The priest cleared his throat. "Do you, Adrian, take Selena as your lawful wife?"
Adrian froze for a beat…then laughed. Loud. Cruel.
Selena's voice shook. "Adrian…what's so funny?"
He smirked, looking around. "You actually thought I'd marry you?"
Gasps ran through the hall.
A guest whispered, "Did he just say that? Here?"
Selena's face burned. "Why…why are you doing this?"
Adrian shrugged. "Because someone like you…could never be my wife."
The murmurs got louder. "This is so mean…" someone said.
Selena's hands shook. "Then why propose? Why make me believe anything?"
"Entertainment," Adrian said, calm and cruel. "You believed me. That's funny."
"Funny?!" Selena yelled. "You humiliated me in front of everyone!"
"You humiliated yourself by believing me," Adrian said lightly.
Selena's fists clenched. She stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face.
The room gasped. "Oh my God!"
Adrian touched his cheek, smirk still there. "Not bad. I felt that."
Selena spun on her heels and ran. Her heels clicked frantically.
She tripped on the edge of the stage. Her gown ripped with a loud tear as she fell to the floor. Gasps and whispers ran through the hall.
"Oh no! Her dress!" someone whispered.
Selena scrambled to her feet, cheeks burning, tears streaming down her face. She ran straight for the exit, ignoring everyone.
Just as she reached the front doors of the wedding hall away from that chaos,, a black car screeched to a halt. Her father, Bruno, jumped out.
"Selena!"
She looked up through her tears. "Daddy…"
He ran toward her, panic all over his face. "What happened? Who did this to you?"
"She…he…Adrian! He…he made me look like a fool in front of everyone!" Selena sobbed.
Bruno's eyes darkened. "Adrian did this….I thought he loved you…why..how??"
Selena's hands trembled as she clutched her torn gown. "Everyone saw…how could he…"
Bruno hugged her tightly. "It's okay. Let's get you out of here."
Selena gave one last glare back at the hall as she was guided toward the car by her dad.."You're going to regret this….you don't know who you're messing with Adrian.."The car doors slammed, engines roared, and Bruno drove her away.
Later, alone in her room, Selena stared at the ripped gown on her bed. Her lips formed a single thought: I will make him pay…