MY FIANCÉ LEFT ME AT THE ALTAR FOR MY SISTER—THEN THE LAWYER STOOD UP
CHAPTER 1: NOT THE BRIDE ANYMORE
"You can't marry her."
The voice echoed through the church.
Two hundred guests turned around.
I froze at the altar.
My fiancé, Ethan, froze too.
Standing in the aisle was my younger sister, Chloe.
Wearing a white dress.
A wedding dress.
"What are you doing?" I whispered.
Chloe's eyes were already filled with tears.
"Ethan loves me."
The church exploded into whispers.
I laughed nervously.
Nobody laughed back.
Then Ethan did something that made my stomach drop.
He let go of my hand.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
My mother stood up.
"Oh thank God."
I turned toward her.
"What?"
She rushed to Chloe's side.
Then wrapped an arm around her.
As if she were the victim.
As if I weren't standing there in my wedding gown.
"Mom?"
My voice cracked.
She wouldn't even look at me.
"Sweetheart, this is for the best."
The room spun.
"What are you talking about?"
Chloe began crying harder.
"Ethan and I didn't mean for this to happen."
I stared at Ethan.
Tell me she's lying.
Tell me this is some sick joke.
Instead, he lowered his head.
"I'm sorry, Emma."
That was all.
Three years together.
A proposal.
Wedding plans.
A house.
A future.
And all I got was:
"I'm sorry."
My father stood abruptly.
"Are you out of your mind?"
But my mother cut him off.
"Chloe is pregnant."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
I looked at Chloe.
Then at Ethan.
Then back at Chloe.
"No."
Nobody answered.
The answer was written all over their faces.
My fiancé.
My sister.
My family.
Everyone knew except me.
My chest felt like it was collapsing.
My mother grabbed my arm.
"Take off the ring."
I stared at her.
"What?"
"Don't embarrass yourself."
The guests gasped.
The humiliation burned hotter than the betrayal.
I slowly removed the engagement ring.
My hands were shaking.
Tears blurred my vision.
Then I placed it into Ethan's hand.
"Congratulations."
Nobody spoke.
I walked down the aisle alone.
Past two hundred staring faces.
Past relatives whispering.
Past the photographers still taking pictures.
Halfway to the exit, the church doors opened.
A man in a dark suit hurried inside.
He looked confused.
Then annoyed.
Then concerned.
"Is Emma Carter here?"
I stopped walking.
"That's me."
The stranger nodded.
"Good."
He held up a thick folder.
"I've been looking for you."
My mother frowned.
"Who are you?"
The man ignored her.
Instead, he looked directly at me.
"My name is Michael Reeves."
He paused.
"I'm the attorney handling your grandfather's estate."
I blinked.
"My grandfather died fifteen years ago."
The lawyer's expression darkened.
"Apparently... not everything was included in the first will."
The entire church went silent.
Then he opened the folder and said seven words that changed everything.
"You are the sole heir to Carter Industries."
And suddenly...
May you like
Nobody was looking at Chloe anymore.
END OF CHAPTER 1
