Shattered vows
The drive to the hotel felt unusually long, and Zhou Wei swelled with excitement as her manager went on and on about how beautiful her wedding dress was.
"You are surely going to turn heads on your big day tomorrow. Your wedding dress is splendid," he said, clutching the large box that held the white gown.
"Oh please, no, no—Zhou Wei already turns heads," his assistant chimed in with a laugh. "Very few actresses have been nominated for the Art Awards and won three times in just four years."
Zhou Wei smiled elegantly, her gaze drifting to the window as she imagined her big day. Tomorrow, she would marry the love of her life, and the whole of China would hear of it.
"Any news from your dad?" Bo Wan asked casually.
The atmosphere in the car shifted, just slightly.
Everyone knew about the strain in Zhou Wei's relationship with her father.
Zhou Wei had once been a promising medical student, supported entirely by her mother. But everything changed after a tragic accident that took her little brother and left her mother crippled. Forced to shoulder responsibilities far beyond her years, Zhou Wei dropped out of medical school to support her family.
During her mother's long suffering, her father brought another woman into their home—along with her daughter.
Her stepmother.
Her stepsister.
From that moment on, Zhou Wei learned what it meant to endure.
Zhou Wei's fingers tightened slightly on her lap before she relaxed them again.
"No," she replied coldly, biting her lower lips coldly as if suppressing an emotion.
Bo Wan sighed but said nothing. He didn't want to ruin the atmosphere, knowing that Zhou Wei's father never supported her in any way.
After bringing in her stepmother and sister, he stopped paying her mum's hospital bills or buying her medication. He also stopped paying for her tuition, and so she was forced to venture into catering before she was spotted by an influencer and manager of a modelling company at an event. Then boom! She became famous for her beauty, then the acting industry featured her.
Even after all her achievements, her old man never acknowledged her, but part of her wished he did.
Zhou Wei clutched the wedding dress tightly to her chest as they stopped mid-floor.
"Your room is at the left wing, room 1510… Your friends will be coming three for the bridal shower!" the assistant cooed.
"Yh, I heard your evil stepsister is here too with her mother. Funny how they agreed to come," Bo Wan said dryly. Zhou Wei had booked the whole five-star hotel for her wedding for her relatives and her husband's.
Zhou Wei's eyes flickered mischievously.
"Bo Wan, isn't my husband's room on this same floor?" she asked.
"Yes, three rooms before yours. So…?" he frowned as if reading her thoughts, and she gave him a knowing look.
"Nope! Uh uh. You're not going to see him, it's bad luck!" he said.
Zhou Wei ignored him and began counting backwards. Arriving at room 1507, she pushed open the door, gleaming with excitement.
Her excited face dropped in horror as she stood, frozen outside the half-closed hotel room door.
A familiar female shrill scream rang out, and her fiancé turned in frenzy, taken aback by the abrupt interruption.
Her world shattered as she beheld two entwined bodies she recognized instantly as the man she loved and someone she never expected. Her stepsister, well known for taking everything she ever loved and owned.
"Lin Ming!" she cried as the box containing the wedding gown fell from her hands. Her ears rang, and her chest burned as she struggled to remain calm.
She couldn't believe this. Perhaps it was a nightmare. Tomorrow was supposed to be the happiest day of her life.
"Zhou Wei, please wait. I can explain," he begged. Her stepsister Mei Wei grabbed the sheets to her chest.
Zhou Wei ignored him and rushed to her, dragging her by her hair as she screamed and cursed.
"You useless piece of sht! You home wrecker!! You and your mother are just the same slt!!!!" she screamed as they struggled. Bo Wan tried to intervene as Mei grabbed her hair, and they struggled, biting, scratching, and screaming.
Zhou Wei dragged Mei Wei outside screaming while she tried to cover herself with the falling thick duvet.
"Are you ashamed now?… Oh, but it doesn't seem so since you wear the mask of shamelessness!"
"Stop, sister! Ming, please tell her to stop!" Mei screamed as they both struggled to the edge of the stairwell.
"Stop it, Zhou Wei! She's your sister!" Lin Ming tried to separate them. He pulled Mei Wei, causing Zhou Wei to stagger backwards. Mei shoved her with all her strength, causing Zhou Wei to fall down the stairs.
"Madam Zhou!" Bo Wan shrieked in fear.
Her head struck the edge of the stairs with a dull, sickening sound. Pain exploded through her skull as she gasped.
She looked up and saw Bo Wan hurriedly rushing towards her while the traitors stood in shock, Mei wearing a satisfactory grin while Ming was in shock still holding onto her step sister.
"Pathetic losers!" she cursed inwardly.
She felt warm liquid seep through her head, soaking her.
'They looked like a match made in hell!' Who knows how long this had been going on? Why was Mei always taking from her. Her father!, her education! Now her Fiance!!!
Her vision blurred as her mind replayed everything—the accident that took her mother and little brother, the lonely nights she shed endless tears, her struggles in medical school, the endless auditions, fake smiles, and the betrayal she thought she'd escaped.
Bo Wan's worried face was the last thing she saw as sudden pain exploded through her body.