The Revenge Bride.❤️
The church was still silent.
Elena was supporting Alexander. His face had gone pale.
Elena: Alexander... open your eyes. What's wrong with you?
Alexander slowly opened his eyes.
The first person he saw was Elena.
His eyes held countless questions.
Alexander: I... I'm fine.
Elena: Fine? You almost fell just now.
Alexander: I just felt a little dizzy.
Elena helped him sit in a chair.
Jason stood a short distance away, watching everything.
There was concern on his face, but his eyes held a strange glimmer.
Alexander looked at Elena for a few moments, then suddenly took her hand.
Alexander: Elena...
Elena: Yes?
Alexander: I have something to tell you.
Elena remained silent.
Alexander's voice was trembling.
Alexander: I love you very much.
Elena looked completely stunned.
Elena: What?
Alexander: I don't know when this happened. But ever since you came into my life, I feel like I've started living again.
Elena slowly pulled her hand away.
Elena: Alexander, what are you saying?
Alexander: The truth.
Tears filled his eyes.
Alexander: If you don't become mine... I might not be able to go on living.
Elena grew anxious.
Elena: Don't say that. You weren't feeling well to begin with. You should rest.
Alexander: I need you.
Elena: But I...
She began looking toward Jason.
Jason was still standing there.
The same trust remained in Elena's eyes.
She was just about to go to Jason when he gave her the faintest gesture.
Elena stopped.
She couldn't understand what that gesture meant.
Just then, her mother stepped forward.
Mom: Elena, if Alexander loves you so much, why don't you marry him?
Elena looked at her mother.
Elena: Mom?
Mom: What's there to think about?
Elena: I'm marrying Jason.
Mom: So what?
Tears began to spill from Elena's eyes.
Elena: I love Jason.
Jason lowered his gaze.
Alexander silently continued looking at her.
Just then, an elderly man entered through the church doors.
Two other people came in with him.
It was Sir Thomas.
Alexander's grandfather.
He went straight to his grandson.
Sir Thomas: Alexander!
Alexander looked at him.
Alexander: Grandpa... what are you doing here?
Sir Thomas looked at his grandson first, then at Elena.
Then he held out the file in his hand.
Sir Thomas: Elena, dear.
Elena wiped her tears.
Elena: Yes?
Sir Thomas: Here.
He placed the file in her hands.
Elena opened it in surprise.
There were several documents inside.
Elena: What is this?
Sir Thomas said calmly—
Sir Thomas: The papers for Alexander's nine-billion-dollar property.
Elena's hands began to tremble.
The entire church erupted in commotion.
Elena: But... why are you giving these to me?
Sir Thomas: I don't want anything. Just marry my grandson.
Elena's eyes widened.
Elena: No... I can't do that.
Sir Thomas: Why not?
Elena: Because I love someone else.
Sir Thomas looked toward Jason.
Then he turned back to Elena.
Sir Thomas: Love is one thing, dear. But my grandson needs you.
Alexander immediately said—
Alexander: Grandpa, don't do this.
Sir Thomas: Be quiet.
Alexander: I don't want to force Elena.
Sir Thomas's eyes grew moist.
Sir Thomas: I've watched you fade away since you were a child. Happiness has come into your life for the first time. I won't let it leave like this.
Elena began to cry.
She had no idea what to do.
On one side was five years of love.
On the other was a sick man standing before her, holding on to the last hope of his life.
Just then, Jason's mother looked toward Elena.
Jason was looking at her too.
Their eyes met.
Then Jason slowly approached her.
Jason: Elena, come over here for a second.
Elena: Why?
Jason: Just come.
Jason led her to a corner of the church.
Elena's stepmother followed them.
Elena looked at them both.
Elena: What is it?
Jason was silent for a few seconds.
Then he spoke in a very low voice—
Jason: If you don't marry Alexander, everything will be over.
Shock filled Elena's eyes.
Elena: What do you mean?
Her stepmother leaned close to her ear and said something.
The moment Elena heard what she said, the color drained from her face.
Her hands began to tremble.
She slowly looked toward Jason.
Then toward her mother.
There were no tears in her eyes anymore.
In their place was hatred.
She looked at them as if she were seeing their true faces for the first time.
Elena: You two...
No other words came out.
Jason averted his eyes.
Jason: Elena, I had no choice.
Elena glared at him.
There was so much pain in her eyes that even Jason felt uncomfortable for a few moments.
Then Elena returned to Alexander without saying a word.
Alexander looked at her.
Alexander: Elena... if you don't want this, it's okay. I won't force you.
Elena remained silent.
She wiped the tears from her eyes.
Then she slowly picked up the ring.
Every person sitting in the church fixed their eyes on it.
Jason was watching her too.
Elena lifted Alexander's hand.
And without saying a word...
she slipped the ring onto his finger.
Alexander stared at her for several moments.
Tears of happiness filled his eyes.
But Elena's eyes were still full of tears.
There was something else behind them now.
Fire. Nothing but fire. The kind that would scorch Jason and Elena both one day.
The hatred in her eyes when she looked at Jason had never been there before.
Alexander gently took her hand.
Alexander: Elena...
Elena looked at him.
There was no happiness on her face.
Only a strange calm.
Just then, the church doors opened.
Benjamin entered carrying a large bouquet of flowers.
Smiling, he began looking toward his sister.
But the next moment, he stopped in his tracks.
His eyes fell on Elena.
Then Alexander.
Then Jason.
The happiness vanished from his face.
Benjamin: What... is going on?
No one said a word.
Benjamin looked at Jason.
Benjamin: Jason!
He angrily strode toward him.
Benjamin: Who are you marrying my sister off to?
Jason stepped back.
Jason: Benjamin, listen...
Benjamin grabbed him by the collar.
Benjamin: I trusted you!
Jason: Listen to me!
Benjamin: You ruined my sister's life!
He was about to hit Jason when Jason caught his hand.
Jason: I didn't do anything. Elena chose to marry him of her own free will.
Benjamin looked at Elena in shock.
Benjamin: Elena?
Elena raised her head.
There were tears in her eyes.
Benjamin asked again—
Benjamin: Is that true?
Elena said nothing.
She only slowly nodded.
Benjamin's heart broke.
He looked at his sister.
Then at Jason.
The past five years flashed through his mind.
He thought his sister had truly abandoned Jason.
With a heavy heart, he said—
Benjamin: You betrayed a good man like Jason, Elena.
Elena said nothing.
Benjamin's eyes filled with tears.
He went to his sister.
He placed a hand on her head.
Benjamin: Be happy.
Tears streamed down Elena's face.
She wanted to tell her brother everything.
She wanted to scream that she hadn't done this of her own free will.
But she remained silent.
Benjamin looked at Jason.
Benjamin: Forgive me, brother. I thought you two would always stay together.
Jason lowered his head.
Jason: It's okay.
Benjamin looked at Elena one more time.
Then, without saying anything to anyone, he walked out of the church.
He left the bouquet of flowers behind.
He got straight into his car and left for Naples.
Inside the church, Elena watched him leave.
Her own brother...
The person she loved most in the world...
had left after misunderstanding her.
Tears continued streaming down her face.
But she didn't wipe them away.
Because her tears were no longer a sign of weakness.
The flames of revenge burned within them.
And Jason...
He still thought he had won his little scheme.
Little did he know that the girl he had betrayed today... would one day become his greatest punishment.
The End.