The Wedding That Never Was Chapter 9

I hung up before he could respond.

I was terrified of hearing his reply. Terrified my heart would shatter completely.

Yet, saying those words left my mind blank, a chaotic fog rolling in.

Pills rolled down my throat one by one, tears falling just as steadily.

Through the unbearable long night and the relentless sound of exploding fireworks, I fell into a heavy sleep.

It was as if I had trapped myself in another world.

When I woke up, the doorbell startled me.

I opened the door to see Jessica, looking frantic. “Oh my god, why weren't you picking up?”

“Something huge happened! I couldn't find you; I was going crazy!”

I paused, speaking slowly. “I... didn't hear it.”

Jessica realized something was wrong. Her eyes dropped to my scarred arms, and her breath hitched. “...Did you have another episode last night?”

I hid my arms behind my back and changed the subject. “What happened?”

Jessica opened her tablet. It showed the morning edition of The Daily Flash.

“This damn newspaper took your interview words out of context!”

I looked and saw the content was vastly different from what I had said.

Q: Miss Ilara, why did you decide to sing in the first place?

A: To make money, obviously. Why else do this if not for money?

Q: How do you feel after your 10th anniversary concert? Anything to say to fans?

A: My thought is, can I hold one every year?

The paper cut my answers to make it sound like I wanted annual concerts just to rake in cash.

But what I actually said was: “I started singing to make money because my family was poor.”

“When my sister was sick, I couldn't help her. I almost gave up on myself, thinking what’s the point if I can’t make money.”

“Later, after a talent show, I started earning a bit more and helped cure my sister.”

“I want to thank everyone for letting someone as small as me stand on such a high stage.”

...

“My thought is, I hope to hold a concert like this every year. Even if I pay for it myself, no tickets needed. I just want people to hear me sing.”

Jessica was there. She knew what I said.

I sighed. “There should be a recording of that interview.”

Jessica frowned. “Looks like someone wants to take you down. Or this paper just wants to manufacture drama.”

“Isn't our relationship with The Daily Flash good?”

Jessica sighed. “Silly girl, that’s just business. If there’s a bigger profit in front of them, relations don’t matter.”

I looked down from the window. The street was packed with reporters and angry citizens.

Some looked disappointed by the deception, but most just wanted to watch the show.

“We’re going to the agency now. We’ll hold a press conference to clarify, then talk to The Daily Flash.”

“If we can’t settle it privately... we sue.”

I nodded, my heavy head throbbing even more.

Other media reporters had swarmed like sharks, blocking the downstairs exit.

Since we were holding a press conference, we didn't need to fear the reporters and crowd below.

However, just as we got downstairs, a figure rushed at us.

Jessica tried to block them, but the person sat on the ground and started wailing.

I focused and frowned. “Mom?”

My mother’s cries shook the sky. “Ilara, I raised you, gave you everything! But you ignore me and kick me out! I won’t live! I’m going to die!”

In this era, family drama is the media’s favorite meal.

Reporters swarmed forward. The sharp questions and heat from the flashbulbs made me dizzy.

The next second, my vision went black, and I fainted...