Chapter 15
As their words registered, the last glimmer of life left Terrence’s eyes.
One of the housekeepers stepped forward hesitantly, opening her hand. “Mr. Hatcher, I found this while cleaning a few days ago. The ring seemed valuable, so I thought Ms. Lundy might have thrown it away by accident. I kept it for safekeeping,”
Another housekeeper approached, carrying a pile of white fabric. “Mr. Hatcher, Mrs. Hatcher left this in the house yesterday. It appears to be a wedding dress, and with the gemstone at its center, I didn’t feel right disposing of it.”
Terrence’s fingers trembled as he lifted the ring. Then, he gently traced the pink diamond set into the dress, where “L&H Forever” was engraved inside.
It was the engagement ring he had designed himself, along with the wedding gown he had specially tailored just for her.
A wave of excruciating pain engulfed Terrence’s entire being.
Had Thea’s bitterness toward him truly festered to such depths? That she would choose death itself as her final act of vengeance, erasing every last trace of the happiness they once shared?
As the sharp agony ebbed, it left behind an endless, gnawing void of regret.
Today should have been the most joyous day of his life. He had believed he would finally many the woman he loved. He had even arranged a global live stream, wanting the world to witness their union.
Yet, all this time, he had been teetering on the edge of an abyss without realizing it. When joy finally seemed within reach, fate struck a devastating blow, dragging him down.
No dawn would ever rise to drive the darkness away.
Terrence sent everyone away and sat alone on the floor, cradling the torn wedding dress. Thea’s engagement ring, now threaded onto a cord, hung around his neck like a pendant.
It was among the few things left that still held her presence. With them near, it almost seemed as though she had never left.
Then, Thea’s phone in his pocket buzzed. He opened it and froze. The message was from Alyssa.
“Thea, even if today is your wedding, do you really think that changes anything? I could make Terrence walk away from you right now if I wanted! Don’t fool yourself into thinking being Mrs. Hatcher means anything. I’m the one carrying his first child.
“So, tell me. What’s more important–your wedding night or his baby? Last night, he rested his face against my stomach, saying he couldn’t wait to be a father. You won’t be Mrs. Hatcher much longer!”
Attached was a photo of Terrence, his face pressed against Alyssa’s belly. His bare chest bore fresh red marks–evidence of what had happened before the picture
was taken.
As Terrence scrolled up, he saw that Alyssa had been sending Thea messages nearly every day.
“I’m pregnant.
“Terrence and I have been together for a year.
“You failed completely as a girlfriend.”
Those taunting words were only the beginning. There were endless compromising photos as well. Among them was a video of Alyssa lying beneath him, clad in a wedding dress.
Terrence remembered how Alyssa had demanded her own wedding dress after hearing he was getting married. He saw no harm back then and instructed the designer to create one for her.
Now, every word of that moment was captured in the video. And Thea had already regained her hearing by then.
Terrence closed his eyes, vivid memories at the bridal shop flooding back, each twisting like a blade in his chest. Now, he understood why she had shredded the dress.
His eyes dropped to the phone once more. His fingers clenched around it, knuckles pale and fury blazing in his gaze. Alyssa Schuler!
དེ དེན སོལ ཟ བཅོ རོ གཽ ཟ རོ རོༀ ཇི གཽ ཚ ཤྲུ
He had explicitly warned her never to involve Thea in their matters. Yet, she had deliberately disobeyed him, sending those provocative messages behind his back. His phone’s sudden ringing interrupted his thoughts.
Alyssa’s tearful voice quivered through the line when he answered, “Terrence, I’m having stomach pains. I’m worried about the baby. Could you please take me to the hospital?”
The fragile plea bore no resemblance to the cruel messages she’d sent to Thea.
A glacial air enveloped Terrence. “Certainly. I’ll come immediately.”
Her voice instantly brightened. “I’ll be waiting at home!”
She’d get exactly what she asked for.
