Chapter 5 - THE VIDEO VANESSA FORGOT TO DELETE
Three days after the canceled wedding, Vanessa's video went viral.
Not because it was beautiful.
Because it was cruel.
The clip showed Vanessa laughing inside Clare's bridal limousine.
Wearing Clare's ivory reception dress.
Holding Ethan's hand.
And saying:
“Honestly, I think I look more like the bride than Clare does.”
Ethan's laughter could be heard in the background.
Then Vanessa added:
“She'll get over it. She always does.”
The video spread quickly.
People criticized Ethan.
Others questioned Vanessa's behavior.
Some wondered why Clare had tolerated the friendship for so long.
Ethan watched the clip in his office.
Again.
And again.
He remembered the moment.
He remembered laughing.
He remembered thinking Vanessa was joking.
Now he heard something else.
Contempt.
Not just for Clare.
For the woman he'd planned to marry.
He called Vanessa.
“Take the video down.”
She laughed.
“Why?”
“Because it's humiliating.”
Vanessa paused.
“For who?”
Ethan stared.
Then said quietly:
“For Clare.”
Silence.
Vanessa's voice hardened.
“Oh, please. She's already humiliated herself by running away.”
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Ethan closed his eyes.
And for the first time, he wondered whether the person he'd spent years defending had been the one destroying his relationship.
