Hera’s POV
“Where is he?” I whispered under my breath, pacing slightly. Zack was supposed to be here.
He’d promised. Tomorrow was our wedding day, and today was meant to be the day where he
saw me in my dress the one I’d dreamed about since I was ten, cutting pictures from bridal
magazines.
I picked up my phone again and dialed his number. It rang once, twice… then went straight to
voicemail.
Silver, who was lounging on a plush pink chair, raised a brow. “Still not reachable?”
“Yeah,” I muttered, trying to keep my voice steady. Frustration bubbled in my chest. Zack was
never this late — at least, not before recently. This past week, he’d become distant. Distracted.
He spent more time on his phone, more time “working late,” and less time looking me in the
eyes.
But every time I asked if something was wrong, he’d snap at me, accuse me of not trusting
him. So, I learned to swallow my worries instead of speaking them.
I smoothed a hand down the gown I was wearing, feeling the delicate embroidery beneath my
fingertips.
When I stepped in front of the floor-length mirror, I didn’t even recognize myself. The fitted
bodice hugged me just right, the skirt flowed like soft waves, and for the first time, I truly felt like
a bride.
“You look gorgeous, babe,” Silver said as she came to stand behind me, resting her chin lightly
on my shoulder. “You’re going to make the most beautiful bride.”
Her words warmed me, but still… something inside me felt off. Hollow.
“Thanks, Silvie,” I murmured. “I just… I wish Zack was here to see this.”
She sighed, and I knew she wanted to say something maybe to defend me, maybe to defend
him but she stayed quiet. Because she knew. She’d seen the same shift in him that I had.
I’d been with Zack for five years. Childhood friends turned lovers, turned fiancés, and tomorrow
we were supposed to become husband and wife. Our whole town knew our story. Zack wasn’t
just anybody ,he was the mayor’s only son and a rising A-list model, constantly in the news. And
because he was in the spotlight, so was our relationship.
Everywhere we went, eyes followed us. Even now, as I stood in the boutique, I caught the
blonde saleslady glancing in my direction with a strange expression amusement? pity? I couldn’t
tell. But it made my stomach twist.
“Ignore them,” Silver murmured, rubbing my shoulders gently.
I nodded, taking another breath as I picked up my phone and dialed Zack’s office line instead.
“Hello, A-G Star speaking,” a polite voice answered.
“Hi,” I said as calmly as I could. “This is Hera. I’m checking on Zack Miari.”
A pause. Then, “Oh Mr. Miari left the office hours ago.”
My heart dropped. “What?”
Silver’s head snapped toward me, eyes wide.
“Thank you,” I managed, and hung up.
He’d left hours ago.
He should’ve been here before me he insisted he wanted to be the first to see me in my dress.
He said it would be a memory we’d tell our kids.
His words echoed painfully. He’d always known exactly what to say to make my heart flutter, to
tie my hopes tighter to him.
“Are you okay?” Silver asked softly.
I swallowed hard. “He’s not at the office.”
Silver sank back into her chair. “Then where the hell is he?”
“I don’t know.” My voice wavered.
What if something happened?
What if he got into an accident?
What if—
My phone buzzed, interrupting my spiraling thoughts. A message notification.
My heart jumped. Maybe it was him apologizing, telling me he was on his way, maybe even
sending a sweet little voice note to reassure me.
I tapped the screen,the message opened,it wasn’t a text, a video
The air in my lungs stalled,there was Zack,his arms wrapped tightly around a woman’s waist.
Laughing,holding her the way he used to hold me.
They stood at a reception counter,they were checking into a room together.
The woman… her hair… her profile… it was familiar.
I could feel my heart shatter into pieces so sharp I wondered how I was still standing,this can’t
be real,Zack wouldn’t cheat on me.
My phone buzzed again,another message.
“If you want to find out more, go to De Royals Hotel. Room 101”
My stomach dropped so violently I swore the room spun. I tapped the number, desperate to
confront whoever sent this, but the call didn’t go through.
Silver called my name, but her voice sounded distant, muffled, like I was underwater.
My fingers moved on their own as I tore off the wedding dress, the one I’d just admired and I
imagined Zack crying over when he saw me in it. The pearls clattered softly against the dressing
stool as I dropped it.
“Hera, wait what are you doing?” Silver rushed toward me.
I didn’t reply. Couldn’t form words. My throat felt too tight, my heart too bruised. I slipped into
my clothes, grabbed my purse, and walked out of the boutique without looking back.
The moment I hit the parking lot, tears burned my eyes, but I forced myself to blink them away
as I slid into my car. When I started the engine, my hands shook so badly I had to grip the wheel
harder.
“Please… please don’t let this be real,” I whispered as I drove the video kept replaying in my
mind ,the way Zack held that woman, his hand on her waist.
“No,” I said fiercely. “Calm down, Hera. Zack would never do something like this. He loves
you.”but my voice broke on the last word.
I tried calling him again. This time the phone rang longer, giving me a small burst of hope,only
for the call to be cut abruptly.
I gripped the wheel tighter.
“Why aren’t you picking up?” I whispered. “Where are you?”
When I finally pulled into De Royals’ driveway, I barely parked. My car ended up crooked, one
tire slightly on the curb, but I didn’t care. My heart was beating too fast.
I ran inside the hotel, straight to the reception desk.
“Room 101,” I said breathlessly.
The receptionist stared at me like I was losing my mind. Maybe I was.
“Ma’am… are you lost?” she asked gently.
“I said room 10—”
“Oh,” she interrupted with a knowing smile. “Seems you forgot your card.”
She handed me a room card before I could say anything else.
I blinked.
Why would she think I had a card?
But there was no time. My heart was too busy pounding itself to pieces, dragging me toward
the truth I wasn’t ready for.
I rushed to the elevator, stepping inside as the doors closed. My legs trembled so much I had
to hold the railing.
When the elevator doors opened, I almost turned back,But pain raw and heavy pushed me
forward.
I walked down the quiet hallway until I reached door 101. The gold numbers gleamed under
the hallway lights, mocking me.
My hand shook as I pressed the card against the scanner,a small beep the door clicked I
pushed it open.
Silence greeted me. The living room was dim, the TV humming quietly in the background. A
half-empty wine bottle sat on the table next to two glasses.
A loud sound came from the back room voices. Muffled. Breathless. Strained.
My feet moved without permission, carrying me toward the partially closed door. My hand
pushed it open.
I froze,Zack was in the bed with another woman,
his skin damp with sweat,his movements frantic,
My vision blurred. My pulse rang in my ears.
“Zack!!”
The word tore out of me, raw and broken.
He froze,slowly turned his eyes widened with horror, confusion… guilt.
The woman beneath him shifted, pulling the blanket up around her body as she turned.
And I saw her face,My blood turned cold “Vera…” I choked.
My twin sister.
