The Wedding He Turned Into a Funeral Chapter 08
Vincent’s jaw tightened. Everything he thought he knew about her was a performance. The real Melanie
was nothing like the fragile girl she pretended to be. Fury burned in his chest–at her lies, and at himself
for ever doubting Jade.
Late that night, Melanie walked in wearing a
simple white blouse and jeans. She spotted him on the couch and froze for a second, then softened her voice.
“Vincent–you waited up for me. That’s so sweet.”
He couldn’t stomach the act anymore. “Melanie— did Jade ever actually bully you?”
She didn’t even hesitate. “Of course she did. I’m still dealing with what she put me through.”
Vincent slammed the file onto the coffee table.
“Read it. And then explain yourself.”
Melanie picked it up, flipped through it, and
stepped back. “You investigated me? You don’t trust me?”
He stood and moved toward her, step by step. “I
wanted to. But tell me what all this is.”
She backed up until her spine hit the wall. Then
she ripped the papers to shreds and tossed them in the air like confetti. “If you trusted me, you wouldn’t have done this. Did Jade put you up to this? Vincent, I can explain-”
He cut her off. “Enough. I’m done listening to your
lies. The evidence is right in front of you—and you’re still trying to play me?”
She dropped the act. Her face went cold. “Fine. I lied to you. Every single day. But you were stupid
enough to believe me over her–that’s on you. You
knew how much that wedding meant to her, and you still let me tear it apart. You’re no better than me.”
His mind flashed to Jade–how she’d poured her
heart into every detail. A whole year. And he’d let Melanie destroy it all just because he couldn’t say no to her.
He let out a bitter laugh. “You’re right. This is all on me. I deserve every bit of it. I’m the one who lost her.”
He dropped to his knees and slapped himself, hard,
over and over. Then he pointed at the door.
“Get out. I never want to see your face again. If you come near me, I’ll make sure you regret it in ways you can’t even imagine.”