Before Knox discovered the truth, he was ready to marry the woman he thought would be the love of his life. Seventy-two hours before the wedding, he began plotting the ultimate form of revenge. While Wynne expected the wedding of her dreams, Knox was preparing it to become a moment of confrontation.
Everything seemed perfect.
The venue glowed with golden light, flowers bloomed beautifully, and guests laughed, chatted, and sipped their drinks. Wynne had spent months planning every detail, from the elegant décor to the snack bags for guests who got hungry during the ceremony.
Meanwhile, I was preparing my own moment, quietly, as my fiancée arranged her perfect day.
Standing at the front, hands clasped, breath steady, I watched the bridesmaids cue into the music. I glanced at the meticulously chosen decorations, the candlelight, the smiling faces. Every detail radiated romance, and yet… I felt no anxiety. Not even a flicker.
Until now.
The past three days were a blur.
One moment, I was standing by my apartment window, staring at city lights. The next, I was slumped on the couch, hands on my head, trying to breathe. Across from me, my sister Suki sat quietly. Her words replayed in my mind like a haunting melody:
“I saw her, Knox. By his side. I wasn’t looking for it, but I saw them together.”
I whispered, “Are you sure, Suki?” My voice trembled.
“Yes,” she said. “Knox… I wouldn’t lie about this.”
Suddenly, the apartment felt suffocating. Once a place full of wedding gifts and hope, it now felt like a cage. I wanted to run, to escape this conversation.
“Tell me everything,” I said.
Suki hesitated, then straightened, eyes filled with sorrow.
“I was at that new vegan café when I saw Wynne at a corner table. She wasn’t alone.”
“Who was with her?” I asked.
“I don’t know his name, but I recognized him. He looked at her the way you would, Knox—and she looked back the same.”
I tried to stay calm. “That doesn’t prove anything.”
But then she touched his face gently, spoke softly to him… and kissed him.
I wanted to tell myself it was a mistake. Wynne wasn’t careless. She wouldn’t publicly kiss someone unless she believed no one would notice.
“Knox, I knew you’d need proof,” Suki said, showing me a photo.
I stared at it, hands trembling. “She said she loved me… And our wedding is in an hour and a half. Where do I even start?”
“Show her she can’t get away with this,” Suki said firmly.
For the first time, rage steadied me. No way would she walk away from this.
Suki smiled faintly. “I’ve got your back, brother.”
Right then, the first bridesmaid entered. As they walked down the aisle one by one, the room’s chatter fell silent. They weren’t wearing soft pastel colors like Wynne planned. No—each was dressed in black.
Their expressions were solemn. The contrast with the scattered white petals on the aisle made them stand out. Whispers spread through the guests. Wearing black was bold, almost scandalous.
Suki and I presented the evidence to the bridesmaids beforehand. Once they saw the truth, none would support a liar, no matter how hard it was to act against a friend.
Wynne took one step forward, radiant in white… and then froze. She noticed the black dresses, the somber atmosphere, the murmuring guests. Her face drained of color.
She tried to speak, but no words came. Her hand clutched her bouquet as if it could anchor her. Each step down the aisle became hesitant, unsteady.
When she reached me, her hands shook as she grabbed mine. They were icy.
“Knox, what is happening? Why are they dressed like this? You’ve ruined everything!” she cried.
I smiled, detached. “Didn’t you know?” I asked, loud enough for her to hear. Silence fell. She looked around, eyes flicking between me, the bridesmaids, and Suki.
I pointed to the women in black. “Wynne, this isn’t a wedding,” I said calmly.
“Too calm,” she thought, but I had regained control of my emotions.
I smiled and said, “It’s a funeral.”
Gasps echoed through the hall. My mother nearly fainted. Wynne tightened her grip on my hands.
“Why would you say that?” she whispered, fear and anger mixing.
I let out a small, bitter laugh. “We’re here to bury what’s left of our love. Or rather, what you destroyed.”
The silence thickened. Guests murmured, whispering among themselves. One covered his mouth; another hushed his neighbor.
Wynne’s panic turned to fury. She spun toward the bridesmaids.
“You told him, didn’t you?” she yelled, accusing.
Her closest friend, Bryn, stepped forward. “We didn’t want to believe it either. But she showed us proof. Knox deserves better.”
Suki moved forward, face composed, voice icy and decisive. “After we learned the truth about you, Wynne, it became our responsibility to act.”
Wynne’s fists clenched. “You had no right!”
I cocked my head. “Do you agree I should know the truth about the woman I was about to marry?”
Her desperation was clear. “I can explain, Knox!”
I shook my head. “No, Wynne. There’s nothing left to explain.”
She looked around, seeking someone to defend her. No one moved. The guests remained frozen. The bridesmaids, dressed in black, were silent and resolute.
She heaved a weak breath, then spun and ran down the aisle, her white dress trailing behind her. She stumbled but kept going. No one followed. Not her family, not her friends.
I exhaled, finally letting go. I turned to Suki, who took my hand. Guests stared, shocked, their eyes flicking between me and the empty space Wynne had vacated.
I spoke to the crowd. “I know this isn’t what you expected. But I’m done pretending. Eat, drink, be merry. I’ll be fine.”
I walked down the aisle alone, passing Wynne sitting on the sidewalk, her dress like a ghost of her lost life. Her shoulders slumped, hands shaking. She was no longer the radiant bride—just a woman facing the consequences of her choices.
I approached. She looked up, mascara smudged, eyes red, reaching for my sleeve, then gripping my wrist.
“Oh, Knox,” she pleaded. “Please… don’t let this end. I’ll do anything.”
I didn’t respond. I stepped away.
“I was wrong,” she continued. “I was a fool. It was always you… always you.”
I observed her quietly. “If it had always been me, you wouldn’t need to say that again.”
“Please,” she begged.
I said calmly, “I’ll let your mother bring you some food,” and walked back to the buffet.