Chapter 8: The Perfect Bride Who Wasn’t Perfect At All
Nobody moved.
Caroline stood near the entrance, holding a small handbag, her expression filled with disappointment.
Not jealousy.
Not anger.
Disappointment.
That surprised me.
For years, I had imagined Caroline as the person Martha wanted me to fear.
The beautiful, wealthy woman who had everything I didn’t.
The woman Martha believed was worthy of Nick.
But standing there, she didn’t look like my enemy.
She looked like another person who had been manipulated.
Martha stared at her.
“What are you doing here?””
Caroline looked at her.
“I was invited.””
“You were supposed to stay home.””
Caroline shook her head.
“No.””
Her voice was firm.
“I was supposed to come here and tell the truth.””
Nick looked confused.
“Caroline?””
She looked at him.
“I’m sorry.””
Then she looked at me.
“I’m sorry to you too.””
I didn’t know what to say.
Caroline walked closer.
“I know this is the worst possible time, but you deserve to hear this from me.””
Martha immediately interrupted.
“Don’t listen to her.””
Caroline ignored her.
“Martha has been telling everyone a version of the story that isn’t true.””
Nick looked at his mother.
“What story?””
Caroline took a breath.
“The story where I was secretly waiting for you.””
The restaurant went silent.
“She told you I was interested in you.””
Nick frowned.
“You weren’t?””
Caroline shook her head.
“No.””
The answer shocked him.
“I never wanted to marry you.””
Martha looked furious.
“You’re lying.””
Caroline turned toward her.
“No, Martha. You are.””
Nobody spoke.
Caroline continued.
“When our mothers became friends, Martha decided we would be perfect together.””
She looked uncomfortable.
“She started telling people we were meant to be.””
Nick looked down.
“But we barely knew each other.””
“Exactly.””
Caroline sighed.
“I always thought it was strange. She would talk about our future like it was already decided.””
I looked at Martha.
And suddenly, everything made sense.
This wasn’t love.
This was obsession.
Martha had created a fantasy in her head.
A perfect family.
A perfect marriage.
A perfect future.
And she was angry because reality didn’t match the picture she created.
Caroline looked at me.
“I met you once before.””
I frowned.
“When?””
“At a charity event two years ago.””
I searched my memory.
Then remembered.
A woman had complimented my dress.
I had barely noticed.
“You were kind to me.””
I was surprised.
Caroline smiled sadly.
“You didn’t know who I was. You didn’t care about money or status. You just treated me like a person.””
She looked at Martha.
“That’s when I realized why Nick loved you.””
Martha looked disgusted.
“Don’t pretend you understand.””
Caroline shook her head.
“I understand more than you think.””
Then she pulled out her phone.
“I also have something else.””
Martha immediately panicked.
“No.””
Caroline looked at Nick.
“I saved these because I thought someday you would need proof.””
She showed him the screen.
Messages.
Many messages.
Between Martha and Caroline.
Nick read them silently.
His expression became darker with every second.
“What is this?””
Caroline answered.
“Your mother asked me to convince you that Emily was wrong for you.””
I felt sick.
“She asked you to?””
Caroline nodded.
“She wanted me to casually appear in your life.””
Nick looked at his mother.
“You planned this?””
Martha’s voice became defensive.
“I was helping you.””
“No.””
Nick shook his head.
“You were trying to control me.””
Martha looked around.
Everyone was against her now.
But instead of apologizing…
She exploded.
“You all think I’m the villain!””
Nobody answered.
Because maybe she finally understood.
She was.
“I sacrificed everything for this family!””
His grandmother replied quietly:
“No one asked you to sacrifice love and replace it with control.””
That sentence silenced her.
I watched Martha carefully.
For the first time, I saw something behind all the anger.
Fear.
She wasn’t afraid of losing Nick’s approval.
She was afraid of losing control.
And she had finally lost it.
Nick walked toward me.
“I know tonight has been awful.””
I looked at him.
“I don’t know what happens next.””
He nodded.
“I understand.””
That was different.
Before tonight, Nick always wanted quick forgiveness.
Quick solutions.
Quick peace.
Now he understood some wounds needed time.
Caroline approached me.
“I’m sorry this happened.””
I looked at her.
“You didn’t do this.””
“But I should have spoken sooner.””
Maybe she was right.
But I could see she regretted it.
Then Martha suddenly grabbed her coat.
“I’m done.””
Everyone looked at her.
“I’m leaving.””
Nick didn’t stop her.
His grandmother didn’t stop her.
Neither did I.
She walked toward the door.
But before she reached it, her phone rang again.
This time, she looked at the screen.
And immediately froze.
“What now?”” Nick asked.
She didn’t answer.
She just stared.
Then she whispered:
“They found out.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Who found out?””
Martha slowly looked up.
And for the first time…
May you like
She looked like someone who had lost everything.
“My employer.””
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