Chapter 1

The church smelled like roses and lies.

White flowers everywhere. Soft piano. People whispering and smiling like it was really the happiest day ever.

For Ondina, maybe it was.

For me? It felt like walking into my own funeral.

I stood at the very back in a plain black dress. No invitation. No seat with my name.

I wasn’t supposed to be here. But I needed to see it. I needed to see him

The music change

"Ondina"

The doors opened.

, my gown, glowing, walking with Dad like she owned the world.

She looked like a princess. And I looked like the villain in the corner.

Excuse me.

I turned.

Ondrea.

Red dress. Red lips. That fake sweet smile that never reached her eyes.

The girl who stole him from me. The girl who told me to “move on” like it was that easy.

Ondrea: Aww. You actually came. Brave of you.

Elena:It’s my sister’s wedding. Don’t flatter yourself.

Ondrea: Right. Your sister. The one marrying your ex. Nicolas. Remember him ?

She leaned in, voice barely a whisper.

Ondrea:Does it hurt? Watching the man you loved say ‘I do’ to someone else?

I didn’t cry. Not here.

I just looked at Nicolas. For one second our eyes met.

And he looked away.

Elena:You don’t know what you took from me.

Ondrea:And you don’t know what I’m about to take from you.”

The bride started walking.

And I knew. This wedding was going to burn.

The Plan to Humiliate Ondrea

I couldn’t breathe inside.

Ondrea’s laugh was still ringing in my ears.

I walked out to the garden. My hands were shaking. Not because I was sad.

Because I was done being quiet.

That’s when I saw her.

Angelica.

Navy blue dress. Alone. Staring at nothing.

Nicolas’s dirty little secret for the past 2 years.

I sat next to her without asking.

Elena:Angelica.

Angelica:Who— how do you know my name?

Elena:Because the same man who lied to you is marrying my sister today.

Her face crumbled.

Angelica:He said he was single. He said

Elena:He said the same thing to me 7 years ago.

Silence. Just the sound of the fountain and our broken hearts.

Elena: He played us both. And the worst part? Ondrea planned it. She’s the one who pushed him to Ondina. She’s inside there right now, smiling like she won.

Angelica: So what do we do? It’s too late.

Elena:It’s not. We go in. Together. We tell the truth. Not rumors. Not fake stuff. The truth.

Let Ondrea watch the perfect wedding she arranged fall apart in front of everyone.”

Angelica looked at me. Then she nodded slowly.

Angelica: Deal.

The music inside stopped.

Time for the vows.

Elena:Let’s go. It’s time Ondrea learned what humiliation feels like.”

The Confrontation

The doors slammed open.

Gasps.

Everyone turned.

The priest stopped mid-sentence.

Nicolas froze at the altar.

Ondina’s veil shook.

And Ondrea? Her smile dropped.

Me and Angelica walked down the aisle. Slow. Together.

I didn’t look at Nicolas. I looked straight at Ondrea.

Elena:Before you say ‘I do’, there’s something everyone deserves to know.”

The whole church was silent. You could hear a pin drop.

Elena:Nicolas isn’t just marrying my sister. He was with her, I pointed at Angelica, “for two years. While he was proposing to Ondina. While he was telling me he ‘moved on’.”

Murmurs. Phones going up.

Ondina’s face went pale.

Ondina:Elena, what are you

Elena:I’m done keeping quiet. For you. For me. For her.

Ondrea tried to laugh it off.

Ondrea: oh!! the two Little rats came here

Angelica: rat !! Really do you think we're rats

Ondrea was serious

Nicolas finally spoke. His voice cracked.

Nicolas:Elena, please. Not here.”

Elena:Then where, Nicolas? When? You had 7 years.”

I turned to Ondrea last.

Elena:You wanted to see me break? Look around. The only one breaking today... is you.

Oh me ehemm ( proud for nothing ) ... Hmm

Ondrea’s face was cold. serious ...

And for the first time in 7 years...

I felt free...

In past life...

In the altar

continue

They tough there finally free but... ??

The Wedding Confrontation

As Ondrea stood at the altar, a sly smile spreading across her face, Elena and Angelica exchanged nervous glances. They had planned to expose Ondrea's true colors, but it seemed they were the ones being played.

Elena, still reeling from Nicolas's betrayal, took a step forward, her voice shaking. Ondrea, what's going on? Why are you doing this?

Ondrea's smile widened. Doing what, Elena? I'm just giving Nicolas the wedding he deserves.

Angelica's eyes narrowed. You're manipulating him, just like you've manipulated everyone else.

Ondrea chuckled, a cold, calculated sound. Oh, Angelica, you're one to talk. You, who slept with a married man?

The gasps from the crowd were immediate. Angelica's face turned bright red as shes tumbled backward, her eyes welling up with tears.

Elena's parents, seated in the front row, stood up, their faces twisted in anger. Elena, what's going on here? Is this true?

Elena shook her head, tears streaming down her face. Mom, Dad, it's not what it looks like...

But it was too late. Her parents were already mortified, scolding her in front of the entire crowd. How could you, Elena? We trusted you!

The scene was chaotic, with people whispering and pointing. Ondrea stood calmly, watching the destruction she had caused. Nicolas, however, looked like a statue, his eyes fixed on some point in the distance.

Ondina, looking pale and terrified, tried to intervene, but her parents grabbed her arm, whispering urgently in her ear. Don't embarrass us, Ondina. Marry him and be done with it.

Ondrea's voice cut through the chaos. Shall we continue the ceremony?

The priest, looking frazzled, nodded and began to speak the vows. Ondina, tears streaming down her face, repeated the words numbly, her voice barely audible.

As the rings were exchanged, the crowd erupted into a mixture of gasps and applause, but it was clear that something was off. Nicolas's eyes never left Ondrea's, a silent understanding passing between them.

And as the newlyweds kissed, the crowd cheered, but the two people who mattered most were already plotting their next move.

Chapter 2

The church doors slammed shut behind them. Outside, cameras were already flashing. Ondrea had tipped off a local gossip page an hour before the ceremony.

WEDDING OF THE YEAR TURNS INTO SCANDAL

GOING HOME - THE CAR RIDE OF SILENCE

The limo was dead quiet.

Nicolas and Ondina sat in the back, rings still on their fingers. Nicolas stared out the window, jaw clenched. He hadn't looked at Ondina once since the vows.

Ondrea rode in the car ahead with her parents, smiling at her phone. The video of Angelica stumbling and crying was already at 200k views. Caption: Homewrecker caught at her own best friend's wedding.

Her comment section: *cancel her. so embarrassing.

Ondina kept wiping her tears with the lace of her dress. Nicolas... please say something.

Nicolas finally turned. His voice was flat. We go home. We do what we have to do. Smile for the cameras.

A marriage of contracts. Not love.

THE SPANISH PUNISHMENT FOR ELENA

At the Garcia mansion, Elena was dragged inside by her parents the moment they arrived.

No guests. No dinner. Just the 4 walls of the study.

Her mother slapped the table. ¡De rodillas, Elena Now.

Elena dropped to her knees on the cold tile. This was their old castigo español - the punishment her grandparents used.

You disgraced this family name, her father said in Spanish, pacing. No phone. No friends. No salir for 3 months. You will work at Tita's bakery every day after school. And you will write a public apology.

Elena sobbed, Mom, it was a lie! Angelica and I were trying to

Silencio! Her mother cut her off. Your name is trending for the wrong reasons because of you.

Outside her door, she could hear her cousins whispering. Her Instagram was already flooded with hate comments. Homewrecker’s bestie. Pick better friends.

ANGELICA GOES VIRAL

Angelica didn't even make it home.

By the time she reached the parking lot, the clip of Ondrea saying You, who slept with a married man? was everywhere. TikTok, FB Reels, X.

AngelicaTheOtherWoman was 1 trending in the Philippines.

Strangers were doxxing her. Her small business page got 1-star reviews overnight. Don't buy from a cheater.

She sat in her car, watching her life burn in real time, and turned her phone off.

THE WEDDING CELEBRATION

But at the De Leon estate, the party went on.

Because Ondrea demanded it. "The show must go on," she told the wedding planner, smiling.

Crystal chandeliers. 500 guests. A 7-tier cake.

Ondina in white, smiling for photos but her eyes were empty. Nicolas in black, raising a glass but not drinking.

Ondrea gave the toast. "To my brother and his beautiful bride. May their union be... honest. She emphasized the last word and looked straight at the camera.

They danced. The band played. Everyone clapped.

But behind the smiles, two people were already plotting.

Nicolas squeezed Ondina's hand under the table. Not romantically. In warning.

And Ondrea, watching from the head table, took a sip of champagne. Phase 1: complete.

The wedding ended. The scandal began.

And the war between Elena, Angelica, and Ondrea... was just start.

AFTER THE LIE

MIDNIGHT AT THE DE LEON MANSION

The reception ended at 1 AM. The guests left with gossip on their lips and videos on their phones.

Upstairs, Ondina sat on the edge of the huge wedding bed, still in her dress. She hadn't taken the veil off.

Nicolas stood by the window, tie loosened.

The silence was worse than yelling.

Ondina finally spoke, voice barely a whisper: Was it always like this? Was I just... a business deal to you?

Nicolas turned. His expression was tired, not cruel. No. But it is now. Ondrea made sure of that.

Why didn't you stop it?

Because if I did, he said quietly, she would destroy both our families.

He walked out. The door clicked. Ondina cried alone.

ELENA'S HELL - DAY 1

Elena hadn't eaten in 24 hours.

Her room was dark. Her phone was gone. On the floor were still a few munggo beans from last night.

Her mother slid a plate of bread and water under the door. "When you learn to tell the truth, you can eat properly.

Elena's Instagram was deleted by her parents. But screenshots of her crying in church were everywhere.

Her Tita sent her one last message before blocking her: _You brought shame to us, Elena._

She hugged her knees and whispered, Ondrea... I will make you pay.

ANGELICA'S NIGHTMARE

Angelica stayed in her apartment with the lights off.

Her business page: 2.1K 1-star reviews.

Her DMs death threats, hate, memes of her face.

She tried to post a statement. Ondrea's fan accounts flooded it in 2 minutes.

At 3 AM, someone knocked. It was her landlord. I'm sorry. Other tenants complained. You have 30 days.

She laughed, bitter and broken. Of course she planned this too.

ONDREA'S VICTORY DRINK

In her penthouse, Ondrea poured herself champagne.

On the TV: news channels talking about The Wedding Scandal of the Year.

On her laptop: 4 new brand deals because of the engagement.

Her phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number

You think you won. But we're not done.

She smiled, slow and cold. Phase 2, she whispered to herself. Let the games begin.

The wedding was over.

But the war had just started.

CHAPTER 3

The last guest left an hour ago.

The orchestra was gone. The lights were dimmed.

The mansion was quiet. Too quiet.

Upstairs, Ondina sat on the edge of their bed. Still in her white dress.

He hadn’t come back.

She expected that.

Downstairs, the only light was from the bar.

A single glass. A bottle of red wine.

And Nicolas.

He loosened his tie. Threw his suit jacket over a chair.

Poured himself a drink. He didn’t want to feel anything tonight.

Then he heard it.

Soft footsteps on marble.

He didn’t look up.

But he knew.

Ondina.

She came down in bare feet. Hair down. The makeup washed off.

She looked tired. And real.

She stopped a few feet away from the bar.

Silence.

Finally, she spoke. Voice barely above a whisper.

Nicolas?

He took a sip. Cold eyes on the glass.

What.

Can we... talk? Just for a bit? The wedding is over. No cameras. No Ondrea.

Just us.

That made him look at her.

And Ondina forgot how to breathe for a second.

Because without the crowd, without the performance, he was too much.

Black shirt, sleeves rolled up. Hair messy. Jaw tight.

Serious. Cold. But devastatingly handsome.

He studied her. Like she was a problem he couldn’t solve.

He noticed the redness in her eyes. The way she was hugging herself.

And he hated that it bothered him.

So he looked away.

But deep inside?

The corner of his mouth almost moved. Almost a smile. He killed it instantly.

...Sit, he said. Low. Cold.

She sat on the stool beside him. Keeping distance.

For a while, they just sat there. The only sound was the wine pouring.

Nicolas picked up a second glass.

Poured.

Slid it to her. Without looking.

Ondina stared at it. Is this... for me?

Drink it or don’t, he replied. I’m not your babysitter.

She picked it up. Their fingers didn’t touch.

But she felt the warmth from his hand still on the glass.

To surviving? she tried. Small smile.

He finally looked at her. Deadpan.

To not killing each other, he said.

She laughed. Quiet. Surprised.

He didn’t smile. But his eyes softened for half a second before he killed it again.

They drank in silence.

Then Ondina tried again.

Can we at least try? To be... okay? For tonight?

No contract. No deals. Just... dinner. And wine.

Nicolas leaned back. Arms crossed.

You want to pretend we’re a normal couple?

Just for tonight, she whispered. Please?

He was quiet for a long time.

Then he sighed. Annoyed. Defeated.

...Fine. One night..

Ondina’s eyes lit up. Just a little.

He stood up. "Come on."

"Where?"

The kitchen. If we’re pretending, we’re doing it right.

He grabbed the wine bottle. "And you’re cooking.

I don’t cook, she said, following him.

Then learn, he said over his shoulder. But there was no bite in it.

In the big, empty kitchen, he set the wine down.

Pulled out two plates.

Started making pasta. Like it was nothing.

Ondina watched him.

The cold CEO, making pasta at 1AM in a t-shirt.

Why are you doing this? she asked.

Nicolas didn’t look at her. Because you asked.

Pause.

And because...

He stopped himself.

Because what?

Nothing, he said quickly. Too quickly.

He plated the food and pushed one to her.

They ate at the island. No phones. No people.

Just the sound of forks and the hum of the fridge.

Red or white? he asked suddenly.

Red, she said.

You?

Same.

Stupid question. But she smiled anyway.

When they were done, he poured them more wine.

This time, he clinked his glass to hers first.

To one night, he said.

To one night, she echoed.

They didn’t talk about the future. Or Ondrea. Or the contract.

They talked about music. About the rain. About nothing.

At 2AM, he stood up.

We’re done.

He walked upstairs. Without waiting.

But at the top of the stairs, he paused.

Didn’t turn around.

Goodnight, Ondina.

And disappeared into the hallway.

Downstairs, Ondina held her empty glass to her chest.

Her heart was pounding.

He didn’t yell.

He didn’t leave her.

He made her pasta.

It wasn’t love.

But it was a start.

And upstairs, Nicolas lay in the guest room, staring at the ceiling,

with the ghost of a smile he couldn’t explain.

MORNING AFTER THE QUIET

The mansion was still asleep.

Sunlight came in through the tall windows, soft and gold.

No music. No guests. No fake smiles.

Upstairs, Ondina woke up on the couch in the living room.

She must've fallen asleep there. Still in her white dress.

Her glass from last night was on the coffee table, empty.

She sat up slowly. Her heart felt... weird.

Not heavy. Not light. Just... different.

"Good morning," a voice said. Cold. Flat.

Nicolas.

He was in the kitchen again. Black shirt. Coffee in one hand.

Hair still messy from sleep. No tie. No suit.

He looked less like a CEO and more like... a person.

Ondina froze. "Uh... morning."

He didn’t look at her. Just poured a second cup of coffee.

Black. No sugar.

He set it on the counter and slid it toward her.

"Drink," he said. "You look tired."

That was the longest sentence he’s given her without sarcasm.

Ondina took the mug. Their fingers brushed.

Warm.

She pulled back fast.

"...Thank you," she whispered.

Silence again. But this time, it wasn’t angry.

It was awkward.

Nicolas leaned against the counter, arms crossed.

You sleep on the couch?

"I... I didn’t want to go upstairs," she admitted. "Alone."

He hummed. Didn’t reply.

But he didn’t leave either.

After a few minutes, he spoke. Still not looking at her.

We have a lunch with my board today. 12PM.

We need to act like a married couple. For 2 hours.

Ondina’s stomach dropped. Back to the contract.

"Right," she said quietly. "Pretend."

"Yeah," Nicolas said. Then he glanced at her. Just for a second.

Wear the blue dress. The one from fitting.

You look... decent in it.

Decent.

Coming from him, that was basically a compliment.

Ondina nodded. "Okay."

She stood up to go upstairs.

At the stairs, she paused.

"Nicolas?"

"What."

About last night... the pasta. And the wine.

Thank you. For... one night.

He didn’t turn.

But his jaw tightened.

...Don’t make it a thing.

And walked out to his office.

Ondina stood there, holding her coffee.

It wasn’t an "I love you".

It wasn’t even an "I’m sorry".

But it was coffee.

It was "you look decent".

It was him staying in the kitchen with her.

And for Ondina, that was more than she had yesterday.

Upstairs, Nicolas closed his office door.

He looked at his reflection in the window.

Cold face. Serious eyes.

But his hand was still warm.

From the mug he gave her.

He hated that.