Chapter 1

Chapter 1

On our wedding day, Parker Cole left me stranded at the altar for my half-sister.

I became the biggest laughingstock in town.

Later, Parker begged to throw me another wedding.

Instead, I handed him a gold-embossed invitation. "The wedding is all planned. It's just too bad you're not the groom."

……

At the wedding venue.

I stood right by the grand ballroom doors, waiting to walk down the aisle.

Instead of my groom, I got an apology call.

"Elena, I'm sorry. Josie is threatening to end it all. I have to go stop her."

My fingers tightened around the phone. I thought I had misheard him.

"Parker, today is our wedding. If you leave, what am I supposed to do alone?"

I spent an entire year planning this day.

Now, the ceremony had already started.

All our family and friends were sitting inside, waiting to witness our happiest moment.

Yet Parker was ditching me to run to Josie Hall, leaving me completely alone.

What was I supposed to do?

Parker's voice grew harsh and defensive over the line.

"Elena, I never realized you were so selfish. Josie is about to throw her life away, and you're still whining about a party? Do you want her to die?"

I glanced at the puzzled wedding coordinator standing near the door and swallowed my pride, practically begging him.

"Josie isn't going to do anything! She's putting on an act to manipulate you!"

"Can't we finish the ceremony first? I'll go with you to see her right after. Please?"

"Just today, Parker. Please don't leave me here alone."

Parker snapped angrily.

"Elena, how can you be so cold-blooded? Josie is your half-sister!"

"I know you hate her mother, but Josie is innocent in all of this."

"It's just a wedding. We can always reschedule it. But if I don't go make sure she's safe with my own eyes, I'll never forgive myself."

With that, he hung up without hesitation.

When I tried calling him back, his phone was already turned off.

I closed my eyes, a deep sense of exhaustion washing over me.

It was happening again.

Every single time Josie pulled something, Parker abandoned me without a second thought.

In his heart, I was never the priority.

All my love, all my careful planning for this wedding―none of it could compete with a single phone call from Josie.

Even when she was clearly faking it, and even when I begged him to stay.

Not once had Parker ever chosen me.

The coordinator looked at me with hesitation. "Miss Hall... what should we do now? Is the wedding still on?"

I took a deep breath and looked at him apologetically.

"I'm sorry. The groom won't be attending. Please cancel the entire program."

He gave me a sympathetic look and quickly handled the cancellation.

I grabbed the microphone and walked straight toward the center stage.

That stage was supposed to be where Parker and I exchanged eternal vows.

Instead, it had become the stage of my humiliation.

I raised the microphone and spoke into it with a steady voice.

"I'm very sorry, but the wedding is officially canceled. However, to thank everyone for coming today, I'd love for you all to join my singles party instead."

The crowd erupted into an uproar, dozens of inquiring stares burning into me, wondering what had gone wrong.

The coordinator smoothly stepped in and took over the mic to manage the crowd.

I let out a sigh of relief and stepped down from the stage.

The moment I walked backstage, my father and Parker's parents rushed toward me.

Their faces were twisted in fury, and my father didn't hesitate for a second before slapping me across the face.

"You ungrateful brat! Why did you cancel the wedding? What the hell are you trying to pull?"

I wiped the trace of blood from the corner of my lip and looked at the three of them calmly.

"Parker ditched his own wedding to go be with Josie."

The anger on their faces froze instantly once they realized the truth.

Parker's parents looked deeply guilty and rushed to apologize.

"Elena, we are so sorry. When Parker gets back, we will make sure he apologizes to you in person."

My father shifted uncomfortably, his tone turning awkward. "Parker was just worried about Josie. We could have just rescheduled the wedding. Why throw a singles party and embarrass us all?"

I ignored him and pulled out my buzzing phone.

Josie had just sent two text messages.

One was a photo, and the other was text.

The photo showed her and Parker snuggled close, their fingers tightly intertwined.

The message read: "You will never win against me."

The most ironic part was that Parker was still wearing the custom-tailored groom's tuxedo I had designed for him.