue.
Pouring it onto my dress.
Then smiling.
The crowd gasped.
My mother covered her mouth again.
This time, there was no confusion.
No excuse.
No misunderstanding.
Just the truth.
Vanessa stared at the screen.
Her face turned pale.
“That’s edited.””
Nobody believed her.
She looked around desperately.
“Claire, you would fake a video to embarrass me?””
Jonathan stepped forward.
“I am her attorney. I can confirm the recording’s authenticity.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“You’re serious?””
“Yes.””
Her eyes moved back to me.
For the first time in my entire life, Vanessa looked afraid.
But then she did something I expected.
She attacked.
“You think this proves everything?””
Her voice became louder.
“You think ruining my reputation fixes yours?””
I frowned.
“My reputation?””
She pointed at me.
“You’re the one under investigation.””
A few guests exchanged looks.
There it was.
Her backup plan.
She wanted everyone to forget the dress.
Jonathan calmly opened his folder.
“Actually, about that…”
Vanessa froze.
He removed several documents.
“The financial accusations against Claire are based on forged records.””
The crowd became restless.
Vanessa stepped back.
“You can’t prove that.””
Jonathan smiled slightly.
“We already did.””
Then he looked at me.
“However, there is one thing we still need.””
I knew immediately.
Marcus.
The recording.
The final piece.
Before Jonathan could say anything else, a voice came from behind the guests.
“I think I can help with that.””
Everyone turned.
A man walked through the garden entrance.
Tall.
Calm.
Familiar.
Vanessa’s face lost all color.
Because she knew exactly who it was.
“Marcus.””
He looked directly at her.
“Hello, Vanessa.””
The silence that followed felt heavier than any accusation.
Because Vanessa wasn’t scared of the camera.
May you like
She wasn’t scared of the evidence.
She was scared of the one person who knew her before the mask.
