Chapter 8: The Plan Behind the Altar
I thought I had already heard the worst.
I was wrong.
Again.
I stared at Margaret.
“Why didn’t you tell me that before?””
Her face tightened.
“Because I was ashamed.””
“Of what?””
“That I almost helped him.””
The words surprised me.
Margaret looked down at her hands.
“David came to my house that morning.””
I sat quietly.
She continued.
“He was already dressed.””
“Before the wedding?””
“Yes.””
“What did he say?””
Margaret took a slow breath.
“He told me he was going to leave you.””
My chest tightened.
“And?””
“He said he needed me to understand.””
I frowned.
“Understand what?””
“That you would probably get angry. That you might say things to hurt him.””
I looked away.
Of course.
He had prepared the story before anything happened.
“He wanted you to believe I was difficult.””
Margaret nodded.
“He said you had always been disrespectful toward me.””
I opened my mouth.
Then closed it.
Because that was the version he wanted.
The version where I was a cruel wife.
The version where his betrayal became understandable.
“What did you say?””
Margaret looked ashamed.
“I asked him if he was sure.””
“And?””
“He said Vanessa was the person he really loved.””
I swallowed.
“And you believed him?””
“No.””
The answer was immediate.
“I believed he was confused.””
I almost smiled.
“You still wanted to protect him.””
She looked at me.
“He’s my son.””
That sentence hurt.
Because even after everything David did, Margaret still loved him.
Maybe that was what made her different.
She loved him.
But she wasn’t willing to protect his lies.
“Then why didn’t you stop the wedding?””
Margaret looked out the window.
“Because I thought he would change.””
I shook my head.
“People don’t change because everyone is watching.””
She nodded.
“You’re right.””
For a moment, we sat quietly.
Then my phone rang.
David.
I almost ignored it.
But something inside me wanted answers directly from him.
I answered.
“Why did you do it?””
No hello.
No greeting.
Just that.
Silence.
Then:
“Elena, I know what you think.””
“I asked why.””
His breathing changed.
“You don’t understand the pressure I was under.””
I laughed quietly.
“Pressure?””
“Yes.””
“You were pressured into cheating?””
“No.””
“Into lying?””
“Elena—”
“Into making me look like the person who destroyed our wedding?””
Silence.
That silence was my answer.
“Did you ask your mother to help you?””
His voice changed.
“Who told you that?””
I closed my eyes.
“You did.””
“That’s ridiculous.””
“No, David.””
I looked at Margaret.
“You’re just angry because the truth came out.””
His tone hardened.
“Be careful.””
The warning surprised me.
“Excuse me?””
“You’re letting people fill your head with things.””
“People?””
I almost smiled.
“Your mother? Vanessa?””
He became quiet.
“You talked to Vanessa?””
“Yes.””
Another silence.
Then David said:
“She’s lying.””
“Why?””
“Because she’s angry I chose my marriage.””
I felt something break inside me.
Even now.
Even after everything.
He was still changing the story.
“You didn’t choose your marriage.””
My voice became cold.
“You chose your image.””
He didn’t respond.
Then he said:
“I loved you.””
I closed my eyes.
A week ago, those words would have destroyed me.
Now they only hurt.
“Maybe you did.””
My voice shook.
“But you loved yourself more.””
I ended the call.
For the first time since the wedding, I felt something other than pain.
I felt control.
But that feeling didn’t last.
Because five minutes later, Rachel called.
Her voice was frantic.
“Elena, turn on your social media.””
My stomach dropped.
“What happened?””
“There’s a post from David.””
I opened my phone.
And there it was.
A picture of David standing beside Margaret.
The caption read:
*“I never thought my own mother and my wife would betray me on the same day.””*
Thousands of comments were already appearing.
People were defending him.
People were attacking me.
Then Rachel said:
“Elena…”
I looked closer.
“What?””
“There’s another person who commented.””
“Who?””
My face went cold when I saw the name.
Claire.
May you like
And her comment was only four words.
*“David is lying again.””*
