Chapter 9
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In the bridal suite, Victoria sat quietly before the mirror, allowing the makeup artist to work.
The woman reflected back was stunningly beautiful, virtually unchanged from when she’d fled her wedding three years ago. Only her gaze had grown colder, more arrogant.
She gently traced the lace on her wedding dress, a barely perceptible smile playing at her lips.
Meanwhile, Sophia peered through the crack outside the door, staring intently at Victoria’s back. Her nails dug deep into her palms.
Just as she’d suspected, Victoria wasn’t truly “generous” at all. She was simply playing hard to get, trying to capture Jason’s heart through manipulation. How cunning.
What infuriated her even more was that Jason had actually agreed to this wedding. Even if the ceremony was just for show, it was enough to drive her mad with jealousy.
“Victoria Coleman…” Sophia whispered under her breath, malice flashing in her eyes. “You think this is some kind of power play? Dream on!”
She turned and left, her heels silent on the carpet.
Moments later, Jason pushed through the door. He stood impeccably dressed in his suit, though his handsome face carried a hint of impatience.
He glanced at Victoria’s reflection in the mirror and said coolly, “I’ll go through with this wedding today, but I hope you’ll stop making things difficult for Sophia afterward.”
Victoria looked up, meeting his gaze through the mirror with calm, almost indifferent eyes. She didn’t answer, just hummed softly.
Jason’s brow furrowed slightly. Something about Victoria seemed different, but he couldn’t pinpoint what had changed.
Just as he was about to investigate further, his phone began to ring.
“Mr. Reid, something’s wrong!” Benjanin Linden, his assistant, said. His voice was frantic. “Ms. Page is missing!”
Jason’s face went pale. Without another thought, he bolted from the bridal suite.
At the airport waiting area, Maya was quietly organizing her passport. Her phone suddenly buzzed. She glanced at it to find a taunting message from Sophia.
“Even on your wedding day, Jason will abandon you for me. Tell me, who do you think is more important to him?”
Maya read it expressionlessly, then removed her SIM card and snapped it in half. The sound was sharp and final. She tossed the pieces into the trash, as if discarding three years of endurance and pretense.
Back at the wedding venue, chaos had erupted. Guests whispered among themselves, speculation running wild. The officiant stood awkwardly at the altar, unsure how to announce the delay,
In the bridal suite, Victoria waited a long time for Jason’s return. Finally, she stood to check what was happening, but the door burst open.
Jason stood in the doorway, breathless and looking terrible. His suit was disheveled, and his damp hair clung to his forehead. He’d clearly been running.
“Victoria, something happened to Sophia. The wedding’s off.” His voice was hoarse with barely contained fury.
Victoria watched him quietly, then suddenly smiled. “Jason, are you really going to abandon this wedding for some outsider?”
Jason froze, then replied coldly, “She’s not an outsider! If you hadn’t been targeting her, why would she do something so desperate?”
Victoria shook her head, eyes full of pity. “You’re pathetic.”
Jason was about to explode at her words when his phone rang again. He glanced at the caller ID, and his face went deathly pale.
