Twenty-four hours after being left by Matthias on the altar, Stephanie was a shadow of her usual alluring self. She kept herself confined in the bedroom, refusing to co out, even when Samantha continued pleading from outside.
Stephanie’s perfectly styled blond hair was now disheveled, the curls undone and frizzed from hours of tossing and turning on her bed as she continued crying.
Remnants of mascara left hideous streaks on Stephanie’s pale cheeks. The makeup that had once enhanced her beauty yesterday was now sared across her face.
Stephanie had changed out of her glamorous wedding dress. Now, the luxurious gown was reduced to a crumpled, golden ss shoved at a corner of the room.
The hem was dirtied by mud and the delicate lace was torn. The enchanting image of the wedding dress from yesterday was only a mory.
Stephanie only ca out of the room briefly when Mrs. Silvera marched into the villa. She actually hoped to see Matthias but, he was nowhere to be seen.
Unwilling to be bothered even by Samantha, Stephanie barricaded the door with a chest cabinet. Her palms were all swollen from pushing the furniture piece to the door.
"What... what have I done wrong?"
Still unable to bear the responsibility for her actions, Stephanie questioned her fate. More sobs escaped from her lips but, her bloodshot eyes produced no tears anymore.
"T-this... this can’t be..."
Staring blankly at the silk spread of her bed, Stephanie let out broken cries. She still couldn’t accept that Matthias left her at the altar after exposing her affairs with Leon.
How did he know?
For how long?
Why... Why must he humiliate her like that?!
Chewing her lip, Stephanie let out raspy, broken cries. Her body trembled as she grasped the bedsheet, her hands shaking from anger.
Stephanie tried contacting Matthias, but, he had long blocked her number. She did so through her social dia yet, the man also did the sa.
Broken by Matthias’ cruel rejections, Stephanie was at a loss. She wanted to salvage the situation but, all the paths were blockaded.
She didn’t know what to do.
And, now...
Leon threatened to ruin her reputation further if she refused to marry him. He was desperate to seize the chance now that their affair was known by all.
"...insane... Yes! He has gone insane!"
Stephanie’s hoarse voice was barely a whisper, carrying tremors. Panic and fear brimd in her widened eyes.
The ssages on the phone screen seed to project invisible tendrils with sharp points, constricting around her heart.
Each of Leon’s ssages only strangled Stephanie’s heart with more fear.
Crouching on the bed, goosebumps flared to Stephanie’s entire body. Her hands shaky, she quickly grabbed the phone from the mattress.
Stephanie wanted to press on the call icon, intending to speak to Leon over his cryptic texts. Unsure whether to go on with her plan or not, her fingertip hovered above the screen.
"No... He’s lying..."
Stephanie tried to reassure herself but, the stress from yesterday’s chaotic event, and the following disarray hindered her from thinking rationally.
Leon had tried calling Stephanie since yesterday but, she rejected every attempt. Then, he changed his tactic by sending her ssages.
The texts, including the ones Stephanie had just read, might sound vague to other people but, she understood what Leon ant. The man had been texting her about how...
She might be cast out for good to make way for the real heiress.
A few of Leon’s previous ssages were conjured in Stephanie’s mind. Each one of them only served to rile her up instead of comforting her.
[Leon: I know that you’re afraid of her, my dear]
[Leon: Now that it has co to this, who knows when she will take over your position as the beloved heiress of the Elsher family?]
[Leon: He doesn’t want you anymore. My dear, marry ]
[Leon: Do you think the other bachelors want you after he left you at the altar?]
Leon’s texts ranged from bringing up Lariette’s and Matthias’ nas, including his attempt to get Stephanie to marry him.
He no longer wanted to be her sidepiece. He marched forward to claim the title of her man.
"No! He’s insane! Who does he think he is? I won’t let him blackmail !"
Driven by the surge of anger flaming in her heart, Stephanie finally pressed the call icon. She had just put the phone next to her ear when Leon’s voice echoed from the end of the line.
"My dear, I’ve been waiting for your call."
Leon’s tone remained casual with a hint of flirting. He acted as if the disorder from yesterday was nothing but a bad dream.
"W-what have you planned? Have you done sothing? Listen! Don’t you dare try to drag into whatever ss you’ve made!"
Stephanie’s urgent, raspy voice urgently questioned Leon. Her other hand tightened her grip on the bedsheet, her heartbeat speeding up as she waited for his answer.
Instead of being upset, Leon let out a low, throaty chuckle as if Stephanie’s words were simply a playful threat.
"Why are you upset? Haven’t you wanted this, my dear Phanie?"
"...you’re crazy. You’ve done sothing, don’t you? What is it? Tell !"
"No. It’ll be a surprise. One thing is for sure, you don’t have to worry about her taking your place."
"..."
Stephanie swallowed her saliva, unsure how to retort Leon. He might seem as normal as usual but, she sensed a slight manic hidden beneath his current behavior.
Despite being humiliated by Matthias yesterday and getting beaten by Alaric, Leon wasn’t enraged. He acted as if what Matthias did was beneficial to him.
Instead of being angry, Leon used this chance to pressure Stephanie into marrying him. He was more than willing to fill in the role after Matthias jilted her at the altar.
"P-please... Don’t involve ," Stephanie tried to plead, hoping Leon would listen to her as how he usually did before, "Leon, please... You know I can’t marry you. I..."
Leon cut before Stephanie could finish her words, his tone languid "Matthias has discarded you, my dear. You won’t have any other chance, ever."
"But..."
"Oh, I have to check on sothing. I’ll bring good news to you soon. Bye, my dear."
Tut.
Stephanie blinked, never expecting Leon to end the call. Her grip on the phone loosened, causing it to fall before bouncing on the mattress.
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