The Billionaire's Regretful Marriage

Amelia Miller couldn't remember the last time she felt this nervous, her knuckles numb as she clutched the edge of the veil draping perfectly beneath the delicate crown resting on her head.

This was the day she had been waiting for. Standing in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection with a small smile, she suddenly felt like everything was just a dream.

She was getting married today. The long-awaited day for both her and her beloved-Ethan Blackwell-had finally arrived. The white lace gown had initially felt heavy on her slender frame, but with every passing second leading up to the ceremony, her racing heart overshadowed any discomfort she felt in the dress.

Outside, the church bells chimed softly, signaling that the moment was drawing near. Her best friend, Lydia, entered the room with a bright face. "Are you ready?" Lydia asked with a smile, though her voice carried a hint of uncertainty.

Noticing the fragile smile on Amelia's lips, Lydia stepped closer and gently rubbed her shoulder. "Come on, we practiced walking in this dress yesterday. What's making you so nervous?"

The faint unease Amelia had felt for the past three days leading up to the wedding was something she had tried to suppress. The reality of getting married had drowned out any worries or doubts about Ethan. And yet, he hadn't called her directly in the last three days either.

Amelia shook off the negative thoughts. Ethan was just busy. He was the CEO of a famous fashion brand, after all. Of course, a wedding like this took up a lot of his time. She nodded and looked at her best friend brightly, forcing herself to stay positive.

"Just a little nervous," Amelia replied, flashing a wider smile. "I'm ready."

As she stepped out into the church aisle, the wedding guests stood, all eyes fixed on her. Most of them were Ethan's colleagues-wealthy and influential people whom she only knew by name. Amelia felt small among them, as if she didn't belong there.

It wasn't a new feeling. Ethan's family-his parents, even-were people she had barely, if ever, met until today. Ethan had always said they were too busy and would only attend the wedding. But now...

As Amelia lifted her gaze, standing in the center of the church, she saw the long carpet leading to the altar, where only a lone priest stood-without Ethan by his side. Her smile vanished.

The solemn church piano echoed through the room. Some guests looked at her in confusion, concern etched on their faces, as if willing her to believe that Ethan, who should be standing next to the priest, was simply running late. But he wasn't there.

Where was Ethan?

She turned to the priest, her expression full of uncertainty. He simply nodded slowly, as if asking her to wait. A few guests started whispering, their hushed voices like needles piercing her ears.

"Where is he?" she whispered to Lydia, who now stood beside her.

Lydia looked panicked. "Maybe he's running late because of something-I'll check."

Lydia hurried out, leaving Amelia standing alone. She bit her lip, trying to suppress the anxiety crawling up her throat. She scanned the crowd, hoping someone would provide answers. But they only stared back-some with pity, others with mocking smirks.

Minutes passed like an eternity before Lydia returned, her face pale. In her hands was a small white envelope. She handed it to Amelia without saying a word.

Amelia's fingers trembled as she opened the envelope. Inside was a small note, Ethan's neat handwriting filling the page.

"Amelia, I can't do this. I'm sorry. I know this is painful, but I have to be honest with myself. Please forget me."

Amelia's world collapsed. She staggered back, nearly falling if Lydia hadn't caught her. A soft murmur rippled through the crowd as they watched her, their gazes heavy with judgment. The priest looked on with concern.

"What happened?"

Amelia's hearing faded, drowned out by the suffocating stares around her. Lydia called her name, but Amelia could only focus on breathing, trying to pull herself together.

From the wide-open church doors, a swarm of reporters and journalists-whether from fashion magazines or online tabloids-flooded the room. Their cameras flashed, capturing Amelia's pale face, frozen in shock.

Dear God, what was Ethan thinking?

A voice suddenly rose from the far end of the church. "Leave! Everyone, leave! The wedding is canceled. Canceled!"

Guests turned to each other, murmuring in confusion, their whispers filling the grand hall with ridicule. Amelia was too weak to stand and stop her mother from causing a scene.

"Amelia, what should we do? Is this really over?" Lydia asked, panicked. The priest clicked his tongue.

"Try contacting the groom. We need to confirm if this sacrament should truly be annulled." His voice was calm, but to Amelia, it was nothing more than a death sentence for her wedding.

"Amelia, get up." Lydia tried to help her stand straight, but Amelia could only stare blankly at the altar-the place that should have been the beginning of her happiness.

Her mother approached, face red with fury. "Didn't I warn you? Men like Ethan will never be serious about a girl like you. Look at what you've done to our family! His parents aren't even here!" Her voice was loud enough for nearby guests to hear.

Amelia wanted to respond, to tell her mother that this wasn't her fault. But her voice was gone, buried beneath the humiliation and heartbreak.

Then, a guest stepped forward, holding up a phone. She showed something to Lydia, who immediately froze.

"What is it?" Amelia croaked. Lydia hesitated, but Amelia snatched the phone from her hands.

In an instant, her world shattered again.

The screen displayed a photo-grainy, taken in a rush, but clear enough to show Ethan pressing a tender kiss to another woman's temple.

A gut-wrenching sensation punched through Amelia's stomach, leaving her paralyzed.

After three days of silence, this was what she got from Ethan? But... why?

"Amelia, maybe this is just a misunderstanding," Lydia tried to console her.

Amelia didn't reply. She handed the phone back and slowly walked out of the church. Every step felt heavier than the last, but she knew there was no reason to stay any longer.

Outside, the rain had begun to fall. The droplets soaked her dress, turning the pure white fabric into a dull gray. But she didn't care. She kept walking, leaving the church, the stares, and the dreams she once held onto.

She stopped at the edge of the road, rain mixing with the tears streaming down her face. The wedding gown she had once envisioned as a symbol of happiness now felt like an unbearable weight.

Unbeknownst to her, from the distant shadows of the church parking lot, Ethan sat behind the wheel of his car-with the same woman by his side, gently caressing his leg. Watching the heartbreak unfold, relishing a moment Amelia would never even know about.