Left at the Altar, Stolen by the Enemy - Chapter 5: Chapter 5
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My voice trembled with embarrassment and hurt. "Wendy, it's just a wedding dress. It's fine! I'm overseas right now, but I've arranged for a gift to be sent to you. Hopefully it'll cheer you up."
The moment I stepped through my front door, a sharply dressed butler appeared, presenting me with an ornate box containing a complete set of emerald jewelry. "These are the Smith family heirlooms," he explained formally, "passed down through generations to each matriarch. Please accept them, Miss Shaw."
Cradling the box, warmth spread through my chest. Henry truly saw me as his wife. For the first time, I dared to hope our marriage might work.
After taking a work call about some unclear details, I returned to find the emerald set gone. I turned the room upside down - nothing. No forced entry, no signs of disturbance.
I was dialing the police when Cynthia's social media post caught my eye: "Couldn't find my dream wedding ring, but he surprised me with traditional jewelry instead. This must be what true love feels like." There she was, wearing my emerald earrings, necklace, and bracelets.
Security footage revealed the truth: Ethan and Cynthia had visited while I was out. "Ethan, is this my surprise? It's gorgeous!" Cynthia had immediately zeroed in on the jewelry I'd left on my nightstand.
Ethan's awkward stammer said it all: "Uh... glad you like it..."
Blood pounding in my ears, I raced to Ethan's house. Cynthia was parading the jewels before his relatives. "Ethan's family heirlooms," she preened. "He's already decided I'll be the Hill family's daughter-in-law."
"That sparkle is incredible! Ethan must really adore you!"
I saw red. "Thieves! Who said you could steal my emeralds?"
Cynthia's mocking laugh cut through the room. "Some dignity, Wendy? These are Ethan's family jewels. First my ring and dress, now this? How low will you sink?"
Ethan stood beside her, guilt written across his face. I locked eyes with him. "Your family heirlooms? Should we call the police to verify that?"
My challenge made him snap. "Enough! Even if they're not, you stole Cynthia's ring and dress! At least apologize! Maybe when she's tired of them, I'll let you borrow the jewels for a day!"
I'd never encountered such shamelessness. Phone already in hand, I started dialing 911.
Cynthia's eyes darted nervously. Suddenly she ripped off the jewelry. "Stop tormenting us, Wendy! Take them if you must... Just leave us alone. Ethan doesn't love you - quit chasing him!" Her performance was Oscar-worthy, painting me as the desperate stalker.
As she thrust the pieces at me, she "accidentally" dropped them. The emeralds shattered across the floor.
The sound seemed to freeze the blood in my veins. Cynthia smirked. "Oops. Should've caught them, Wendy. What a waste..."
Ethan looked down his nose at me. "Quit humiliating yourself! Take your trash and get out!"
Staring at the glittering fragments, my heart shattered with them. "Ethan, I'll never forgive you!"
His sneer could have cut glass. "Forgive me? Don't come crawling back later like some pathetic stray. And stay away from my wedding in five days! Behave, and maybe I'll visit you occasionally."
"Save your visits for hell," I spat, listing the house that same day.
Guilt gnawed at me about the destroyed heirlooms, but Henry soothed me over the phone: "They're just objects, darling. Yours to do with as you please. Now, are you ready? I won't have my bride walking down the aisle with puffy eyes."
Before I knew it, wedding day arrived - along with fresh nerves. Just after makeup, I literally ran into tuxedo-clad Ethan in the bathroom.
"Deaf as well as dumb, Wendy? I warned you not to crash my wedding!" He grabbed my arm. "Someone lock her up!"
I fought like a wildcat. "I'm not here for you!"
His laugh was cruel. "Pathetic lies. Then why the wedding dress?"
"Let go! My marriage has nothing to do with you!"
His fingers dug into my chin. "Who else would want you? Know your place, Wendy."
As his goons moved in, a deep voice rumbled behind us: "Mr. Hill, where exactly are you taking my bride?"
The moment I stepped through my front door, a sharply dressed butler appeared, presenting me with an ornate box containing a complete set of emerald jewelry. "These are the Smith family heirlooms," he explained formally, "passed down through generations to each matriarch. Please accept them, Miss Shaw."
Cradling the box, warmth spread through my chest. Henry truly saw me as his wife. For the first time, I dared to hope our marriage might work.
After taking a work call about some unclear details, I returned to find the emerald set gone. I turned the room upside down - nothing. No forced entry, no signs of disturbance.
I was dialing the police when Cynthia's social media post caught my eye: "Couldn't find my dream wedding ring, but he surprised me with traditional jewelry instead. This must be what true love feels like." There she was, wearing my emerald earrings, necklace, and bracelets.
Security footage revealed the truth: Ethan and Cynthia had visited while I was out. "Ethan, is this my surprise? It's gorgeous!" Cynthia had immediately zeroed in on the jewelry I'd left on my nightstand.
Ethan's awkward stammer said it all: "Uh... glad you like it..."
Blood pounding in my ears, I raced to Ethan's house. Cynthia was parading the jewels before his relatives. "Ethan's family heirlooms," she preened. "He's already decided I'll be the Hill family's daughter-in-law."
"That sparkle is incredible! Ethan must really adore you!"
I saw red. "Thieves! Who said you could steal my emeralds?"
Cynthia's mocking laugh cut through the room. "Some dignity, Wendy? These are Ethan's family jewels. First my ring and dress, now this? How low will you sink?"
Ethan stood beside her, guilt written across his face. I locked eyes with him. "Your family heirlooms? Should we call the police to verify that?"
My challenge made him snap. "Enough! Even if they're not, you stole Cynthia's ring and dress! At least apologize! Maybe when she's tired of them, I'll let you borrow the jewels for a day!"
I'd never encountered such shamelessness. Phone already in hand, I started dialing 911.
Cynthia's eyes darted nervously. Suddenly she ripped off the jewelry. "Stop tormenting us, Wendy! Take them if you must... Just leave us alone. Ethan doesn't love you - quit chasing him!" Her performance was Oscar-worthy, painting me as the desperate stalker.
As she thrust the pieces at me, she "accidentally" dropped them. The emeralds shattered across the floor.
The sound seemed to freeze the blood in my veins. Cynthia smirked. "Oops. Should've caught them, Wendy. What a waste..."
Ethan looked down his nose at me. "Quit humiliating yourself! Take your trash and get out!"
Staring at the glittering fragments, my heart shattered with them. "Ethan, I'll never forgive you!"
His sneer could have cut glass. "Forgive me? Don't come crawling back later like some pathetic stray. And stay away from my wedding in five days! Behave, and maybe I'll visit you occasionally."
"Save your visits for hell," I spat, listing the house that same day.
Guilt gnawed at me about the destroyed heirlooms, but Henry soothed me over the phone: "They're just objects, darling. Yours to do with as you please. Now, are you ready? I won't have my bride walking down the aisle with puffy eyes."
Before I knew it, wedding day arrived - along with fresh nerves. Just after makeup, I literally ran into tuxedo-clad Ethan in the bathroom.
"Deaf as well as dumb, Wendy? I warned you not to crash my wedding!" He grabbed my arm. "Someone lock her up!"
I fought like a wildcat. "I'm not here for you!"
His laugh was cruel. "Pathetic lies. Then why the wedding dress?"
"Let go! My marriage has nothing to do with you!"
His fingers dug into my chin. "Who else would want you? Know your place, Wendy."
As his goons moved in, a deep voice rumbled behind us: "Mr. Hill, where exactly are you taking my bride?"
End of Left at the Altar, Stolen by the Enemy Chapter 5. Continue reading Chapter 6 or return to Left at the Altar, Stolen by the Enemy book page.