“CALL ME AUNTIE, MY NEPHEW!” BETRAYED BY MY FIANCÉ FOR MY BEST FRIEND, SO I SECRETLY MARRIED HIS BILLIONAIRE UNCLE TO DESTROY HIS ENTIRE INHERITANCE!
“Ready for some real revenge?” Julian asked, offering me his arm.
“Yes. But before I do anything, I have to go to the boutique. I need to return it. My wedding dress.”
“Are you sure you want to return it?”
“Yes. But before I return it, I’ll try it on for my first and last time. I need to say a proper goodbye to the naive version of myself.”
Julian stopped walking and looked at me.
“How do you want to play this?”
“Let’s not tell anyone about our marriage just yet,” I requested.
“Especially Tyler.”
“Do you still have feelings for your ex?” Julian’s jaw tightened.
“No, it’s not like that,” I said fiercely.
“I gave up so much for Tyler. My dignity, my design career. I just want to take it all back. I want to make him suffer before I reveal the truth.”
“Well, when will that be?”
“Next week. On the day I was supposed to marry him. He still thinks he’s gaining all that inheritance by marrying Chloe now. I’ll tell the world I married you—not just his uncle, but the world’s richest man—and make him regret it for the rest of his life.”
Julian smiled. A genuine, terrifying smile.
“More entertaining than I expected. Take this.”
He handed me a sleek, heavy black metal card.
“What is this?”
“This is a black card. I opened it in your name. No limit. And this is your exclusive VIP membership to the boutique. Get whatever you want.”
“Julian, I’ve already taken so much from you. I can’t accept this.”
“I’ll find a way for you to pay off your debt,” he teased.
“You’re my wife now. You deserve the best. Take it.”
“All right, hubby. I’ll take the card.”
I stood in front of the massive mirror in the VIP suite of the boutique.
“How do I look?” I asked the attendant.
“Gorgeous, Miss Maya. It’s stunning.”
“It’s funny,” I said, running my hands over the silk.
“I chose this dress and I was supposed to wear it on my wedding day with Tyler. Well, I guess I’ve already said goodbye to the dress and to him.”
“This gown was custom made for you,” the attendant smiled.
“It’s one of a kind in the world. It’s worth half a million dollars.”
Suddenly, the heavy double doors to the VIP suite burst open.
“I’m sorry, ma’am! You can’t come in right now! Our VIP client is here!” a security guard yelled.
“Do you even know who I am?” Chloe’s shrill voice echoed through the room.
“I’m Tyler Brown’s fiancée! He’s the youngest heir of the Brown family fortune. Get lost!”
Chloe shoved the guard aside and marched into the room, flanked by her two friends, Miley and Cassie.
“Ma’am, please stop!” the guard pleaded.
“Chloe,” I said coldly, turning around.
“How the hell did you sneak in here? Security must be slacking.”
“I walked right through the front door,” Chloe laughed, crossing her arms.
“I didn’t need to kiss Tyler’s ass to sneak in the back door like you. Smell that? The smell of jealousy.”
“I don’t know if you heard,” Chloe continued, stepping closer.
“But Tyler’s marrying me next week. Not you. On the very same day he was supposed to marry you. He traded up from you, stinky trash.”
“Or he traded down for an easy sex toy who steals her best friend’s fiancé,” I shot back, my voice steady.
“Spread my rumors like that and I’ll rip that dirty mouth right off your face.”
“Unlike you, Chloe, I don’t have time for high school drama. Move aside.”
Miley stepped in my way.
“Wait, are you wearing Chloe’s wedding dress? Take it off, you disgusting rat!”
“Oh, Chloe, she’s so obsessed with Tyler’s wedding dress,” Cassie cackled.
“He dumped her for you! Do you have a secondhand fetish or something, Maya? You seem obsessed with stealing things I’ve already worn.”
“First my useless fiancé,” I said calmly.
“Now my wedding dress? Miley, Cassie. Still playing the strippers for Chloe’s circus, I see.”
“Shut up!” Chloe screamed.
She grabbed a glass of red wine from the refreshment table and hurled it directly at me. The dark liquid splashed across the pristine white silk of the half-million-dollar gown.
“You ruined my wedding dress!” I shouted.
“Now kneel and apologize to me before I sue you for property damage!”
“Your dress? Excuse me, ma’am,” Chloe snapped her fingers at the attendant.
“Please pack this ruined piece of trash up for me. Give me a second to take it off her.”
“Okay, ma’am,” the terrified attendant whispered.
“Chloe, you’re such a big talker,” I said, wiping the wine off my chest.
“Tyler told me your dress budget was eighty thousand. No way you can afford this custom piece.”
“Nice try, bitch,” Chloe laughed, pulling a gold card from her purse.
“Tyler gives me enough to pay for whatever trash he picked out.”
“Take my black card,” I told the attendant, handing over Julian’s heavy metal card.
Chloe froze, her eyes widening.
“What the hell? How is that even possible? A black card? But no limit? I bet it’s a fake!”
Miley laughed nervously.
“I don’t care who you slept with to get that card, Maya. Your fake cash isn’t good here.”
“OMG, Chloe, be nice,” Cassie sneered.
“She’s trying so hard to act like she isn’t poor. We should have picked up a dress from the garbage bin for her.”
“Excuse me, ma’am,” I told the attendant calmly.
“I don’t want the dress on me anymore. Now it would only remind me of some evil, shallow, backstabbing bitch I was once stupid enough to trust. Please bring this other dress to me. I would like to try it on.”
“Yes, of course, Miss Maya.”
Chloe lunged at me, trying to grab the dress off the rack.
“Broken trash like you only deserve to wear rags!”
I sidestepped her, and she tripped over her own heels, crashing into a display of crystal vases. The glass shattered everywhere.
“Great job, Chloe,” I smiled down at her.
“You see, Chloe, I can destroy everything you love in a second and face zero consequences, just for fun.”
“What’s happening? What is happening in here?”
A man in a sharp suit rushed into the room.
“Hello, you must be the manager here,” Chloe yelled from the floor, pointing at me.
“Good to see you! This bitch ruined the dress Tyler reserved for me and made a full mess of your store! Please throw her out immediately!”
The manager ignored Chloe completely. He walked straight up to me and bowed deeply.
“Good afternoon, Miss Maya. I do apologize about my late arrival. I am the general manager. Please, if there’s anything I can get for you, just let me know.”
“I would like them to pay for the damage,” I said, gesturing to the ruined dress and the shattered crystal.
“Of course, Miss Maya,” the manager turned to Chloe.
“Excuse me, Miss Chloe, and you ladies. I must ask for you to pay for all the damage you’ve done here.”
“Whatever,” Chloe scoffed, dusting off her skirt.
“Put it on my card.”
“Wonderful,” the manager calculated the total.
“You owe us half a million dollars.”
“What?” Chloe shrieked.
“Do you remember who I am? I’m Tyler Brown’s future wife! I shouldn’t have to compensate anyone!”
“I’m afraid I have to comply with Miss Maya’s wishes,” the manager said coldly.
“Who the hell does she think she is?” Chloe screamed.
“She’s a nobody here!”
“A minute ago, she became the sole owner of this boutique and all the chain stores associated with this brand,” the manager announced.
“The owner?” Miley gasped.
“OMG, this cannot be true,” Cassie panicked.
“How did this happen? Is there someone powerful behind her?”
“So, Miss Chloe, and you ladies,” the manager continued sharply.
“I’m afraid if you do not pay up right now, I’ll have to call the police on you for massive property damage.”
“Jesus Christ,” Chloe panicked, looking at her gold card.
“How can I afford that? My card is already maxed out by Tyler!”
“Chloe, Chloe, do something!” Miley begged.
“I don’t want to go to jail!”
“Go to hell, you dumbasses!” Chloe yelled at her friends.
“Miley and Cassie, right?” I asked, stepping forward.
“I’m going to give you two a way out. One slap on Chloe, and I will deduct one hundred thousand from your shared debt.”
“How dare you, bitch!” Chloe screamed.
Miley didn’t hesitate. She stepped forward and slapped Chloe across the face so hard the sound echoed.
“Please don’t blame us, Chloe,” Cassie said, stepping up and delivering a second massive slap.
“I’m going to kill you both!” Chloe shrieked, holding her burning red cheeks.
“Poor, pathetic Chloe,” I laughed, turning my back on them.
“Throw them out.”
“Darling, what did she do?” Tyler asked, pacing the floor of his luxury apartment.
“Since when did Maya have that kind of power? Someone must be helping her.”
“Please, Tyler, you have to do something!” Chloe begged, icing her swollen face.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll make her regret what she did.”
“Julian, I’ve made you lunch,” I said, walking into his massive executive office at Brown Luxury Inc.
“I brought it by your office.”
“Thank you for standing up for me,” I added softly, setting the containers on his desk.
“And sorry about the dress.”
Julian looked at the plastic boxes and chuckled.
“Did you just pack up someone else’s takeout cooking for me?”
“You know me too well,” I grinned.
“How about once we make our marriage public next week, I’ll treat you to a real home-cooked meal.”
“Sounds perfect,” Julian smiled, pulling me into a quick kiss.
“And don’t worry about the dress. I’ve contacted the best designers in Paris to fix it.”
“Thank you. You’re so good to me. I promise I’ll repay you tenfold.”
“I’ll hold you to it, little minx. I expect a culinary masterpiece.”
Suddenly, the office doors swung open. Tyler and Chloe walked in.
“Uncle Julian, this is my fiancée, Chloe,” Tyler announced, completely ignoring me standing by the window.
“She’s a talented stage designer who was working on the 2025 Spring/Summer show. And then Maya played dirty to get her removed. I need your help to put her back on the team. Please, Uncle.”
Julian leaned back in his leather chair.
“Tyler, you know I have the utmost respect for the creative process. What exactly is going on here?”
“Uncle,” Tyler pleaded.
“Chloe has worked so hard on this project. You can’t let a snake like Maya take it away. You’ll make things right, won’t you?”
“Mr. Brown,” Chloe stepped forward, putting on her best innocent voice.
“I’ve known Maya for years. She’s a compulsive liar. She targets me because she’s jealous of me.”
“The same old trick to frame me again,” I spoke up, stepping out from the shadows.
“You really have no originality at all, Chloe.”
“Maya! Why are you here?” Tyler demanded, stepping protectively in front of Chloe.
“Mr. Brown,” I said, addressing Julian formally.
“I know Chloe once claimed she designed the sets, but you’re the Brown CEO. I assume you won’t play any favorites.”
“I can favor whoever I want,” Julian said smoothly. “
And you, Tyler, have no right to tell me what to do in my own office.”
“Uncle, you should see Chloe’s design plan!” Tyler insisted frantically.
“She created a visionary set inspired by flowers and their life-affirming existence.”
“Chloe, I trusted you as my best friend,” I said coldly, walking toward her.
“And you not only slept with my man, but also stole my ideas and took credit for my work. How could you?”
“No, you’re lying!” Chloe shrieked.
“I’m not a thief! Stop framing me out of jealousy, you spiteful woman!”
“So tell me, Chloe,” I challenged, crossing my arms.
“What was your specific inspiration for the Brown’s 2025 Spring/Summer collection?”
“It’s from… It’s from the poet Tagore,” Chloe stammered nervously.
“‘Let life be beautiful like summer flowers.'”
“Tiger? What tiger?” Tyler asked, looking confused.
“Oh god, Tyler, I knew you were ignorant, but this is a whole new level,” I laughed.
“You don’t even know the most famous Bengali poet, Rabindranath Tagore.”
“Tyler, how can you let her bully and humiliate me like this?” Chloe whined, tugging on his sleeve.
“Cut your crap, Maya,” Tyler snapped at me.
“You’re just jealous of Chloe! How could you, a loser with absolutely no career, design anything complex? And how the hell did you get into my uncle’s private office? You better back off right now before he kicks us all out.”
“You can play dumb, Tyler, but keep your dirty hands to yourself,” I warned as he reached for my arm. “I’m just here to thank Julian for his help.”
“Let her go, you jerk,” Julian’s voice cut through the room like a whip.
“Uncle Julian, I know you have some history with Maya, but believe me, she’s trouble,” Tyler begged.
“She’s claiming Chloe stole our design plans! You can’t let her pull the wool over your eyes! Chloe is our most talented designer! You got to put her back on the team.”
Julian stood up slowly. He walked around his massive desk and stood directly beside me.
“Take a breath, nephew,” Julian said coldly.
“I will never allow a cheating thief like Chloe to be involved in any Brown project. And Maya can marry whoever she wants. It’s up to her. Especially if she chooses me.”
“What?” Tyler gasped, stepping back.
“Oh, no. What do you mean?”
“Maya is the one causing all the trouble here!” Chloe yelled.
“Why are you taking her side, Mr. Brown?”
“Do you want me to take your side, Chloe?” Julian asked dangerously.
“Yes, please, Uncle Julian,” Chloe purred, batting her eyelashes and stepping closer to him.
“Chloe, you filthy bitch!” Tyler yelled, grabbing her arm.
“Get your hands off my uncle! You’re trying to seduce him!”
“Don’t make me laugh, Tyler,” Chloe snapped, shaking him off.
“This is what surviving looks like.”
“You nasty skank!” Tyler roared.
“Uncle Julian, I’m so scared, please!” Chloe faked a cry.
“Get off me,” Julian demanded, brushing his suit jacket where she had touched him.
“Who the hell do you think you are? Get off me!”
“Get the hell out of my office. Both of you,” Julian ordered.
Tyler and Chloe practically ran out the door, arguing loudly the entire way down the hall.
“Thanks, Julian,” I sighed, rubbing my temples. “Those two disgust me every time.”
“Do you really want to thank me?” Julian asked, his voice dropping an octave as he pulled me against his chest.
“Why? Do you really want me to thank you?” I teased.
“Wifey,” he whispered against my neck.
“See you at home.”
“Boss, there are some problems with the lighting design,” the stage manager said nervously.
We were standing in the massive convention center, preparing for the Brown Luxury Spring/Summer 2025 fashion show.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to judge your project,” I said, looking over the blueprints spread across the table.
“Not at all, Miss Maya,” the manager insisted.
“We’d like you to share more. I remember you graduated from a top-notch college of design.”
“Yes, please, ma’am,” the head rigger added.
“According to the plan, there might be severe light spillage onto the audience, and the harsh shadows might distort the appearance of the clothing on the runway,” I explained, pointing to the lighting grid.
“Maya, you’re amazing,” the manager beamed. “You just took one look and saw what no one else could see. You’re so talented. How would you like to be our Creative Director for this entire project?”
“Yes, please! We need you, Miss Maya!” the crew agreed.
I smiled. Look at me now, Tyler. No career? I’ll be the Creative Director and win back all the glory that belonged to me.
“Yes, I’ll do it,” I said firmly.
“Hello everyone. I’m Maya Coats, the new Creative Director for the Brown Spring/Summer 2025 fashion show,” I announced at the morning briefing.
“Welcome. Thank you all. I’ve already sent the new design plans to everyone’s email. All department heads should be here, right? Let’s go ahead with the process reports.”
“Miss Maya,” an assistant raised her hand.
“The head of the lighting department, Chloe, hasn’t arrived yet.”
“So, she’s the head of the lighting department,” I sighed.
“No wonder the lighting design sucks like hell.”
Suddenly, the doors swung open. Chloe strutted in, holding Tyler’s hand.
“Please be careful, sir,” a worker warned Tyler as he bumped a lighting stand.
“The fixtures are very heavy and delicate.”
“Maya, why are you here?” Tyler demanded.
“I’m waiting for you both,” I said.
“What, are you stalking me now, Tyler? You’re obsessed and crazy, aren’t you?”
“I’m not interested in an impotent man like you,” I added, looking him up and down. “Can you even keep it up to satisfy your mistress?”
“Shut the hell up, Maya,” Tyler growled. “I’m fine. And Chloe is not a mistress.”
“Oh, I see. Not a mistress. Just a slut.”
“Stop slandering me!” Chloe shrieked.
“This is a private event for guests of Brown Luxury. Low-class trash like you don’t belong here! If you don’t get out now, I’ll have security make you!”
“Oh, really?” I laughed.
“You don’t have the authority over me because I am the new Creative Director of the Brown Spring/Summer 25 collection.”
“What? It’s impossible!” Tyler stammered.
“You must be lying! How could a lame parasite like you with no work experience be named Brown’s Creative Director?”
The general manager stepped forward.
“Let me introduce you to our new Creative Director, Miss Maya, to all of you.”
“Manager, there must be something wrong,” Chloe panicked.
“Are you sure she’s the new Creative Director? Who else could it be?”
“Sure as hell not an unprofessional leech like you, that’s for sure,” I said, stepping right into her personal space.
“You can’t even show up on time or do your job properly. In fact, you make everybody’s job harder just being on the team.”
“Well, is this true?” Tyler asked the manager.
“How dare you?” Chloe yelled. “I’m Tyler Brown’s fiancée!”
“Miss Maya was assigned directly by our CEO, Mr. Julian Brown,” the manager stated coldly.
“You better know your place, Chloe.”
“Stop using my uncle, you shameless woman!” Tyler yelled at me.
“Don’t you know he’s busy?”
“Let’s get this straight,” I said, my voice echoing in the large hall.
“I don’t need to use anyone to get where I am. I graduated top of my class from St. Martins and won first place in the LVMH design competition. If it weren’t for you dragging me down all these years, Tyler, I would already be Creative Director, far surpassing you and your cheap mistress.”
“Your arrogance makes me want to puke,” I spat, staring Tyler in the eyes.
“I don’t know what I ever saw in you. All you do is abuse and humiliate the women around you. It’s pathetic. Now I see who you truly are. I’ll never come back to you.”
Tyler’s face fell. “Does she really want to break up with me?” he muttered to himself.
“Tyler, darling, are you okay?” Chloe asked, touching his arm.
“Chloe, all you’ve done is disappoint me,” Tyler snapped, pulling away.
“I trusted you with this important project, and you’ve done nothing but disgrace me.”
“I’ll make you see that Maya is still just useless trash,” Chloe whispered venomously under her breath.
“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I am Julian Brown, CEO of Brown Luxury. Welcome you all to our 2025 Spring/Summer couture show.”
The crowd erupted in applause.
“Your family hosts so many shows each year, but I’ve never seen your uncle give a speech on stage before,” someone whispered in the front row.
“Today I would like to express my gratitude to a very special person at Brown Luxury,” Julian continued, his voice smooth and commanding.
“A special person to me, and a rising star at Brown Luxury. Our newly appointed Creative Director and grand finale model, Maya Coats!”
The music swelled. I stepped onto the runway wearing the custom, breathtaking white couture gown. The stage lights caught every crystal and bead.
“Oh my god, she’s perfect,” I heard a fashion editor gasp.
“Bro, she’s stunning. I didn’t even realize she looked this good,” Tyler muttered from the VIP section, staring at me with his mouth open.
Julian met me at the end of the runway. He took my hand and kissed it gently.
“Not here,” Julian whispered so only I could hear. “That’s my woman.”
“OMG, Miss Maya, the couture dress you wore on stage is completely sold out!” my assistant cheered backstage. “Our show video has already got a hundred million views! All the celebrities are asking us how to get a hold of this dress!”
“Miss Maya, you were so breathtaking today,” the stage manager praised.
“Everyone thought your special appearance was planned all along.”
Julian walked into my dressing room, carrying a massive bouquet of flowers.
“Thanks to your reliable boss,” Julian announced to the room, “I have asked Vera Wang to design a special edition of this dress for you, Maya. The only one in the world that will have your name sewn into it in floral silk. And I’ve had the design registered as a trademark under your new company’s name.”
“What company?” I asked, completely shocked.
“Mr. Brown registered a fashion company under your name with a share capital of ten million dollars,” the assistant beamed.
“What? Julian, this is insane,” I gasped.
“Did you know?”
“You deserve everything in the world,” Julian smiled, pulling me close.
“Tyler, where are you going?” I heard Chloe’s voice whining from the hallway.
“I’m sorry, Chloe. I have to go see Maya,” Tyler replied frantically.
“Maya Coats, I’ll take you down,” Chloe hissed from the corridor.
“Hi, Miss Maya,” a crew member said, running up to me on the catwalk later that evening as we dismantled the set. “Two of the stage spotlights went missing. I have to go find them.”
“I’ll handle the giant disco ball here,” I offered. “Okay, I’ll be right back.”
“Maya,” Tyler’s voice echoed in the empty arena. He walked toward me, looking desperate. “All these misunderstandings between us are because of your arrogant and stinking temper. I’ve already given you a way out. You should be grateful. Come back to me.”
“Tyler, I feel so sorry for you,” I sighed, adjusting the heavy cables on the disco ball. “Your new fiancée isn’t all you thought she was, and now you’re the one clinging to me, begging for me back. Stage five clinger.”
“I’m not begging you!” Tyler yelled, his face turning red. “Go to hell, Maya!”
Tyler stormed off.
I reached up to adjust a final cable. Suddenly, a sharp snapping sound echoed above me.
“Maya, watch out!”
Julian sprinted across the stage out of nowhere. He tackled me to the ground just as the massive, heavy glass disco ball crashed onto the exact spot where I had been standing. Shards of glass exploded everywhere.
“Julian!” I screamed.
He lay motionless on top of me, shielding my body with his own. Blood dripped from a massive cut on his forehead.
“Julian, don’t be afraid! I’m here!” I panicked, my hands shaking as I held his face. “Somebody call an ambulance! Please don’t leave me alone! Please save him! Don’t take him away from me!”
“Are you okay?” Aunt Beatrice asked, grabbing my arm in the hospital hallway.
“I’m fine, Aunt Beatrice.”
“Maya, what happened? How did Julian get injured in your showcase? This is serious.”
Julian’s father, Harrison Brown—the intimidating patriarch of the Brown family—marched down the hall, flanked by security. Tyler’s mother trailed closely behind him.
“Mrs. Brown,” Tyler’s mother started immediately, pointing a shaking finger at me. “For some unknown reason, Maya walked right under the disco ball that the workers were dismantling. Julian shielded her from getting serious injuries.”
“Chloe, what’s wrong with you?” I demanded, seeing my former best friend lurking behind Tyler’s mother.
“Just telling the truth,” Chloe smirked.
“You cursed, worthless troublemaker!” Aunt Beatrice slapped me hard across the arm.
“Aunt Beatrice, what are you doing?” I cried.
“Mrs. Brown, you’re the reason Julian ended up in the hospital,” Tyler’s mother yelled.
“His father is going to come after you! God, how come my son ends up with a troublemaker like you? When his father gets here, you better beg for his forgiveness!”
“I’m not dragging my nephew into this. Do you hear me?” I snapped.
“I’ve already broken up with Tyler, so I won’t get him involved.”
“Stop talking nonsense!” Aunt Beatrice hissed.
“Breaking up with Tyler? You’re trying to ruin our entire family? Maya, are you still going to be stubborn with me? Apologize to Mrs. Brown right now!”
“No need,” I said coldly. “We’re calling off the marriage.”
“Enough. That’s enough,” Harrison’s booming voice silenced the hallway.
“Mr. Brown, I’m really sorry,” I said, stepping toward him.
“Miss Coats,” Harrison said, his voice like grinding stone. “You saved Julian’s life once in a car wreck years ago. But that debt has been repaid today. From now on, I demand you stay away from him. And stay away from my family.”
“But Mr. Brown, please don’t—”
“I suggest you leave right now. He wouldn’t want to see you.”
“No, that’s enough,” Harrison commanded his guards. “Make her leave.”
“I’m so sorry, Julian,” I whispered through the glass window of his ICU room. “It’s all my fault. I love you, but I have to leave you now.”
“Miss Maya, there’s the evidence you asked for,” my private investigator said, handing me a thick envelope in a dark parking lot. “Proving that Chloe hired a rogue stagehand to cut the rope to the disco ball.”
“Thanks,” I said, my blood boiling. “How’s Julian doing?”
“Boss is out of danger, and he should wake up very soon. He loves you, Miss Maya. He wouldn’t want to hear you blaming yourself.”
“Thank you for your kind words.”
I walked out of the hospital, exhausted. Chloe was waiting by my car, leaning against the hood with a smug grin.
“Oh, look who it is. A cursed troll in our way,” Chloe laughed.
“Just leave me alone.”
“Maya, you know Tyler’s mother agreed for him to marry me, right?” Chloe taunted, waving her hand in my face. “She even bought me a massive diamond ring for our engagement party next week.”
“Chloe, that’s enough.”
“Wait, I saw you staring at my ring,” Chloe cackled. “You still wish you were marrying Tyler, don’t you? I’d advise you to back off while you still can.”
“I’m not in the mood for your bullshit right now,” I said, pulling out the thick envelope. “But trust me, you will be hearing from my lawyers about your little sabotage plot at the fashion show.”
“What are you talking about? You’re the one that got Julian injured.”
“I had nothing to do with it,” I stepped closer, my voice deadly quiet.
“I was talking about how you cut the rope to the disco ball to crush me.”
“No, you’re slandering me!” Chloe panicked, her smugness vanishing.
Tyler walked out of the hospital doors, looking exhausted.
“Chloe, is what she said true?”
“No! Of course not, Tyler! You should trust me!”
“I have all the evidence I need right here,” I said, waving the envelope.
“Including surveillance footage and bank transaction records of you paying off a stagehand. Should we take a look together?”
“Tyler, we did all of this because I love you!” Chloe begged, grabbing his arm.
“I took you to be kind and pure,” Tyler said, looking at Chloe with total disgust.
“Now I see you’re just damn evil.”
“Tyler! Tyler, wait!” Chloe screamed as Tyler turned his back on her.
“Maya,” Tyler said, stepping toward me. “My mother doesn’t speak for me. I’m not going to marry Chloe.”
“Okay, Tyler. Let me clear this up for you once more,” I sighed, completely drained. “I’m not interested in you. Stop being so childish.”
“I know you still love me.”
“Where’d you get this confidence from? It would honestly be amusing if it weren’t so pathetic. I love someone else. Get it?”
“How’s that even possible? Who is he?”
“It’s none of your business.”
“After all these years of us being together!” Tyler yelled.
“All these years of us being together, yet you betrayed me by cheating on me with my best friend. You’re the one who ruined everything.”
I walked through the cemetery, placing fresh flowers on my parents’ graves.
“Hi, Aunt Beatrice,” I said, noticing her standing by the mausoleum. “Thank you for visiting my parents’ memorial every year.”
“You useless, ungrateful brat,” Aunt Beatrice snapped, her face twisted in rage. “You are no niece of mine!”
“Aunt Beatrice?”
“Ever since your parents passed away in the car accident, I have used all of my strength to keep the struggling Coats family afloat! And you can’t even ask Tyler for forgiveness? Are you trying to ruin us financially?”
“Aunt Beatrice, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but I’ll never marry him. He’s an absolute nightmare.”
“Put your pride away! Stop it!” Aunt Beatrice yelled, knocking the flowers out of my hands. “This is your final chance. If you don’t say sorry to Tyler and marry him, I will kick you out of the Coats family. Even your dead parents will be ashamed of you!”
“I’ll never marry him.”
“You are dead to me!” Aunt Beatrice screamed, storming away.
I sank to my knees, gathering the crushed flowers. “Mom, Dad… Julian, I wish you were here. Wake me up when this is all over.”
“My dearest wifey. I’m taking you home.”
I gasped, looking up. Julian was standing there in a tailored black suit. He had a small bandage on his forehead, but his eyes were bright and focused.
“Julian! You’re okay!” I threw my arms around him, burying my face in his chest.
“Don’t cry, babe. I’m right here, and I’m perfectly fine now,” he murmured, kissing the top of my head. “I love you, Maya.”
“I love you too, Julian. Take me home.”
“You were brilliant last night, my love,” Julian smiled the next morning, pouring us coffee in his massive penthouse.
“You’re not too bad yourself, hubby,” I teased, stealing a piece of bacon from his plate.
“Darling, I have a stagehand on record confessing it was Chloe who dropped that light,” Julian said, his tone turning serious.
“I know. I got the report too. That awful liar. How could she hurt you like that? She’s going to pay.”
“No worries. I will handle her,” Julian promised.
Suddenly, Harrison Brown stormed into the penthouse, flanked by his security team.
“Julian! You nearly gave me a heart attack!” Harrison roared. “How could you sneak out of the hospital without saying a word to us?”
“Oh, really?” Julian sipped his coffee calmly. “Of course. Father has been very worried about you.”
“And it’s not just us,” Aunt Beatrice said, stepping out from behind Harrison. “My niece heard about your injury and kept pestering me to come visit you. She’s admired you for a very long time. How about I set the two of you up on a date?”
“I’m married,” Julian announced flatly.
“What?” Harrison gasped, clutching his cane. “How could you keep this from us? For God’s sake, I am your father!”
“Father, don’t be mad at Julian,” Tyler pleaded, stepping into the room. “He has good taste in women. Unlike me. That Maya is just an ill-mannered shrew who ruins everything.”
Julian stood up slowly. His height and presence instantly dominated the room. “I don’t like people speaking ill of Maya. Understand?”
“Alright. Okay,” Harrison relented, holding up a hand. “You just remember to bring your new wife home. We will be glad to meet her.”
“I’ll bring her to Tyler’s wedding,” Julian smirked.
“Sounds great,” Harrison agreed.
As they filed out, Julian pulled me close. “I can’t wait to see their faces when they find out you are my mysterious wife.”
“Welcome to Tyler and my engagement party! Please enjoy!” Chloe cheered loudly to the massive ballroom filled with Beverly Hills elite.
I walked through the double doors wearing a stunning, backless red gown.
“Where’s Maya?” someone whispered. “I can’t wait for the boss to kick her ass out.”
“OMG, is that Maya?” another guest gasped. “She looks like a goddess.”
Tyler rushed over, his eyes wide. “Maya, you’re here.”
“Tyler,” Chloe hissed, grabbing his arm. “How dare you steal my spotlight, Maya! I knew you would come back. You must love him.”
“Let go of me, idiot,” I said, shaking off Chloe’s grip. “I’m not here for Tyler.”
“Then who are you here for?” Chloe demanded.
“Maya Coats, what are you doing here? You’re not invited!” Aunt Beatrice yelled, storming over with a glass of red wine. She threw the wine directly at me.
I dodged smoothly, and the red wine splashed entirely across Chloe’s pristine white engagement dress.
“What the hell!” Chloe screamed, examining her ruined dress. “My dress! It’s all ruined! Maya, you’ll pay for this!”
“I’m the one who invited her,” a booming voice echoed from the entrance. Julian walked in, looking incredibly sharp in a black tuxedo. “Got a problem with that?”
“Enough,” Harrison commanded, stepping up to the microphone on the stage. “Father will be here soon to give a speech. Let’s take our seats. The real show is yet to come.”
“Wifey, I can’t wait,” Julian whispered in my ear as we sat down at the head table.
“Tyler, congratulations on finding such a smart and brave fiancée,” Julian said loudly, raising a glass of champagne.
“Thank you, Uncle,” Tyler smiled nervously.
“Thanks for your compliment, Uncle Julian,” Chloe beamed, raising her own glass. “Dare I drink your toast?”
“Why not?” Julian asked. “Chloe is a lot like you, Tyler. A pretentious, two-faced hypocrite. She’ll make the perfect daughter-in-law.”
“You better watch your mouth, Julian,” Harrison warned from the head of the table. “We’re all family here now.”
“Have you got something to say? Say it directly,” Tyler demanded.
“While Miss Chloe here tried to murder my wife when she cut the rope to the disco ball,” Julian announced smoothly, dropping a thick manila folder onto the center of the table. “Such an act of courage and determination.”
“Julian, stop making baseless accusations!” Chloe panicked.
“This is the official forensic report that compares Miss Chloe’s fingerprints to the ones found on the heavy-duty scissors used to cut the rigging. Enough to send her straight to federal prison.”
“Is what he said true?” Harrison asked, his face turning purple with rage.
“No, it’s impossible!” Chloe cried. “How could that be? I threw those scissors away in the dumpster!”
“Damn, Chloe is so vicious,” Tyler muttered in shock.
“Julian, you know exactly what kind of evil she is,” Harrison said, rubbing his temples. “But you still asked Tyler to marry her?”
“Tyler, I only did it because I was afraid you’d leave me and get back with Maya!” Chloe sobbed, grabbing Tyler’s jacket. “I never intended to harm your uncle! I just wanted Maya to die! You must save me! I can’t spend my whole life in jail!”
“You’re a shameless bitch,” Tyler said, shoving her away. “Stop dragging me down with you. Chloe, you’re a goddamn disgrace. I don’t even recognize you anymore.”
“Funny,” I said, leaning forward. “You think you can fool me, Tyler? Admit it. You’re still in love with me.”
“Yes, Maya,” Tyler admitted, falling to his knees. “Julian, you brought Maya here today trying to get her back together with me. Thank you, Uncle.”
“Unfortunately, Tyler, I think you’ve completely misunderstood me,” Julian said, standing up and pulling me to my feet. He wrapped his arm tightly around my waist. “As you see, I have brought Maya along with me today because she is my wife.”
“Impossible!” Tyler gasped. “Uncle, what do you mean? This is Maya’s idea! She’s just doing this to mock me and piss me off, right?”
Julian pulled a piece of paper from his tuxedo pocket and slammed it onto the table. “Maya and I have been legally married for three months now. Do you want to examine our marriage certificate?”
“Are you insane?” Tyler screamed, tears pouring down his face. “He’s my uncle!”
“Be quiet, all of you!” Harrison roared, slamming his fist on the table. “Do you think I’m dead? Now, Tyler, you’re so stupid and incompetent. You can’t even control your own woman. Clean up your mess before you embarrass this family any further.”
“Sorry, Grandfather,” Tyler wept.
“As for you, Julian, you’ve got some guts,” Harrison glared. “Marrying your nephew’s ex-fiancée. Do you want the entire world to mock our family?”
“I don’t give a damn about the so-called Brown family name,” Julian said coldly, staring his father down. “All I care about is Maya. And if any of you try and get in our way, you’ll disappear like this glass.”
Julian knocked his champagne flute off the table. It shattered violently against the marble floor.
“He is so goddamn hot,” I whispered.
“You’re so hot, hubby.”
“Tyler, where are you going?” Chloe begged from the floor. “Today’s our engagement day!”
“I am so sick of your disgusting tricks, Chloe,” Tyler spat. “Get the hell out of this city, or I’ll sue your ass to jail forever.”
“Tyler! Please!” Chloe screamed as security guards grabbed her by the arms and dragged her out of the ballroom.
“Tyler Brown, you damn coward!” Chloe’s voice faded into the distance.
“Oh my god, that was spectacular,” I laughed, leaning against Julian.
A week later, I was walking out of a boutique holding a small basket when Tyler ran up to me on the sidewalk.
“Maya! Maya, I knew you wouldn’t give up on us. That’s why you’re back in our old neighborhood, right? These are for you. Please forgive me.” He shoved a massive bouquet of cheap roses into my arms.
“Tyler, I’m so tired of you,” I sighed, dropping the roses into a nearby trash can. “I just came here to pick up a custom picnic basket for Julian. Can you leave me alone?”
“Maya, I know I was wrong!” Tyler begged, grabbing my wrist. “Okay? Please forgive me. Please give me another chance.”
“Enough, Tyler,” I said firmly, pulling my arm away. “I don’t love you anymore. Just leave. Go be a miserable loser somewhere else.”
The sun was setting over the Pacific Ocean as Julian and I stood at the altar on a private beach in Malibu.
“As expected from our boss, the wedding venue is so glamorous,” a guest whispered in the front row. “He even booked the entire luxury resort.”
“What a loving and stunning couple,” another guest sighed.
“We take each other as partners for life,” the officiant said smoothly.
“I do,” Julian said, his dark eyes locked onto mine.
“I do, Julian,” I smiled, feeling tears of pure joy prick my eyes.
From the very back row, I saw Tyler standing in a wrinkled suit, watching us with absolute devastation written across his face. He finally turned and walked away into the shadows alone.
“The groom may now kiss the bride,” the officiant announced.
Julian pulled me into a deep, passionate kiss. The crowd erupted into applause.
Revenge had never tasted so incredibly sweet.