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.
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