Page 190 of Broken Destiny

I should have stopped her.

I should have followed her.

Before I could move, the heavy church doors suddenly burst open.

“I object!”

Everyone’s head turned toward the entrance, including mine.

A man strode quickly down the aisle toward us, his face flushed and his tie hanging crookedly around his neck.

Confused murmurs spread through the church as he stopped several feet from the altar, breathing heavily.

“I can’t let you do this,” he said, staring directly at Tatiana. “I’m in love with you, and I know you feel the same.”

Tatiana immediately let go of my hand.

Silence fell over the church.

“The last few months have been amazing,” the man continued, shaking his head. “Please don’t marry him.”

Gasps rippled through the pews.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tatiana’s mother lift a trembling hand to her mouth while whispers spread rapidly around the room.

“What’s going on here?” Tatiana’s father roared, his voice booming through the sanctuary.

Tatiana stepped forward, panic cracking through her carefully controlled expression.

“Daddy, please,” she whispered shakily. “This is a misunderstanding. Martin, please... I’m getting married. What are you doing?”

“A misunderstanding?” Martin snapped. “Then tell them the truth. Tell them about us.”

He pointed toward the maid of honour, Ashley, Tatiana’s best friend.

Ashley looked at Martin, then at Tatiana, her face draining of colour before she slowly lowered her head in silent confirmation.

The truth hit me instantly.

Tatiana had been cheating on me for months.

I had prayed for a miracle to stop this wedding, but this was not the miracle I had wanted.

Tatiana turned toward me. “I can explain. This is not what it looks like.”

I stared at her numbly while panic continued breaking apart the calm composure she usually carried so perfectly.

Tatiana swayed slightly on her feet, her hands trembling as she struggled to maintain her balance.

For a moment, I thought she might collapse entirely.

The church buzzed with whispers around us, but the noise sounded distant now, muffled beneath the pounding in my ears.

I inhaled slowly and forced myself to regain some control before looking at her.

“Can I speak to you privately?” I asked quietly.

She nodded weakly, unable to form words.