The day Damian and Bella got married dawned bright and clear. A gentle breeze drifted through the air, carrying a fresh, sweet scent that made everything feel almost magical. Damian had dropped millions from overseas just for this wedding, shipping in tens of thousands of roses to turn the whole venue into a dreamy, picture-perfect wonderland.
Allison stood numb inside the dressing room, forced into a bridesmaid dress while a crowd of people fawned over Bella like she was the center of the universe.
She had still been passed out that morning when Damian sent someone to dump a bucket of ice-cold water on her and drag her here.
"Allison, don't you dare play sick on me," Damian had snarled, his face twisted with pure disgust. "Today is my wedding. Even if you have to crawl, you're going to drag yourself to the ceremony and watch me be happy."
The memory hit her again, and Allison squeezed her eyes shut tight, fighting hard to keep the tears from spilling.
"You all can leave now," Bella announced with a sweet smile. "I want a little private chat with my sister."
Once the room emptied out, Bella dropped the fake mask completely. She turned to Allison with a cruel, almost childlike grin.
"Allison, aren't you happy for me on my wedding day? Why are you crying like that?"
Allison kept her head down and said nothing, but her hands at her sides shook uncontrollably.
"Even though it's my big day, I still have a special gift for you. It's in that box over there. Go ahead and open it yourself." Bella turned back to the mirror and carefully touched up her lipstick, then pointed lazily at the gift box on the makeup table.
After a beat, she added in a vicious tone, "You'd better behave and do exactly what I say, sis. If you don't, I'll make sure you regret it."
Allison looked at Bella and felt like a trapped animal with nowhere left to run.
Her fingers trembled as she lifted the lid. Inside lay the taxidermied body of Lucky, perfectly preserved like some sick trophy.
Allison let out a raw, terrified scream.
The room spun. Nausea surged up her throat, and her breathing turned fast and shallow. For a second, she forgot where she was or what she was supposed to be doing.
All she could think was that she had to get away, run somewhere no one could ever hurt her again.
That puppy Lucky had been the last thing in the world she still loved. She and Damian had adopted him together, and now Bella had slaughtered him and turned him into this because of her.
A loud smack echoed as Bella's hand cracked across Allison's face.
"Stop screaming, you're embarrassing me," Bella said coolly, inspecting her bright red nails like nothing had happened.
"Oh, and one more thing. I knew everything that went on at finishing school from start to finish. I told Damian to send you there in the first place. Hell, I even handpicked that teacher you met at the party. You really are the biggest i***t I've ever seen."
The wedding went ahead exactly as planned.
Allison followed silently behind Bella, playing the perfect bridesmaid, watching her walk down the aisle toward the man Allison had once loved more than life itself.
For some reason, right then, a scorching wave rolled through her chest.
She knew it was finally over. She was heading straight to hell, and there would be no more waiting, no more hoping, no more fighting.
The old Allison had died the day she first stepped through the doors of that finishing school.
Damian suddenly turned his head. He looked straight past his beautifully dressed bride and locked eyes with Allison standing to the side. His gaze was ice-cold.
Allison met his stare calmly. For the first time in forever, she gave him a real smile, a genuine, heartfelt smile full of pure relief.
"You may now kiss the bride."
"Do it! Kiss her!"
The white veil floated down. Applause thundered, and fireworks burst overhead, but a strange panic suddenly flooded Damian's heart.
He stood frozen in place. All he saw was Allison pulling a small, razor-sharp knife from inside her dress and driving it straight into her own carotid artery.
Blood sprayed everywhere, soaking his face and hair in a hot, crimson shower.
Allison killed herself right there at his wedding.
In her final moment, her eyes stayed fixed on him, wide and unblinking.
Aksara