Revenge Of The Jilted Bride

Jilted Bride 19

Chapter

19

The grand venue was in absolute chaos. Emily, standing at the center of it all, looked like a clown trapped in a circus ring surrounded by an audience that didn't bother hiding their judgment.

Some even whipped out their phones, snapping pictures without mercy. Owen, her father, was quick to rush over, draping his suit jacket around Emily's shoulders in a feeble attempt to shield her from further humiliation. This party is over," he announced, his voice tight with embarrassment.

Harry summoned the security team, trying to usher the crowd out as quickly as possible. What had started as a glamorous birthday celebration had turned into a public disaster.

Just then, a server appeared, wheeling out an enormous eight-tiered cake, the words "Happy Birthday, Emily. May all your wishes come true iced across the top in pristine, elegant letters,

The birthday song played once again, but this time, the tone felt painfully ironic-a cruel echo of how things were supposed

to be.

Everland Hotel's unique circular architecture made it easy for Ophelia to observe everything from the balcony on the third floor. She sat comfortably, nibbling at a delicate pastry, watching the spectacle below with an almost imperceptible smirk. "Happy birthday, Emily, she whispered, her voice laced with amusement. She knew Emily's ploys all too well. Trying to stir rumors with my man? Did you ask for my permission?

Although Miles had supposedly rented out the entire floor for Emily's party, the unpaid bill still loomed over them.

As Owen and his family made their hasty retreat, the hotel manager hurried after them, holding out an imposing bill. "Mr. Hastings, the total for tonight comes to 310 thousand dollars. Also, 170 thousand for the roses, and 3 million for venue rental and service charges. Altogether, that's 3.71 million dollars."

"What?" Owen's face turned ashen, the bill nearly sending him into a fit of cardiac arrest. Not only had they failed to maintain. any sense of dignity, but they were facing an outrageous cost,

As she watched the Hastings family's disarray, Ophelia's smile deepened, a satisfied glint in her eyes. This is only the beginning,' she thought, savoring the small victory

in the western suburbs. After purchasing a ticket, she wandered leisurely through the park, enjoying the night air and occasionally hopping onto one of the rides. Soaking up the joyful atmosphere of laughter and excitement, she picked up a free balloon

in the crowd grew, Three, two, one... Fireworks exploded into the night sky, painting it with bursts of vibrant red, blue, and golden illuminating the world below in fleeting brilliance. Each burst seemed

glow, her eyes wide as she gazed up at the spectacle. She then closed her eyes and silently made a

left the park, it was

off on a long, quiet walk down the empty streets. In the distance, she could faintly hear the

narrower the road became, the soft glow of streetlights facting into darkness until there was nothing

of rotting fish and bring water became, an odor so overpowering it would make most

wall, half of it collapsed into rubble. Ophelia climbed up and perched herself on the edge, gazing out at the dark sea

fishing boats bobbed in the water, their lights long extinguished. Along the shore

Chapter 19

and tattered fabric, looking

the place Ophelia had called home for as long as

years ago, this area had been the heart of

decayed fish and toxic waste, leaving the land useless, unwanted. Eventually, it became a dumping ground, a forgotten slum where no one dared to invest or even set foot. They said the materials used to reclaim the land were poisonous, leaving the land contaminated and unfit for development. No one dared to return, and over time, it had morphed into the worst

squalid corner. Just across the way, skyscrapers gleamed with light, standing tall against the night, while here, everything was consumed by darkness

into her mouth. "Happy birthday, Ophelia," she muttered to herself, the words slipping out as if they held

the same birth date after she was brought back to the family, making her the elder

her five years of this bitter celebration. At first, she had been thrilled to know her own birthday finally, but

was Emily's day. Gifts piled up for her, while Ophelia waited in the shadows, sneaking a piece of cake after Emily blew

in this life, be happy. Don't let yourself down. Don't let him down... The bitterness in her heart mingled with the sharp taste of beer as she took a

and she was still sober. Ophelia could hold her liquor better than most, but now, her thoughts drifted back to Gabrielle-the only person who had ever treated her

had never seen the sun, she could've been content in the darkness. If she had never known love, perhaps she wouldn't have spent her last life

her throat tightened, but she refused to cry. She shoved the rest of the candy into her mouth, thinking bitterly. "Why doesn't it taste as sweet as the ones Gabrielle used

it'll rot your teeth?" A voice cut

her head, she saw the impossibly handsome face of Kenneth emerging from the shadows, the moonlight casting a soft glow around him, making