Rings, Regret, And Ruin

My dad, realizing it was too late for me to marry the one they had planned, stiffened. With a cold wave of his hand, he ordered his security to help Lilian out of the room, trying to sweep the chaos under a rug woven from pride and regret.

Lilian staggered a half-step back, her eyes wide. The murmur of guests grew sharper, crueler. One of the guards gently touched her arm, and she recoiled—not with violence, but with visible disbelief.

Her fingers trembled at her sides, clenching and unclenching as if trying to hold on to her dignity. Her heels echoed against the polished floor, too loud, like shame in motion. But she didn’t cry. She didn’t protest. Her chin lifted a fraction, lips pressed together in a defiant line—as if to say, you may escort me out, but you won’t erase me.

Then Lilian’s father, an influential businessman and once my father’s friend, approached. He placed a hand on my dad’s shoulder, his grip calm yet firm. His voice was low, almost controlled—but laced with unmistakable disappointment.

“They’re just kids. What happened today… we can’t undo. But this—this is humiliating. I expected better from Ethan, your son.”

And with that, he turned and walked away, followed by his people. The flashes from the cameras kept going, each one lighting up the room like a slap.

My dad didn’t speak. He just stood there, jaw tight, disappointment carved into every line of his face. He left without acknowledging the parents of the girl I had just married. Was it because they weren’t wealthy enough? Or something deeper? I don’t know. I only know he didn’t look back.

I knew right then—I was in serious trouble with my family. Going home wouldn’t be a celebration; it would be a storm. But for the sake of my dad’s reputation and name in the city, I couldn’t just walk away in silence. I had to do something.

Without overthinking it, I reached for Liza’s hand—firmly, but with just enough softness to make it look romantic—and led her toward her parents. We both wore smiles, carefully painted on for the watching eyes and cameras.

Her parents returned our smiles with surprising warmth, greeting me with kind words and a joy I wasn’t sure I deserved. I slipped my hand into my pocket and pulled out two cards: a credit card, and my business card. I handed them to Liza.

Then I took her hand once more, lifted it to my lips, and kissed it lightly. “You need to call me as soon as you can,” I whispered. And then I turned and walked away.

Behind me, the room erupted—claps, whistles, flashes of cameras. In that moment, I realized... maybe I hadn’t fixed everything. But I’d bought my father’s pride enough time to breathe.

Mr. Tembo, Liza’s father, couldn’t contain himself. Grief overtook him like a wave crashing without warning. He left the crowded hall in haste, nearly stumbling as he pushed open the bathroom door.

Inside, with trembling hands gripping the sink, he bowed his head and wept — not just for his daughter, but for all that had unraveled in a matter of minutes. His breaths were uneven. His shoulders shook. He had always seen Liza as strong — but seeing her dignity bruised like that pierced deeper than he expected.

Meanwhile, Kedrick — Liza’s would-be groom — arrived at the venue with his parents. They walked into chaos. The air buzzed with tension, camera flashes bursting like fireworks as reporters swarmed them with questions. His mother let out a quiet gasp. His father frowned, as though sensing something had gone terribly wrong.

Before anyone could explain, concerned relatives rushed forward, voices overlapping in half-told accounts. But it was the devastated looks, the stiffened gazes, and the murmur of scandal that told him enough. As understanding hit, Kedrick’s knees nearly buckled.

He wept — openly, bitterly — right there at the entrance. This was his arranged marriage and he had agreed to it with joy. And now, in the blink of an eye, it was all gone.

Still trembling, Kedrick pushed through the crowd and made his way to the front. He took the microphone, knuckles white around it. But just as he opened his mouth to speak, a voice cut through the hush.

“Kedrick… please marry me!”

Gasps swept across the room. Kedrick froze. He looked toward the crowd, stunned, as one of his closest friends stood there — eyes shining, vulnerable. It was her. The one he’d secretly had feelings for all along. The one he’d never dared approach, afraid to ruin their friendship.

And Liza… she heard it all. From across the room, her heart dropped. This was the man she was told she would marry. The one she thought might be her forever, was slipping away—just like that. Her throat tightened, tears stung her eyes, but none fell.

Her hand touched the gold band now on her finger — a reminder that she had disappointed her granny, the one who arranged this marriage with such care. If only she'd been here, maybe non of this would have happened, Liza thought to herself.

A few minutes later, Kendrick married Alisha—his girl best friend. I don’t know if it was heartbreak that pushed him to it, or if he simply needed someone to stand beside him that day. But just like that, the vows meant for Liza were whispered to someone else.

Somewhere behind that crowded hall, away from the flashes and forced smiles, Liza stood alone. The room had thinned out, but her world hadn’t. She looked down at the wedding band on her finger, as if hoping it might offer an explanation she hadn’t heard. The cold metal felt foreign, like it had been meant for someone else's life. Her hand trembled just enough to betray what her face wouldn’t. She swallowed hard.

Her phone buzzed in her palm. She blinked once, twice, then turned the screen toward herself. Unknown number. Four words. "We need to talk.”

And just like that, everything shifted again.

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