Li Mei stood motionless, her hands trembling as she adjusted the intricate lace of her wedding gown. The weight of the moment pressed down on her, suffocating her in a way she couldn't escape. The grand hall around her, adorned in delicate silks and shimmering chandeliers, was meant to be a celebration. Yet, all she could feel was the unbearable ache of betrayal.
For as long as she could remember, Zhang Yiming had been her everything—her protector, her confidant, the boy she thought she would marry one day. Their families had promised each other years ago, and Li Mei had always believed that love and patience would be enough to win his heart. But the truth, as always, had a cruel way of revealing itself.
Just hours before, Li Mei had overheard a conversation that shattered her world. The garden, once her sanctuary, had now become the setting for the most painful discovery of her life.
"I've never loved her, Xinyue," Yiming confessed in a low voice. "I know it's wrong, but you've always been the one I loved. I don't want to marry her... I want to be with you."
"Yiming, I never wanted to hurt her. I never meant for things to turn out this way," Xinyue had said, "I... I can't do this," Xinyue murmured, her voice quiet yet filled with emotion. "Yiming, I can't accept your proposal... not yet. I know I should choose, but I love her too. Li Mei is my best friend. Her voice quiet but laden with conflict. "How do I choose?"
"Xinyue, you've always known how I feel," Yiming had replied, his voice firm, yet softened by regret. "I've always loved you. Li Mei... she was a dear friend, but my heart belongs to you. It always has." But I want you to choose us this time, Please.
Then, to Li Mei's utter disbelief, Xinyue silently nodded, her eyes brimming with silent conflict. Without another word, she stepped into Yiming's embrace, wrapping her arms around him. As their lips met, she kissed him back, her hesitation fading as their kiss deepened, a mix of longing and guilt in her touch. In that moment, Li Mei realized the depth of their bond—one that had been hidden from her for far too long. The world around her seemed to blur, as if the very air had thickened with the weight of her heart breaking.
Li Mei's breath hitched as she heard the truth—clear, undeniable. She had been a fool to think she could hold onto a love that was never hers to begin with. The boy she had loved for so long, the boy she had sacrificed for, had already chosen someone else. And her best friend, the one person she trusted with her heart, her best friend. Suddenly, someone approached her , it was Li Na, her stepsister, walked in with a wicked smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Li Mei's blood ran cold.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Li Na's voice dripped with mock sweetness as she casually adjusted Li Mei's veil, her fingers brushing against her skin with a familiarity that made Li Mei's stomach churn. "You're so fortunate, Mei. So many girls would die for a wedding like this. Too bad it's not your dream day, is it?"
Li Mei's eyes flashed with anger, but she bit her lip, holding it in. There was nothing she could say that would change this moment. Her father had already chosen his side, allowing Madam He, her manipulative stepmother, to control everything. With a tight breath, Li Mei turned and walked back to her room, trying to compose herself.
At that moment, her father knocked on the door. "Li Mei, it's time." His voice was gentle, but there was no warmth in it. She could feel the distance between them growing every day, ever since he remarried her stepmother, and allowed her to manipulate everything in their lives.
With a final glance at her reflection, Li Mei forced herself to smile, though the pain in her heart threatened to swallow her whole. This was not the day she had imagined. She had spent her entire life preparing for this moment, hoping for a love that would last forever, but now it felt like nothing more than a cruel joke.
She took a deep breath and walked toward the door.
As she entered the grand hall, Li Mei's gaze swept across the guests, but all she could focus on was Yiming, standing at the altar, looking uncomfortable in his tuxedo. He avoided her eyes, his expression pained, yet there was no hiding the coldness between them. She couldn't help but feel that he wasn't truly present with her. He was lost in thoughts of someone else—Xinyue.
When Li Mei finally stood before him, her heart pounding in her chest, their eyes met briefly. For a moment, she saw the flicker of hesitation in Yiming's gaze, but it was gone before she could process it.