Chapter 2

Serena's POV

The wedding venue.

The banquet hall for five hundred people was full.

Relatives and friends from both sides, business partners, media reporters.

Ethan's family ran a building materials business and wanted to use this wedding to build their reputation.

I walked into the hall on my father's arm.

Ethan stood at the end of the red carpet, suit impeccable, smile gentle.

In my previous life, I was deceived by this smile, thinking he was the right person.

When I reached him, my father placed my hand in his.

Ethan squeezed tight.

"Serena, you look beautiful today."

He said in a low voice.

The officiant began reciting his lines, asking those old clichéd questions.

Ethan looked at me, his eyes shining. Such good acting.

My turn came.

The officiant said, "Miss Serena Williams, do you take Mr. Ethan Chapman to be your husband?"

The entire hall fell silent. Everyone looked at me.

I took the microphone, my fingers ice-cold.

"Before I answer," I said, "I'd like everyone to watch a video."

Ethan froze. So did the officiant.

The backstage staff, following my instructions from last night, cut the music and turned on the big screen.

The first photo appeared.

In a car, Ethan and Claire were kissing. The timestamp read three days ago.

The entire hall erupted.

"What-what is this?"

Ethan's father stood up.

The second photo. A hotel corridor, Ethan with his arm around Claire's waist entering a room.

The third photo. Morning, Claire coming out of the same room, wearing my pearl necklace around her neck.

My mother in the audience clutched her chest. Dr. Walker immediately stepped forward, and the two bodyguards I had arranged also moved behind her.

"Serena, these are AI-generated! Someone is trying to frame me!"

Ethan tried to grab the microphone.

I dodged. And clicked on the last photo.

It was from last night, a recording from Claire in my room.

"Ethan said once we get Serena's money, he'll dump her... Her mother's health is so bad, just upset her a bit and she'll die, then the inheritance will all be ours..."

Claire's voice in the recording was clear and piercing.

The entire hall fell deathly silent.

Ethan's face went from red to white to blue.

He looked at me like I was a stranger.

"You-you bugged me..."

"What else?"

I returned the microphone to the officiant.

"Wait for you to burn me alive?"

Ethan looked like he'd been struck by lightning, stumbling back two steps.

I turned to face the guests.

"The wedding is canceled. Sorry for the spectacle."

After speaking, I walked off the stage. Ethan tried to grab me but was blocked by the bodyguards.

His father was cursing him, his mother was crying. Claire had slipped away at some point, her seat empty.

When I reached the door, I looked back.

Ethan still stood on stage like a ridiculous statue.

Guests were whispering to each other, some holding up phones to record.

Getting into the car, the driver asked where to go.

"Home," I said.

"My parents' home."

The car drove away. I leaned my head against the window, finally starting to tremble.

Not from fear, but excitement. So this is what revenge felt like-like liquor burning down my throat.

My phone vibrated. I answered.

"Serena."

It was Adrian's voice, the only person who had helped me in my previous life.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

I took a deep breath.

"This is just the beginning."