The Wedding Was Your Perfect Lie

My mother had been ill for years, her only wish to witness her daughter's wedding.

For this, I pursued Liam for five years. On the hundredth time he turned me down, I finally decided to give up.

I then turned to Ethan, my childhood friend who had always waited for me.

We were deeply in love for a hundred days, and he promised to make me the happiest bride in the world.

Just when I joyfully believed I had finally found happiness, I overheard his conversation with Sarah.

"As long as you and Liam can be happy, it doesn't matter if I marry someone I don't love."

"Let me arrange your last birthday party. I want to see you happy with my own eyes, even if the one making you happy isn't me."

It turned out the wedding he meticulously planned for me was nothing but a deception.

A hundred days of pretense, merely to clear the path for Sarah and the man she loved.

Tears streamed down my face. I messaged Mom, telling her the wedding was off.

I don't know how she learned the truth, but in her distress, she passed away on the spot.

The funeral and Sarah's wedding coincidentally fell on the same day, at the same hotel.

Just a wall away, Ethan entered as a groomsman, caught a fleeting glimpse, and his face instantly went ashen...

By the time Mom's arrangements were handled, night had fallen.

When I returned home, Ethan hadn't arrived yet.

My phone only showed a message from him, saying he had to postpone the wedding.

Before I knew the truth, he said it was due to issues with the props, and I believed him.

But now I understood. The postponement was merely for Sarahs birthday party.

She had booked the venue.

All the guests originally invited to my wedding were now celebrating Sarah's birthday.

My dream wedding had utterly become a joke.

The man who once argued and fell out with Liam for me, who promised me happiness forever.

He, too, became an accomplice in hurting me.

The moment I received the hospitals call, I rushed there, but couldn't even say goodbye to Mom.

I don't want this wedding anymore, and I dont want Ethan anymore either.

Just as I finished packing my bags, Ethan hurried in with a gift.

He didn't notice the suitcase by the door.

He instinctively pulled me into his embrace, his voice soft and tender, whispering against my ear:

"My dearest Amy, guess what gift I brought back for you?"

Before I could speak, he kissed my earlobe.

I subtly avoided his touch, my gaze falling on the gift box in his hand.

A designer perfume, Sarahs favorite scent.

But I never wore perfume; I was allergic to alcohol.

He had always forgotten that.

"Would you wear this on our wedding day? I want to smell you."

He was looking for Sarahs shadow in me again.

First it was clothes and jewelry, then cosmetics and handbags.

Back then, I just thought the items he sent looked familiar.

But only when I accidentally opened Sarahs social media did I realize she had identical items.

Also from Ethan.

Noticing my low spirits, his voice softened further.

"Is my Amy still upset about the wedding postponement? Don't worry, I've already straightened them out. There won't be any more delays this time."

"Ill explain to your aunt, you don't need to worry."

A cold smile touched my lips. "No need to trouble yourself. Let's just cancel the wedding. You don't have to see my mother; she wouldn't want to hear your explanation anyway."

He hadnt expected me to be so resolute. His movements froze for a moment, a flicker of displeasure in his eyes.

"Amy, I've been planning this wedding for three months. The invitations have all been sent out. How can you joke like this?"

"The prop mishap was an accident; I've tried my best to fix it. I understand you're upset, but don't be unreasonable. My patience has its limits too."

Watching him lie so shamelessly, I felt a wave of weariness.

"Ethan, was it really just a prop malfunction?"

He paused for a second, about to argue, when his phone rang.

He looked down, a faint smile unconsciously curving his lips.

Without saying goodbye, only promising to make it up to me, he rushed out of the house.

I didn't need to guess; only Sarah could make him so frantic with a single message.

This wasnt the first time he'd abandoned me.

But before, immersed in the joy of impending marriage, I hadnt noticed.

Now, looking back, he didn't even bother to hide it.

After he left, I gathered all the gifts he had given me over the past hundred days.

I planned to return them to him the next day.

But early in the morning, I received a call from the bridal shop.

They said my custom wedding dress had arrived and I should come for a fitting.

"No need. Return it. The wedding's canceled."

The sales clerk on the other end hesitated for two seconds, then spoke hesitantly:

"This is a high-end custom dress. The deposit alone was five hundred thousand. If you wish to cancel, you'll need to come to the store in person to fill out the paperwork."

When I arrived, just after I signed the forms, I saw another, even more exquisite wedding gown being brought in.

The clerks envious voice immediately reached my ears.

"Miss Sarah is so fortunate! I've never seen such an expensive wedding dress before! It must be millions, right?"

"More than that! I heard two men paid for it together! Oh, when will such good fortune come to me..."

My nails dug deep into my palm, clutching the pen, but I couldn't even feel the pain.

When I went to Ethans office with a box full of gifts, the receptionists kept calling me "Mrs. Hayes."

Envious whispers rose and fell.

"Mrs. Hayes, didn't you know? Mr. Hayes took a whole month off for your wedding, something he's never done before!"

"I heard he spent half a million at an auction for a piece of jewelry. It must be to match your wedding dress. You're so lucky, I can only dream of such things."

"I've never seen Mr. Hayes so devoted to anyone! He revised the wedding plan dozens of times!"

But I wrote our wedding plan myself; he never asked about it.

That plan was probably revised for Sarah, wasnt it?

I didn't speak, silently listening to everything he did for another woman.

While waiting for the elevator, Sarahs playful voice came from behind me.

She unreservedly linked arms with Ethan.

"Ethan, thank you for the jewelry, but it's really too much! My neck almost can't hold up!"

Ethan affectionately tapped her nose, messing up her long hair.

"You little rascal, didn't you say the bigger the jewelry, the better, to give Liam some sense of urgency?"

In an instant, the air around us almost solidified.

The employees looked at me with a hint of mockery.

Ethan finally noticed me, but still didn't let go of Sarahs hand, his gaze merely growing colder.

"Why are you here? Didn't I tell you not to come to the office? Your presence distracts the staff."

Catching sight of the box in my arms, he frowned.

"Why are you still holding a pile of rubbish? Security? Can't you see? Quickly, throw it away."

I followed his gaze downward, only then realizing that the brand logo on the packaging box, which I hadn't dared to unwrap, was peeling.

It turned out everything he gave me was fake.

No wonder he didn't recognize them.

Before I could speak, a security guard had already snatched the box from my hands and deftly tossed it into the trash.

Liam rushed in through the door, witnessing this scene.

His face instantly darkened.

"Ethan, your wife is standing right here, and you're embracing my fiance. Isn't that inappropriate?"

Sarah immediately let go.

A flash of hurt crossed Ethan's eyes.

"You still remember Sarah is your fiance? Then why were you messaging another woman in the middle of the night?"

"You swore to me repeatedly that you would take good care of her, which is why I entrusted Sarah to you. But how have you done? And now you have the nerve to question me?"

As he finished speaking, Sarah suddenly looked up at me, tears welling in her eyes.

"Amy, I know you and Ethan have been childhood friends, but since you've already accepted Ethan's proposal, why are you still entangled with Liam?"

I froze for a moment, realizing I had sent him a wedding invitation.

Just as I was about to speak, Ethan's accusatory gaze stung me.

"You don't trust me?"

He didn't respond to my words, but the disgust in his eyes deepened.

In an instant, all the unspoken grievances choked back.

Liam's words became the last straw that broke me.

"I told you, I don't like Amy. I never did, I don't now, and I never will."

"You are the only one in my heart."

His public humiliation and undisguised disdain made me want to disappear.

Sarahs eyes were clearly filled with triumph, yet on the surface, she cried out pitifully.

Leaving only a single sentence:

"I don't believe your nonsense. You two are childhood friends; I'm an outsider. No matter how hard I try, I can't be a part of your past! I'm just a burden!"

And then she ran out.

Liam shot me a warning glance, then hurried after her.

In the vast hall, only Ethan and I remained.

"Amy, this time you've gone too far. You know Sarah is insecure, why did you have to send that message to Liam?"

"Let's break up."

"What??"

He seemed unable to believe his ears, frowning and widening his eyes.

"I said, let's break up. The wedding's off. I won't marry you, and I won't bother Liam anymore. You can rest assured."

A flicker of surprise and relief quickly passed through his eyes.

But on his face, he still looked heartbroken.

"Amy, what are you being so ridiculous about? The wedding's already halfway planned. Don't you know how hurtful it is to joke like this?"

"I know you're anxious because your aunt is seriously ill. Let's just cool off separately for a while before the wedding."

With those words, he got into the elevator without looking back.

I also turned and left the company.

The goodbyes had been said; the rest was none of my concern.

Upon returning, I hastily rented an apartment and prepared to move.

But then Sarah came knocking.

Her face was full of triumph, a stark contrast to her demeanor in front of Ethan and Liam.

Her high-heeled foot directly stomped on my suitcase.

"You're really tough, aren't you? Your own mom died and you still won't leave? Can't live without a man?"

My movements froze, my fists immediately clenched, shaking with anger.

"How did you know?"

I hadn't told anyone about my mother's death.

Remembering the letter she received before she passed, my gaze instantly turned icy.

"You wrote that letter?"

"You've already got Liam; why are you doing this?"

A sneering smile played on her lips, and she let out a cold snort.

"I just felt sorry for the old woman, couldn't bear for her to be deceived, so I simply clarified the facts."

"Let her understand that her daughter is worthless trash no one wants. Who knew she couldn't handle such a small blow? Really getting useless in her old age!"

I could no longer contain the hatred in my heart, raising my hand and delivering a sharp slap across her face.

After a crisp sound, her smile grew even more sinister.

She pulled a pair of scissors from her bag.

And deftly cut off a lock of her own hair.

The moment the scissors clattered to the floor, I was violently slammed against the wall by someone rushing from behind.

The pain left me almost numb.

Yet, Ethans anxious voice rang in my ears.

"Sarah, where are you hurt? Does it hurt?"

Sarah was sobbing uncontrollably, covering her swollen cheek and shaking her head.

"Ethan, please don't blame Amy. I know she's angry I took Liam, and she didn't mean it. My hair is fine; it doesn't matter, I'll just tie it up for the wedding..."

By the time I recovered, Ethan had already picked up the scissors from the floor and was walking towards me with a dark expression.

"Amy, apologize to Sarah!"

I looked at him in disbelief.

"Are you insane? Do you know what she did? She killed my mom"

Before I could finish, he sharply interrupted.

"No matter what she did, you shouldn't have laid a hand on her! When did you become like this?"

"I'll say it one last time, apologize!"

I never imagined that after twenty-five years, he would deny me even a chance to explain, all for another woman.

Blood seeped from the corners of my lips, yet I gritted my teeth and spoke:

"Impossible! Hitting her was letting her off easy, otherwise I"

Ethan slapped me across the face.

Cutting off my words, and cutting off my last shred of hope for him.

"Amy, I've indulged you too much. You're simply too disobedient..."

He brutally struck me on the head with the luggage-filled box.

The next second, I fainted from the pain.

When I woke up again, Ethan had moved me to the bedroom bed.

My waist-length hair was completely shorn, leaving only patchy, ugly scalp.

Tears fell uncontrollably, stinging like fire as they ran down my face.

I scrambled to the bathroom, looked in the mirror, and saw the multiple slaps had left their mark on my face.

My nails had torn my skin, and thick scabs of dried blood had formed.

I fought back tears, searching the entire room, but couldn't find my packed luggage.

Going downstairs, I discovered the suitcase had been thrown into the trash can.

I didn't bother to retrieve it, turning and leaving the complex.

Enduring the strange glances of passersby, I entered a pharmacy and bought a box of masks.

After covering my scars, the tears still wouldn't stop flowing.

I hid in the rented apartment like a rat in a gutter for three days.

Only on the day of my mother's funeral did I venture out, wearing a mask.

As I arrived at the hotel entrance, I saw Sarah and Liams wedding photo.

I suppressed the hatred in my heart and turned into the private room next door.

Dressed in funeral attire, I listened to the eulogy.

Just a wall away, a grand wedding was being held.

Midway, I went to the restroom, but on my return, I ran into Sarah.

Seeing my funeral attire, her eyes immediately reddened with feigned sorrow.

"Amy, I know you hate me for taking Liam, but you can't wear funeral clothes to my wedding!"

Her shouts attracted the attention of many passersby.

In a blink, I was drowned in a torrent of curses.

"This woman is too malicious, isn't she? If you can't get the man, don't curse others to die!"

"Born without a mother's care, no wonder Mr. Thorne didn't fancy her! Such a venomous heart!"

"Since we're here, shouldn't we support Mr. Thorne and Mrs. Thorne? Come on, everyone, let's strip off her funeral clothes!"

Before I could explain, people swarmed forward, trying to tear off my clothes.

Someone snatched off my hat, revealing my patchy scalp.

Laughter erupted instantly, and I screamed, clutching my head, begging them to return my hat.

But no one listened.

Flashbulbs targeted my head, capturing frantic photos.

I stumbled into the funeral room, utterly humiliated.

The door was forced open, and the white scene inside made them stop.

Ethan, as a groomsman, rushed over at the commotion.

"What's going on? The wedding is next door; you've come to the wrong place."

His voice, initially meant to maintain order, died in his throat the moment he saw my mother's name on the funeral banner.

All color drained from his face.

"Amy? What in the world is going on? Why are you here?"