Wedding Night Betrayal: A Fading Heart

The doctors gave me three years to live. I used every last bit of my strength to marry Cedric Moon, the man I loved. On our wedding night, he abandoned me for another woman. He brought her into our home, forcing me to serve her. He made me apologize for crimes I didn't commit. His family despised me, but they adored her. Then came the staged kidnapping. To save her, Cedric traded me--his pr**nant wife--to the man holding a kn**e. As the blade pressed against my throat, I heard my husband's voice yell at the police. "Sh**t!" Chapter 1 The wall clock showed it was almost midnight. Kacie Oliver sat alone in the vast wedding suite. The room was filled with white roses, Cedric' s favorite, but their scent felt suffocating. This was her wedding night. The door finally opened, and Cedric Moon walked in. He looked surprised to see her awake, still in her wedding dress. "Kacie? Why aren't you asleep?" His voice was calm, with no hint of guilt. It made the hollow space in her ch**t ache even more. She didn't answer. Her mind drifted back to the afternoon. They were at the reception, about to share their first dance as husband and wife. Then his phone rang. He looked at the screen, his expression changing instantly. "I have to go," he had said, his voice tight. "What's wrong, Cedric?" she had asked, her hand still on his arm. "It's Jayden. She' s been in an accident." He didn't wait for her response. He just turned and walked away, leaving her standing alone in the middle of the dance floor, the whispers of the guests rising around her. He left his bride for another woman on their wedding day. Now, hours later, the memory was a sharp, physical pain. Her heart, already weak, felt like it was being squeezed. The doctors had given her three years. Three years to live, to find love, to feel something real before her time ran out. She had thought she' d found it with Cedric. "Jayden's car was hit," Cedric said now, pulling her back to the present. He walked over and started un**ttoning his shirt. "It wasn't serious, just a few scratches, but she was scared. You know how she is." Kacie knew. She knew all too well. "I need you to understand, Kacie. I have a responsibility to her." He looked at her, his eyes asking for her compliance, for her to be the understanding wife. But all she felt was a profound weariness. Her heart condition, cardiomyopathy, made every day a struggle. It was why she had pursued him so relentlessly. When she first saw Cedric Moon, the brilliant tech CEO, on the cover of a magazine, she felt a pull she couldn't explain. She knew she had little time, and she wanted a grand, all-consuming love story. She had done everything to get his attention. She learned his routines, his favorite coffee shop, the park he jogged in. She engineered a dozen "accidental" meetings. At first, he was dismissive, cold. People in his circle laughed at her, the unknown woman so obviously chasing the unreachable Cedric Moon. The humiliation was nothing compared to the ticking clock inside her ch**t. Then came the company gala. He was dr**ged by a business rival, and she was the one who found him, disoriented and vulnerable. She got him to his hotel room, and one thing led to another. It was a messy, unplanned night. The next morning, she expected him to be furious, to throw her out. Instead, he looked at her with a strange expression and said, "I'll take responsibility." That was how it started. He officially accepted her, and they began dating. And to her shock, he was a good boyfriend. He was surprisingly gentle and attentive. He remembered she didn' t like onions. He learned to cook her favorite soup because he said the food from restaurants wasn't healthy enough. He would hold her when she felt weak, his presence a warm anchor in her uncertain world. One evening, her heart acted up. She collapsed at home, struggling to breathe. He found her, his face pale with a terror she had never seen before. He rushed her to the hospital, and as she lay in the bed, he held her hand and said, "Marry me, Kacie. Let me take care of you." She had cried, believing her desperate quest was finally over. She had won. She was discharged a week later. As they were leaving her room, a beautiful young woman appeared. "Cedric, you' re here!" the woman said, her voice bright. She linked her arm through his. "I came as soon as I heard. Are you okay?" She had completely ignored Kacie. Cedric had gently removed her arm. "Jayden, this is Kacie, my fiancée." He then turned to Kacie. "Kacie, this is Jayden Moore. She's like a little sister to me." Jayden was the daughter of Cedric's late mentor. He felt a profound sense of duty to her, a promise made to a dying man. His parents, Burt and Carroll Moon, adored Jayden. They saw her as the perfect daughter-in-law, a match in status and background. They saw Kacie as an outsider, an unwelcome disruption. The conflict started subtly. At a company retreat, Jayden twisted her ankle. It was a minor sprain, but she cried out as if she' d been shot. Cedric immediately swept her up into his arms, his face a mask of worry, and rushed her to the medic, leaving Kacie standing with his colleagues. He fussed over Jayden, his voice soft with concern, his hands gentle as he examined her ankle. He showed a level of panic and care that Kacie had only seen once before-when he thought she was dying. That was the moment a cold dread settled in her heart. His tenderness wasn't just for her. A week later, Jayden was transferred from the marketing department to become Cedric's personal secretary. She was always there, a constant presence in his life and, by extension, hers. The night before the wedding, Kacie had gone to his study to find him. The door was slightly ajar. She saw Jayden sitting on his desk, leaning close, her hand on his ch**t. Cedric was looking down at her, his expression unreadable. Kacie pushed the door open. Jayden didn't look surprised. She just smiled, a slow, knowing smile. "Oh, Kacie. Cedric was just helping me with a speck of dust in my eye." Her voice was sweet, but her eyes were full of victory. Now, standing in their wedding suite, Kacie looked at her husband. The man who had just abandoned her for that same woman. The hope she had clung to for so long was finally starting to crumble. Chapter 2 Kacie took a deep breath, the scent of roses making her nauseous. She walked over to Cedric, her movements stiff. She helped him out of his jacket, her fingers brushing against his skin. He smelled strongly of al**hol. He never drank this much. It was bad for his health, a fact she knew he was well aware of. He must have been drinking to seal a deal for Jayden' s family's company. Another sacrifice for her. He was drunker than she thought. As he swayed, his head lolled to the side, and he mumbled a name. "Jayden..." It was a soft, slurred sound, but it hit Kacie with the force of a physical blow. From the hallway, Jayden's voice called out, "Cedric? Are you alright? I'll get you some water." She was still here. Of course, she was. Kacie ignored her and steered Cedric toward the bedroom. She helped him onto the bed and then escaped into the bathroom, leaning against the cool marble of the counter, trying to catch her breath. Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around her from behind. Cedric pressed his face into her neck, his breath hot against her skin. "Kacie," he murmured, his lips finding hers. The k**s was clumsy, tasting of whiskey and regret. "My wife." The word, which should have been a comfort, felt like another lie. But a desperate, foolish part of her still wanted to believe. Her body trembled. "Do you still want to marry me, Cedric?" The question was a wh**per, fragile and full of fear. He pulled back just enough to look at her. He cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs wiping away tears she hadn't realized were falling. He ki**ed her eyelids, her cheeks, her mouth. "Yes," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Of course, I do. I want to give you the grandest wedding. I want us to have a child. A little girl who looks just like you." The dam inside her broke. She wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him. She was a vine, and he was the tree she had wrapped her entire, fragile life around. If he fell, she would shatter. She let herself believe him. She let herself hope. The next day, that hope felt like a cruel joke. His promises from the night before dissolved with the morning light. She remembered the cool, electronic voice that had sounded in her head the moment he ran out of the wedding reception yesterday. It was the voice of her internal clock, the harsh reality of her diagnosis. Three years, Kacie. Your time is running out. "Cedric," she said, her voice carefully neutral as they sat at breakfast. "I think it would be best if Jayden was transferred to another department." He didn't even hesitate. "No." "Why not?" "She' s my assistant. She does a good job. There' s no reason to move her." "She' s not just an assistant, and you know it. Everyone in the company whispers about you two. Your parents treat her like their daughter. She' s not just an employee, Cedric." He frowned, a familiar sign of his impatience. "Don't be unreasonable, Kacie." He stood up, grabbing his pajamas, and went into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. The argument was over. He had decided. Kacie felt a familiar tightness in her ch**t. It was a pressure that had nothing to do with her heart condition and everything to do with him. That night, when she went to bed, the lights were off. But the ceiling above her glowed with a soft, beautiful light. He had turned on the projector he'd installed, and the Rosette Nebula bloomed across the ceiling. It was breathtaking. He slid into bed beside her, pulling her against his ch**t. "I'm sorry about yesterday," he whispered. "The wedding was a mess. I promise, I'll make it up to you. We' ll have another one, bigger and better than yesterday's." She looked into his eyes, saw the stars of the nebula reflected there, and her resolve softened. She was so tired of fighting. She just wanted to be loved. "Okay," she whispered. He leaned in to k**s her, but just as his lips were about to touch hers, his phone rang. The sound was harsh in the quiet room. He pulled away to answer it. Kacie heard Jayden's voice on the other end, choked with sobs. "Cedric... I just booked a flight back home." He sat up immediately, his voice sharp with alarm. "What? Why? What happened?" "Someone posted online... about you leaving the wedding for me," Jayden cried. "They' re saying horrible things, calling me a homewrecker. I can' t take it, Cedric. I have to leave." Kacie felt his gaze on her, cold and assessing. The warmth from a moment ago vanished, replaced by an icy chill. She met his eyes. "You think I did it?" He didn't answer her. He spoke into the phone, his voice gentle again. "Don't cry, Jayden. Stay where you are. I'll handle it." He hung up and turned to Kacie, his face a mask of disappointment. "Why would you do something so petty?" The accusation hit her harder than she expected. "It wasn't me." "Then who was it?" "I don't know, but it wasn't me!" He didn't believe her. She could see it in his eyes. He stood up and pulled her out of bed. "Get dressed. We're going to the hospital." "What for?" "You're going to apologize to Jayden. And we're going to live stream it to clear her name." "No," she said, pulling her arm away. "I have nothing to apologize for." He grabbed her arm again, his grip tight. "You're going to do this, Kacie. You owe her that much." He dragged her out of the house and to the car. The whole way to the hospital, she sat in silence, her heart a cold, heavy stone in her ch**t. When they arrived, a cameraman was already waiting in Jayden's hospital room. Jayden herself was sitting up in bed, wearing a pretty dress, her makeup perfect, looking pale and fragile. The moment she saw Cedric, her eyes filled with tears. "Cedric," she whispered, then her gaze shifted to Kacie, and she flinched as if she were afraid. "Kacie, don't scare her," Cedric said, his voice sharp. He moved to stand between them, his body a shield protecting Jayden from her. The action was so automatic, so instinctual. He was protecting another woman from his own wife. The bitterness was so strong Kacie could taste it. She had never seen him protect anyone like that before. Not even her. Chapter 3 "Start the stream," Cedric said to the cameraman. Jayden faced the camera, tears rolling down her perfect cheeks. "I just want to say... Cedric and I are like brother and sister. He left his wedding because he heard I was in a car accident. He was just worried about me. Please, don't misunderstand." Kacie watched the performance, feeling numb. "A car accident? You don' t have a single scratch on you." Jayden' s composure faltered for a second. She looked helplessly at Cedric. He stepped in immediately. "She was cleared by the doctors, but she' s suffering from emotional distress. That' s why she' s here." He looked directly at the camera. "I'm warning everyone to stop these baseless rumors. If this continues, my legal team will take action." He signaled for the cameraman to stop the stream. The performance was over. Jayden turned to Kacie, taking her hand. Her touch felt like ice. "Kacie, I'm so sorry this happened. It' s all my fault." Kacie pulled her hand away and let out a dry, humorless laugh. "No. It's my fault." She looked at Cedric. "I was wrong. Wrong to trust you. Wrong to believe I could ever be enough for you." "I'm going home," she said, her voice flat. "I'll take you," Cedric offered, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. Just then, a nurse came in. "Miss Moore, it's time for your bl**d test." Jayden immediately shrank back against the pillows. "Oh, no. Cedric, you know I can't... I have a phobia of needles." Cedric hesitated, looking between Kacie and Jayden. The choice was clear on his face before he even made it. Kacie didn' t wait for his decision. "It's fine. I'll go by myself." She turned and walked out of the room. As the door swung shut behind her, she caught a final glimpse of Cedric, sitting on the edge of the bed, holding Jayden' s hand, comforting her. Her heart felt numb. She couldn't tell if it was pain or just disappointment anymore. A final, crushing resignation. She had to leave. Not just this hospital, but this life she had fought so hard for. She would disappear. Completely. No body, no trace. Just gone. That evening was the first family dinner since the wedding. It was supposed to be a celebration. For Kacie, it felt like a funeral. She walked in and saw them all in the living room. Burt and Carroll Moon were laughing with Jayden, who sat between them on the sofa. Cedric was kneeling on the floor in front of Jayden, massaging her calf. "Oh, you're here," Carroll said when she saw Kacie. Her smile vanished. The warmth in the room dropped several degrees. "Jayden was at the hospital all day for check-ups," Cedric explained, not looking up. "Her leg is sore." He glanced at Kacie. "The elders are here. Don't make a scene." "I won't," Kacie said quietly. At the dinner table, she was invisible. All the attention, all the conversation, all the affection was directed at Jayden. Cedric peeled shrimp and cracked crab claws for Jayden, placing the meat carefully on her plate. It was an act of care he used to reserve for Kacie. She remembered the first time she had come to this house for dinner. The Moons had been polite but cold, their disapproval a tangible thing in the air. She had thought they were just stuffy, reserved people. Now she understood. They weren't cold. They were just cold to her. She ate in silence, the food tasteless in her mouth, each bite a struggle. The pain in her ch**t was a dull, constant throb. "Cedric, would you mind getting everyone some soup?" Carroll asked, smiling at her son. Kacie remembered a time when Cedric cooked fish soup just for her, telling her it was his secret family recipe. Jayden pouted playfully. "But Cedric, you promised that your famous fish soup was only for me." "This is chicken soup, silly," Cedric said patiently, his voice impossibly gentle. "The fish soup is still just for you." That was it. That was the truth she had been avoiding. The casual, thoughtless intimacy, the gentle tone, the exclusive promises. That was his real love. The tenderness he showed Kacie was just a pale imitation. "I'll get the soup for you, Kacie!" Jayden said, standing up with a bright, false smile. "I can get it," Kacie said, trying to stop her. "It's no problem. I know my way around this house better than anyone," Jayden said, a clear declaration of her place here. She went into the kitchen. The strong smell of fish broth wafted out, turning Kacie's stomach. Jayden returned, carrying a single bowl. "Did you know," she said, her voice low and meant only for Kacie, "that Cedric and I had a childhood engagement? Our parents arranged it when we were kids." The words hit Kacie' s already bruised heart. "Men's promises," Jayden added with a smirk, "they're not worth much, are they?" A sharp pain shot through Kacie' s ch**t. Acid rose in her throat. "Are you okay, Kacie?" Jayden asked, her expression one of mock concern. "You should take the soup. Cedric is waiting." Kacie tried to refuse, to push the bowl away, but her hands were shaking. The hot soup sloshed over the side, spilling all over the front of her dress. But it wasn't Kacie who screamed. Chapter 4 "Ah!" Jayden cried, stumbling backward and collapsing onto the floor. She clutched her hand, which was perfectly fine, and sobbed as if in agony. Cedric and his parents rushed into the kitchen. They saw Jayden on the floor, crying, and Kacie standing over her, her dress soaked with soup. Kacie's body went rigid. "It wasn't me," she whispered, shaking her head. Jayden immediately came to her defense, her voice choked with fake tears. "It was an accident! Kacie didn't mean it. Don't blame her." It was the most damning accusation possible. "You wicked jinx!" Carroll Moon shrieked, rushing to cradle Jayden. "First a car crash, now this! What have you done to our Jayden?" Burt Moon's gaze was like ice. "Kacie, you are Mrs. Moon now. Try to act like it." Kacie looked past them, her eyes searching for Cedric's. This was her last hope. She needed him to believe her, just this once. He wouldn't meet her eyes. He walked past her, knelt, and gently lifted Jayden into his arms. "I'm taking you to the hospital," he said softly to Jayden, and carried her out of the kitchen without a single glance back. Kacie watched him go, feeling him walk right out of her world. The last ember of hope inside her died, leaving only cold ash. Later that night, back in their empty house, Kacie saw the red, angry burn on her stomach from the soup. She cleaned the wound herself, the physical pain a distant echo of the agony in her heart. Tears streamed down her face, silent and hot. She heard the front door open. It was Jayden, wrapped in Cedric's expensive cashmere coat. "Cedric said I could stay here for a few days," Jayden said, her voice small and timid. "He was worried about me being alone." Cedric came in behind her, shielding her as if Kacie were a threat. "Jayden was kind enough to bring you some takeout," he said, avoiding Kacie's eyes. "She was worried you didn't eat." He placed a container of soup in front of her. Kacie looked at it, then at him. "I'm allergic to beans." Cedric looked surprised. He opened the container. The soup was full of soybeans. He had forgotten. Again. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" Jayden said, her hand flying to her mouth. "I think I ate your portion by mistake. That one was meant for me." "It's fine," Cedric said quickly, already dismissing Kacie's needs. "She won't mind. We can just order something else for her." Kacie looked at the two of them, a perfectly matched set of liars. The absurdity of it all made her want to laugh. She turned and walked into the bedroom, shutting the door. Hours passed. When Cedric finally came in, it wasn't to apologize. "I know you don't like Jayden," he said, his voice hard. "But you need to put aside your feelings. You'll apologize to her tomorrow and take care of her until she's better. Think of it as making up for what you did." Her stomach churned. Her lower abdomen ached with a dull, heavy pain. Her husband was bringing another woman into their home on their wedding night and ordering her to serve the woman. A bitter sigh escaped her lips. She was done. She wouldn't spend the last of her precious time in this misery. "Let's break up, Cedric." His face darkened. "What did you say?" "We're not legally married yet. We only had the ceremony. We're just boyfriend and girlfriend. And I'm breaking up with you." "What are you playing at, Kacie?" he demanded, his voice rising in anger and confusion. "Jayden told me about your childhood engagement." "That was just a joke between our parents! It meant nothing! She's my sister, that's all!" "A sister?" Kacie laughed, a hollow sound. "You have female cousins, Cedric. You're so strict with them they're not even allowed to call you by your first name. But Jayden can sit on your desk, touch you, and you leave your own wedding for her. You let her stay in our house. The house you promised would only ever be for the two of us." Cedric flinched. He remembered the promise. Kacie looked at him, her eyes empty of everything but disappointment. "I have my principles, Cedric. I don't share my husband." He opened his mouth to speak, but a soft, whimpering sound came from the doorway. Jayden stood there, tears streaming down her face. "Are you fighting because of me?" she cried. "I'm so sorry. I'll leave. I'll leave right now." She turned and ran, her sobs echoing in the silent house. "Jayden!" Cedric called out. He grabbed his car keys and, without a second glance at Kacie, ran after her. The sound of the front door slamming shut was the sound of her heart breaking for the final time. Chapter 5 Kacie lay alone on the bed, staring at the projected stars on the ceiling. They offered no comfort now, only a reminder of broken promises. The tears had run out. There was nothing left inside her but a vast, cold emptiness. The next morning, she was woken by the sound of Cedric moving around the master suite closet. He was packing a suitcase. "What are you doing?" she asked, her voice raspy. He didn't look at her. "I found Jayden last night. She was distraught. Kacie, I can't let her go through this alone. I think it would be best if you moved into the old Moon family estate for a while. Just until Jayden feels better." Her breath caught in her throat. "You want me to leave? So you and she can live here together?" He finally looked at her, his eyes full of a weary frustration. "The estate is too far for me to commute every day. Jayden needs me here. Can't you just be understanding for once?" "No," she said, her voice flat. "I want to break up." He threw the shirt he was holding onto the bed. "Why are you so convinced there's something sordid between me and Jayden? She' s my responsibility!" His anger was familiar. It reminded her of the man he was before he'd let her into his life, the cold, dismissive mogul who looked at her with disdain. Then, his expression softened. He sat on the bed and pulled her into a hug. "Kacie, please. Just give me a little more time. I promise I'll sort everything out. We'll go on that honeymoon trip, just the two of us. Anywhere you want to go." She didn't speak. She leaned against him, but it was just a body resting against another. Inside, she was already gone. When her time was up, he could have this house, his family, and his precious Jayden. It would have nothing to do with her. "Alright," she said. At breakfast, Jayden was already in the kitchen, humming as she set the table. She had prepared a full breakfast, acting every bit the lady of the house. She placed a bowl of seafood porridge in front of Kacie. The fishy smell made Kacie feel ill. Cedric, however, ate with gusto, praising Jayden's cooking. "So, Cedric, how is it?" Jayden asked, batting her eyelashes. "It's delicious," he said. "Better than Kacie's?" she asked, a sly smile on her face. Cedric fell silent for a moment. Jayden laughed lightly. "I'm just kidding! Of course, Kacie is the best at everything. After all, you chose her. You felt you had to be responsible after you went into her room by mistake that night, right?" Kacie's face went white. She looked at Cedric, who was sipping his milk, not denying a word. Responsible. That's what he had said that morning. Not "I want to be with you." Not "I have feelings for you." Just, "I'll take responsibility." Her great love story, the one she'd staked the last of her life on, was nothing more than a man's guilty conscience. After breakfast, Jayden stood by the door, straightening Cedric's tie and brushing a piece of lint from his jacket. They looked like a normal married couple. Kacie was the intruder. "Sorry, Kacie," Jayden said with a smug look. "Force of habit from work." Cedric glanced at Kacie. Seeing her blank expression, he seemed to relax. He ki**ed her on the forehead. "There's a company party tonight. I want you to come with me." "Okay," Kacie said. As soon as they left, she walked through the house. Jayden's things were everywhere-her shoes by the door, her skincare products in the bathroom, her favorite mug next to the coffee machine. The home she had so carefully built with Cedric was no longer hers. She picked up a silver picture frame from the mantelpiece. It was a photo of her and Cedric on the day he proposed. They both looked so happy. The sight of her own joyful, hopeful face was unbearable. She threw the frame into the tr**h. One by one, she gathered all her belongings. With each item that disappeared into a box, a little more of her attachment to this life, to him, vanished. She would go to the party tonight. And then, she would disappear from his world forever. She would no longer be the obstacle standing between him and his real love. Chapter 6 Kacie arrived at the hotel ballroom on time. The first thing she heard was the sound of Jayden crying. She walked into the private dressing room Cedric had booked and saw the scene. Jayden was sobbing, and on the chair next to her was a beautiful evening gown, now splattered with red w**e and dirt. Cedric' s face was dark with anger. "Don't worry, Jayden. I'll find out who did this and make them pay." He was already on the phone, arranging for a new dress to be delivered. Kacie didn't want to be part of the drama. She picked up her own dress bag and turned to find a different room to change in. "Wait," Jayden said, her eyes, red from crying, fixed on Kacie' s dress. "Cedric, there' s no time to get a new one. The party is about to start." She looked at Kacie. "Kacie, could I please borrow your dress? Just for tonight." The dress Kacie had chosen was a deep blue, a perfect match for the sapphire suit Cedric was wearing. They were meant to look like a couple. "Jayden, you're his assistant," Kacie said, her voice even. "It wouldn't be appropriate for you to wear a dress that matches the CEO's suit." Jayden' s lower l*p trembled. "But I' m his partner for the opening dance! If I don't look the part, it will reflect badly on the company. People will talk." Kacie felt a surge of weary frustration. "That's not my responsibility." Before she could react, Cedric stepped forward and took the dress bag from her hands. He gave it to Jayden. "This is an important event for the company, Kacie," he said, his voice firm. "Jayden needs to look her best." Kacie stared at her empty hands. "And what about me?" The simple question hung in the air. For the first time, Cedric seemed to truly see her. He saw the profound exhaustion in her eyes, the complete and utter disappointment. A strange, unfamiliar ache spread through his ch**t. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box. He opened it. Inside was a necklace, a stunning string of rubies that glowed like embers. It was the necklace Kacie had admired in a jewelry store window weeks ago. "This is for you," he said, his voice softer now. Her breath hitched. For a moment, she forgot everything. She reached out, her fingers hovering over the beautiful stones. "Oh, how gorgeous!" Jayden exclaimed, snatching the box from Cedric' s hand before Kacie could touch it. She clasped the necklace around her own neck. "Cedric, how do I look?" For the first time all evening, Cedric looked annoyed with Jayden. "That' s not for you, Jayden. It's for Kacie." Jayden smiled sweetly at Kacie. "Could I just borrow it for tonight, Kacie? Please? My dress is ruined, and I need something to make me look presentable. The reputation of the company is at stake." Cedric looked at Kacie, a silent plea in his eyes. He expected her to give in, to sacrifice her own feelings for the sake of his company, for the sake of Jayden. Kacie slowly pulled her hand back. "Let her wear it," she said, her voice devoid of emotion. Cedric looked relieved. He took the necklace from Jayden, his fingers brushing her neck as he fastened the clasp for her. "Does it look good?" Jayden asked again, turning to him. "It looks good," he said, his eyes on Kacie. But she was already gone. He turned to see her walking out of the room. "Kacie, where are you going?" he called out. "To a place where I belong," she said, without turning back. An uneasy feeling settled in his stomach. He wanted to go after her, but the party was starting. Jayden was pulling on his arm, urging him toward the ballroom. He took one last look at Kacie's retreating back, then suppressed the feeling of dread and turned away. Chapter 7 The sound of the orchestra from the ballroom was a wave of noise that crashed against Kacie as she walked down the empty hallway. She felt a phantom pursuit, the weight of the last few years chasing her, and she quickened her pace. Turning a corner, she collided with a heavyset man who reeked of whiskey. "Watch where you're going!" he slurred, grabbing her arm. "I'm sorry," Kacie said, trying to pull away. "I'll pay for your dry cleaning." The man's eyes roamed over her simple dress, a sneer on his face. "Dry cleaning? You think that's enough? Get on your knees and wipe my shoes, and maybe I'll forgive you." Kacie' s eyes narrowed. "No. Just tell me how much I owe you." He laughed, a harsh, ugly sound. "You'll do as I say." He started to drag her toward the ballroom doors. "You think you're too good for me?" "Let go of me," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "I'm with Cedric Moon." The man laughed even harder. "Cedric Moon? His wife is in there right now, dancing with him. You must be one of his wannabes." He pulled her to the entrance of the ballroom. Kacie looked inside. And there, in the center of the dance floor, was Cedric. He was dancing the opening waltz with Jayden. Jayden was wearing a new dress, a brilliant scarlet one that shimmered under the lights. She was also wearing the ruby necklace. The one that was meant for Kacie. They were a stunning couple, a perfect match. They moved together gracefully, their eyes locked, smiles of pure happiness on their faces. They looked like they were the only two people in the world. Any desire Kacie had to fight, to scream, to demand an explanation, died. What was the point? The truth was right there, dancing in front of her. Slowly, deliberately, she knelt. She took the handkerchief from the man's br**st pocket and carefully wiped the spot of dirt from his polished leather shoe. The waltz ended. Cedric' s eyes scanned the crowd, and then he saw her. He saw her on her knees at the feet of another man. His face contorted with rage. He pushed through the crowd and, without a word, punched the drunk man squarely in the jaw. The man crumpled to the floor. "How dare you?" Cedric roared, standing over him. He then pulled Kacie to her feet and, ignoring the shocked stares of his guests, dragged her away. In the elevator, his anger turned on her. "Why didn't you call for me?" he demanded, his voice low and furious. Kacie looked at him, a bitter smile on her lips. "I didn't want to interrupt your dance with the new 'Mrs. Moon'." "She was a last-minute replacement for the dance, Kacie. That's all." "Stop," she said, holding up a hand. "Just... stop. I don't want to hear any more of your excuses." She looked him in the eye. "Why did you have my things cleared out of the house?" He froze. An assistant had called him earlier, telling him Kacie had thrown away their wedding photo. He had assumed she was leaving him. In a fit of anger and hurt, he had ordered her things be put in storage. "I'm leaving, Cedric," she said, her voice calm and final. The elevator was silent. He grabbed her wrist, his grip painfully tight. "Don't play these games with me, Kacie." She had no words left. The elevator doors were about to open on the ground floor when his phone rang again. It was his assistant, his voice frantic. "Mr. Moon! It's Jayden! She's been kidnapped!" Cedric's face went white. He grabbed Kacie and ran, not down, but up, toward the roof. On the rooftop, a man held a kn**e to Jayden's throat. It was the drunk guest from the hallway. "Moon!" the man yelled. "You humiliated me! Now you're going to pay!" Cedric' s breath was ragged. "Let her go. She has nothing to do with this." He was trying to sound calm, but Kacie could feel the panic radiating from him. "Nothing to do with this?" the man laughed. "Everyone knows she's the most important person in the world to you!" "Cedric, help me!" Jayden screamed. Cedric took an involuntary step forward. The man pressed the kn**e harder against Jayden's skin. Cedric froze. "What do you want?" Cedric asked, his voice strained. "I want you on your knees!" the man snarled. "And I want her," he said, pointing the kn**e at Kacie. "Send your real wife over here in exchange for your little pet." Kacie felt Cedric' s hand loosen on hers. He looked at her, his eyes pleading. Then, he pushed her forward, toward the kidnapper. "Please," Cedric begged, his voice breaking, directed not at the kidnapper, but at Kacie, or maybe the universe. "Jayden can't get hurt. She can't." Then, for the second time that night, he got on his knees. Not for Kacie, but for Jayden. The kidnapper laughed and released Jayden, who immediately ran into Cedric's waiting arms. At the same time, the kidnapper lunged for Kacie. An arm wrapped around her neck, and a sharp blade pressed against her skin. She was dragged to the edge of the roof. Suddenly, the rooftop door burst open, and police officers swarmed in. The kidnapper holding Kacie panicked. She felt him raise the kn**e. Her last sight was of Cedric and Jayden, wrapped in a protective embrace. Then she heard Cedric's voice, clear and decisive, ring out across the rooftop. "Sh**t!" ...... What happens next? Available chapters here are limited, click the button below to install the App and enjoy more exciting chapters (Automatically jump to this novel when you open the app) &2&