1 The Marriage in Flames

~~Vanessa Wedding Ground~~

The sun bathed the wedding venue in golden hues, casting a warm glow over the sprawling garden adorned with vibrant flowers and elegant decorations. Soft petals from the surrounding trees danced in the gentle breeze, creating a picturesque scene fit for a fairy tale.

The soft bridal music filled the air, weaving a tranquil melody through the picturesque setting. Canopies adorned with billowing white fabric fluttered gently in the breeze, casting dappled shadows over the assembled guests.

"Now, you may seal your marriage with a sacred kiss of union," the priest solemnly declared beneath a majestic archway of fresh flowers, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the pristine white surroundings.

Peony, resplendent in her ivory gown, and Garret, dashing in his tuxedo, stood at the altar. Their wedding had reached its long-anticipated climax, and the guests held their collective breath in anticipation.

*Beep* *Beep*

Gasps and murmurs of shock rippled through the guests as their eyes locked onto a large screen at the front.

Peony's heart pounded as she looked up, only to witness her once-dreamlike wedding transformed into a disastrous nightmare. In a panic, she instinctively pushed Garret away from her side.

Tears welled up in her eyes as the scandalous video of Garret and her childhood nemesis, Shyla, played before her. The vivid colors of the screen cast a harsh glare on her despairing expression.

Aghast, she turned to Garret, her voice trembling with horror as she heard him mutter, "Who the hell played this video here?" She was close enough to see the beads of sweat on his forehead.

Step by agonizing step, Peony began to retreat, her world crumbling around her.

"Someone, please stop this video! Is anyone in control of this? Technicians, where are you? Stage control!" Garret's voice rang out, frantic and searching for Peony, who had moved farther away from him. The bright lights and decor that had once seemed so elegant now appeared garish and overbearing.

Clutching her bouquet tightly to her chest, Peony sobbed softly. "What have I done to deserve this on my special day?" Her tears glistened like dewdrops against the vibrant backdrop of the wedding flowers.

Garret spotted her through the chaotic crowd and rushed towards her, desperation in his eyes. His tuxedo seemed to lose its luster amidst the turmoil.

"Peony, this is a fake. I would never betray you. You know me, right? I'm your first love, your boyfriend for eight years. Remember when we first met..."

"Stop it, Garret! Just stop!" She covered her ears, trying to shut out the words, but the cacophony of voices and the vividness of the scene overwhelmed her senses.

Garret firmly removed her hands from her ears. "No, you need to listen to me."

"I SAID STOP, GARRET! CAN'T YOU HEAR ME? AND DON'T TOUCH ME WITH YOUR FILTHY HANDS, AND DON'T SPEAK MY NAME WITH YOUR FILTHY MOUTH!"

"We're already married, Peony. We've signed the papers, taken our vows. You can't just leave me, right? You know how much I love you." Garret reached for her shoulder.

She pushed him away and retorted, "As long as I draw breath, I will never be bound to a scoundrel like you! Love? You don't deserve my love!" Her movements were fierce and decisive, her radiant bouquet now a symbol of defiance.

With a fierce motion, she threw her peony bouquet high into the air. Frustrated, she struggled to remove the ring from her finger, then yanked her tiara from her hair and hurled it in Garret's direction, narrowly missing his forehead.

"Listen to me, Peony, this is not the truth. Please, listen to me. Someone is framing me," Garret pleaded, now kneeling before her, the scandalous video still fresh in everyone's memory.

"After all this, what do you expect me to say? 'Oh, my dear fiancé, sorry, my ex-fiancé, was so s#x deprived that he had to take out his frustration on none other than my childhood enemy, someone he knew well'? There's no point in listening to your excuses. Once a cheater, always a cheater. So, kindly go and deal with this mess on your own. I can't be bothered with you." She showed him her middle finger in defiance. Her words reverberated through the vividly decorated hall.

Amidst the chaos, Peony's mother had already fainted, and concerned family members rushed her to the restroom. The guests, who had just witnessed the scandal, engaged in heated discussions.

"How shameless! Cheating and now begging for forgiveness. Men like him should never get married."

While a few supported Garret, saying, "It might be photoshopped. In this age of advanced technology, anything can be manipulated. The groom doesn't seem like he could harm a fly. The bride, on the other hand, looks like a bridezilla."

"Exactly! Those who defend him should never get married! Do you even understand the emotional turmoil a bride goes through on her wedding day?" Some guests, who overheard these arguments, chimed in.

The once-elegant marriage ceremony had transformed into a raucous auditorium of justifications, arguments, and quarrels. Some guests couldn't resist capturing the drama on their phones, the bright screens adding to the vivid spectacle.

Peony's friends joined the fray, fiercely confronting those recording the spectacle.

"Congratulations on your wedding, dear Peony! Oh, wait, I mean, cuckolded Peony, haha. How does it feel to marry a man who cheated on you? Would you like to hear what he said to me when we were together?" Shyla played an audio recording, her voice dripping with scorn.

~---The audio recording plays---~

The recorded voices revealed Garret's shocking intentions.

"Between me and Peony, who do you feel is better?"

"Obviously, not you. You're scheming and naughty while Peony is a wild flower, I can't wait to have her once we marry."

"Well, if I'm scheming and naughty, aren't you cunning? After ravishing me for an entire night, you're thinking about ravishing her?"

"You won't understand Shyla, she loves me and I can have her as long as I get to marry her. Once I marry her, have our honeymoon and our child, I will become the owner of my father's business. She will be my doting wife, the face of my father's business and you will be my mistress. I'm telling you this, because I don't want to lose you. You're the best one when it comes to bed"

~~~~~~~~

*Clap* *Clap* *Clap*

A man in a white groom's suit entered the venue, applauding the dramatic scene unfolding before him.

"What a show! What speeches! Marvelous! Bravo! Just as expected at Miss Peony's wedding."

All eyes turned to the mysterious, handsome man in the groom's attire, who was now approaching the bride, holding the peony bouquet. A group of men in black followed him, creating a path through the crowd.

Kneeling before Peony, he extended the bouquet and proposed, "Miss Peony, since the man beside you isn't worthy of you, will you do me the honor of becoming my Mrs. Drama Queen?" His vibrant presence stood out against the tumultuous backdrop.