The sound of a slap resounded through the spacious room. Alana froze, her heart shattered like the pieces of a vase Albert had thrown on the floor.
“You hit me?!” There was disbelief on her face. Tears gathered in her eyes, not sure because of the swelling on her cheek or Albert’s actions.
“Yes, I hit you.” Albert’s fist clenched at his sides. His face was red and veins popped on his temples as he suppressed his anger. He said through gritted teeth, “You betrayed me.”
Alana winced. Her heart felt as though someone ripped it apart from her chest and stomped on it. She tried to control her breathing and pointed at Cecil, who had a pale face, watching the show in front of her in silence. “Is it because of her? You believed her words just like that?”
“If not because of Cecil, I wouldn’t have known that you are actually hiding a man behind my back!” Albert snarled those words at her. His hand moved and was about to hit her again to vent his fury.
Alana didn’t move. She stood there, not even flinching as his hand came down to her cheek the second time. However, Albert stopped right a few centimeters away, and he retracted his hands.
“Don’t point your finger at Cecil. She is not an easy woman like you.” Albert pulled out something from his pocket and threw it at her. Photos scattered on the floor. There were many and Alana’s figure was on each of them.
It was a picture taken in a hotel, painting an ambiguous posture of her and a man. Alana recognized this person, as well as what had happened during that time.
Albert took a few steps back until he stood beside Cecil, rubbing her back to comfort the woman. Alana still had her eyes fixated on the photos on the floor. He watched her ever changing expressions coldly.
“Just a few photos and you believed everything she says?!” Alana snapped her head at him all of a sudden. The despair on her face replaced by a sudden laugh, making her look like a crazy woman.
Indeed, she was probably crazy. She had been crazy enough to stay with this man for ten years of marriage. She had done everything to help him with his company, sacrificing her career and her happiness. Now she realized this man had never looked at her even once.
“The proof is clear and you still want to deny it?” He looked at her with disgust.
Alana already felt numb at this point, but that look of disgust still stabbed her severely. For this man, who believed none of her words, she had even thrown away the last thing she had: her dignity. Still, he wouldn’t deign to look at her.
“It’s possible that the photos might just be a misunderstanding, just like—“ Albert cut Cecil’s whisper-like voice off, who then assured her that she didn’t need to be afraid and that he would protect her.
The voices of the two then fade away, though the intimate actions of the two were still as clear as a day in Alana’s eyes. She watched with a blank gaze as the background of the two people in front of her gradually changed into something else.
The round of applause awakened Alana from the memories of her previous life, but the two main protagonists reflected in her eyes were still the same.
The bride was absolutely stunning. A smile and the slight flush of her cheeks betrayed her happiness. On top of that, the gaze of the man, tender and full of doting, was the source of jealousy for the other women in the room.
Or perhaps, there were more than two people who were receiving too much attention from others today: Cecilia Hart the bride, Albert Harris the groom, and the last person was Alana Wilson, the woman who had received much public scorn due to her infidelity.
She was currently sitting alone at a table, seemingly lost in her own world. None talked to her, and she didn’t bother any attempt at starting a conversation either.
“It’s such a wonder how she got the nerve to come here and attend her ex-boyfriend’s wedding.”
“She’s embarrassing the Wilson family.”
“Coming to her ex-boyfriend’s wedding after she cheated on him.” One of them shook her head and continued to whisper. “Good thing that Mr Harris found true love at the end.”
“Luckily, Mr Harris hadn’t married her, or it would have been too late.”
All the topics of the conversation revolve around those ideas. Their gazes were discreet and voices whispered, but only limited to their tables.
“Miss Alana, thank you for coming to our wedding.” The voice pulled her from reminiscence, sweet and lovely. The small face, decorated with a smile, greeted Alana.
In contrast to Cecil’s happy expression, Albert’s head snapped in Alana’s direction in surprise, then he frowned. It was as if he didn’t realize she was there the entire time during the wedding procession until the bride called her out. However, her seat was indeed quite far from the altar.
“What are you doing here?” He had a taut face and scrunched eyebrows, his tone aggressive with glaring eyes. The expression that Alana had been so familiar with, both in the current and previous life.
“Attending a wedding.” She said the obvious, and it managed to get under his skin.
“Let’s find somewhere to talk.” Albert gritted his teeth as he began to walk towards Alana’s table. At the same time, Cecil suddenly wrapped her arm around his in an attempt to pull him back. The position where they were standing wasn’t far from Alana.
Cecil’s face instantly changed, from happy to one that was akin to an abandoned puppy. “Albert…”
Albert stopped in his tracks and glanced at Cecil. That kind of expression always made him not have a heart to do anything against her wishes, but he needed to talk to Alana right now.
“Wait for a bit, baby. I need to have a talk with her right now.” Albert assured her and steeled his heart not to look at her again, then continued to walk to Alana. Once he arrived at her table, he tried to grasp her arm roughly and drag her somewhere, but she avoided him.
“Just talk here.” She muttered flatly, then said sarcastically, “Look at your princess’ unwilling expression. She is still waiting for her prince charming to come back. Lest she thinks we have something going on.”
“Fine, if that’s what you want.” Albert’s tone wasn’t good. He took a few steps back.
At this point, Cecil already arrived at their table. One of her arms already went back wrapped around Albert in an affectionate manner, not minding the previous small scene at all.
“What are you doing here? How do you manage to get in?” Albert started his interrogating questions. He didn’t deliberately suppress his voice anymore this time, so some nearby people still heard his words. They seemed shocked upon hearing the horrific news.
Cecil’s free hand covered her slightly opened mouth, and she gasped. “Darling, I thought you were the one who invited her.”
“I didn’t invite her. I would never let anything destroy our wedding.” Albert rubbed Cecil’s back in an attempt to assure her. He frowned, then directed his sharp gaze back at Alana. “Answer the question.”
Some people speculated that she bribed the security and wanted to make trouble at the wedding. After all, with her family’s influence, it was possible.
“It is concerning that although you are still young…” Alana frowned in response and rolled her eyes. “But you already forgot that you sent me an invitation?”
At the entrance, nobody had stopped her. If anything, they made a wide pathway for her to walk on, all gazing at her as if she was some animal in the zoo. She had also confirmed her name on the guest list.
“Why would I invite you?” Albert nearly couldn’t hold in his anger anymore. “For you to ruin our most important day?”
“I also would like to know that. I also never said that it has to be you who sent it to me, Mr Harris.” She retorted back fearlessly. What a cheap trick pulled in order to antagonize her. Even if they confirmed the guest list again, she was sure her name would no longer be there.
Alana stood up and pulled something from her small bag. With a quick move, she threw the object in her hand to them and it landed near their feet.
In everyone’s eyes, the woman had her attention somewhere else that she didn’t realize a new character was entering. Lilah Adams—an actress, just like Cecil—raised a glass of water in her hand and a moment later, the figure of drenched Alana could be seen in everyone’s eyes amidst their shock.
