Chapter One

The Night Before the Wedding

The wedding was tomorrow.

Selina Carter stood in the quiet bridal suite, staring at her reflection in the mirror. The white dress hung nearby, protected in a clear garment bag. Everything was ready. The flowers, the venue, the guests flying in from different cities. Her life was supposed to begin tomorrow.

She should have been happy.

Instead, something felt… wrong.

Jason had been acting strange all evening. Distracted. Avoiding eye contact. His phone glued to his hand.

Selina tried to convince herself it was just wedding stress.

But deep down, her instincts were screaming.

Her phone buzzed on the table. A message from her best friend.

Lila: Where are you? I thought you'd be at the rehearsal dinner.

Selina frowned.

Lila had left the dinner earlier, saying she felt sick.

Jason had also disappeared about twenty minutes ago.

Her chest tightened.

“No,” she whispered to herself. “Don’t be paranoid.”

Still, the uneasy feeling refused to go away.

Selina grabbed her clutch and stepped out of the bridal suite, walking down the quiet hallway of the hotel where most of the wedding guests were staying.

The corridor was almost empty.

Her heels clicked softly against the floor as she walked toward the elevators.

Then she heard something.

A laugh.

A familiar laugh.

Selina stopped.

Her heart skipped.

That was Lila’s voice.

It was coming from the balcony area near the end of the hall.

Selina’s stomach dropped.

Slowly, she walked closer.

Every step felt heavier than the last.

The balcony doors were slightly open.

And that’s when she saw them.

Jason.

And Lila.

Jason had Lila pressed against the railing, his hands gripping her waist while their lips moved hungrily against each other.

Selina froze.

Her brain refused to process what her eyes were seeing.

Her fiancé.

Her best friend.

Kissing.

No— not just kissing.

Cheating.

Her heart slammed painfully against her ribs.

For a moment, the world went silent.

Then Jason pulled away slightly, laughing under his breath.

“You know we shouldn’t be doing this,” he murmured.

Lila smirked.

“You’re the one getting married tomorrow, not me.”

Selina felt something inside her shatter.

Lila leaned closer again.

“Besides,” she whispered teasingly, “you’ve always liked me more.”

Jason didn’t deny it.

Instead, he kissed her again.

That was the moment Selina stepped forward.

The balcony door slammed open.

Jason and Lila jerked apart instantly.

Jason’s face drained of color.

“Selina—”

Lila’s eyes widened.

“Oh.”

Silence fell between the three of them.

For a few seconds, no one spoke.

Selina looked from Jason… to Lila… and back again.

Her expression was strangely calm.

Too calm.

“So,” she said quietly, “how long?”

Jason ran a hand through his hair.

“It’s not what it looks like—”

Selina laughed.

A cold, hollow laugh.

“You’re kissing my best friend the night before our wedding,” she said slowly. “Please. Explain how that’s not what it looks like.”

Jason opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Lila crossed her arms.

“Well,” she said with a shrug, “now you know.”

Selina turned her head slowly.

“You’re not even sorry?”

Lila tilted her head.

“Why should I be?”

Selina stared at her, stunned.

Lila smirked.

“If we're being honest… Jason and I have had chemistry for years.”

Jason muttered, “Lila, stop—”

But she ignored him.

“You were just the one who got the ring first.”

Selina felt rage begin to rise inside her chest.

Years.

Her best friend.

Her fiancé.

All this time.

Jason stepped forward nervously.

“Selina, listen to me. It was a mistake.”

“A mistake?” Selina repeated.

“Yes.”

“You accidentally fell on top of my best friend and kissed her?”

Jason groaned.

“That’s not what I meant.”

Selina looked at him with icy calm.

“Then what did you mean?”

He hesitated.

And that hesitation told her everything.

Selina nodded slowly.

“Wow.”

Her chest hurt, but she refused to cry in front of them.

Not here.

Not now.

“You know what’s funny?” she said quietly.

Jason looked hopeful.

“What?”

Selina smiled.

“I almost felt sorry for you.”

Lila scoffed.

“Oh please.”

Selina turned toward her.

“You think this is funny?”

Lila shrugged again.

“I think you were blind.”

The words hit harder than the betrayal itself.

Selina stared at her for a long moment.

Then she did something neither of them expected.

She laughed.

Jason blinked.

“Selina…?”

She wiped an imaginary tear from her eye.

“You know what?” she said. “Congratulations.”

Jason frowned.

“What?”

Selina gestured between them.

“You deserve each other.”

Then she turned and walked away.

Jason rushed after her.

“Selina, wait!”

She didn’t stop.

“Selina!”

He grabbed her arm.

She pulled it away immediately.

“Don’t touch me.”

Jason looked panicked.

“Please don’t cancel the wedding.”

Selina stared at him.

“You’re serious right now?”

“It was just a stupid moment!”

Selina shook her head slowly.

“No.”

Jason’s face tightened.

“You’re overreacting.”

That was the final straw.

Selina leaned closer, her voice deadly quiet.

“You cheated on me with my best friend the night before our wedding… and I’m overreacting?”

Jason looked away.

Selina straightened.

“Don’t worry,” she said coldly. “The wedding is definitely canceled.”

Jason’s eyes widened.

“You can’t do that! Do you know how embarrassing that will be?”

Selina stared at him.

“Embarrassing?”

He nodded.

“For both our families.”

Selina laughed again.

“You’re worried about embarrassment?”

Jason sighed impatiently.

“Selina, be reasonable.”

Something inside her snapped.

“You know what?” she said calmly. “You’re right.”

Jason blinked.

“I am?”

“Yes.”

She smiled sweetly.

“I shouldn’t embarrass you.”

Jason relaxed slightly.

Then Selina added:

“I should destroy you instead.”

Jason’s smile vanished.

Selina turned and walked away again.

This time he didn’t follow.

As she stepped into the elevator, her hands trembled slightly.

The doors closed.

Her reflection stared back at her in the mirrored walls.

Her eyes were red.

But the tears never came.

Instead, a different emotion slowly filled her chest.

Cold.

Sharp.

Dangerous.

Revenge.

Jason thought the worst thing that could happen tonight was getting caught.

He had no idea.

Selina Carter had just lost her wedding.

But Jason Carter was about to lose everything.

And she was going to enjoy every second of it.