Chapter 1 – The Unwelcome One
Chapter 1 – The Unwelcome One
The wedding venue sparkled beneath thousands of crystal lights.
Guests laughed over champagne. A string quartet played softly. Outside, everything looked like the perfect fairy tale.
Inside a dim private dressing room, however, another story was unfolding.
Emma Brooks lowered her eyes as she pushed a housekeeping cart through the doorway.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "The manager asked me to replace the towels before the ceremony."
Before she could take another step, a sharp voice cut through the silence.
"I told you never to come near my wedding."
Emma froze.
Serena Lawson stood before the mirror in a breathtaking white lace gown, a crystal crown resting on her dark hair. Her smile—the one she had worn for the photographers moments earlier—had disappeared completely.
Now there was only contempt.
"I... I'm only working."
Serena strode toward her, her heels echoing across the marble floor.
"Working?" she sneered. "Or looking for another chance to ruin my life?"
Emma's fingers tightened around the towels.
"I never wanted to ruin anything."
"Liar."
Serena shoved the cart aside.
Fresh towels spilled onto the floor.
"You should have stayed in that hospital where you belong."
Emma bit her lip.
"I came because the hotel assigned me here."
"Then tell them to send someone else."
"I can't."
"You can."
"No..."
Serena leaned so close Emma could smell her expensive perfume.
"Then work in silence. Like you've always done."
Emma's eyes filled with tears, but she refused to answer.
She had spent years pretending she didn't exist.
She could survive a few more minutes.
At least...
May you like
That was what she believed.
Until the door suddenly opened.
