Chapter 3: Veils Lifted, Truths Unleashed

Time flew by, and before I knew it, it was the end of the year. Nolan and I had been together for almost a year. He’d wanted to sleep with me for a while, but I kept refusing.

I explained my reasons—trust issues, past heartbreak, wanting to wait until I was sure. He respected my boundaries, never pushing.

After all, there are plenty of stories of guys leaving after getting what they want.

I’d seen it happen to friends, read about it in books. I wasn’t about to become another cautionary tale.

I was upfront with Nolan about this.

He nodded, squeezing my hand, telling me he’d wait as long as I needed. It was reassuring, but I still kept my guard up.

Maybe because of that, after the New Year’s Eve countdown, Nolan pulled out a ring and proposed to me in front of everyone.

We were at a rooftop party, fireworks exploding overhead, confetti raining down. He got down on one knee, ring box in hand, and asked me to marry him. The crowd cheered, cameras flashed, and I burst into tears.

Marriage is a lifelong commitment, for both men and women. He said he’d use all his strength to love and protect me for the rest of his life, never letting me get hurt again.

His words were earnest, his eyes shining with sincerity. I wanted to believe him—I really did.

Hearing that, I cried and accepted his proposal. I knew if I turned him down again, I’d never get another chance.

I hugged him tight, whispering yes over and over. It felt like the start of a new chapter.

Although I agreed to marry him, I needed to tell my dad first.

I called him the next morning, voice trembling with nerves. He listened quietly, then asked me to come home for dinner so we could talk in person.

Our family used to be poor, and my mom died young. My dad raised me alone, working hard to provide for me. Later, he seized an opportunity and made his first fortune in real estate, so I never had to worry about daily expenses.

He was a self-made man, proud and stubborn. He’d sacrificed so much for me, and I wanted his blessing more than anything.

But my dad was strict, especially about relationships and marriage.

He’d always warned me to be careful, to trust my instincts, to never settle for less than I deserved. I knew he’d be tough on Nolan.

He told me, "Choosing a husband is riskier than investing—an investment is temporary, but marriage is for life. You can always walk away from a bad deal, but marriage? That’s your heart on the line. Choose wisely, Autumn."

That’s why I’d never brought Nolan home.

I was afraid he wouldn’t approve, that he’d see something I missed. But I knew I couldn’t avoid it forever.

Still, my dad had seen us together before, and he didn’t seem to like Nolan much.

He’d made a few pointed comments—nothing outright rude, but enough to make me nervous. I hoped he’d come around.

Luckily, during a later meal, Mariah spoke up for him. So when I told my dad about the wedding, he was surprised but ultimately respected my decision.

Mariah vouched for Nolan, talking up his kindness and work ethic. My dad listened, then sighed, finally giving his reluctant blessing.

But he had one condition: we had to hold the wedding before filing the paperwork.

He said it was important to do things in the right order, to celebrate with family before signing the marriage license. I agreed, not wanting to push my luck.

I told Nolan, who wasn’t thrilled but eventually agreed.

He grumbled about the extra expense, but promised to make it the best day of my life. I appreciated his effort.

With my dad’s approval, we could finally move forward. Nolan wanted to have the wedding before the end of January, so we set the date for the 26th.

We booked the venue, sent out invitations, and started planning every detail. It was a whirlwind, but I was happy.

With little time to prepare, I was busy but happy—the day I dreamed of was getting closer.

I made spreadsheets, mood boards, even a playlist for the reception. It was exhausting, but I loved every minute.

But then, one rainy night, disaster struck.

I was curled up on the couch, finalizing the seating chart, when my phone rang. My cousin’s voice was shaky, barely holding it together.

My dad’s car lost control and plunged off a bridge into the lake.

I felt the world go silent, the air sucked from my lungs. The words didn’t make sense—I kept asking him to repeat them, hoping I’d misheard.

My cousin told me the news while I was having dinner with Nolan and Mariah. I fainted on the spot.

One minute I was laughing at Mariah’s joke, the next I was on the floor, the world spinning around me. Nolan caught me before I hit the ground.

Even worse, by the next evening, the police still hadn’t found my dad’s body.

The waiting was torture. Every hour felt like a year. I clung to the hope that maybe, somehow, he’d survived.

I cried all day, with Nolan and Mariah by my side.

They took turns holding me, bringing me water, making sure I ate. I barely tasted anything. My world had collapsed.

Because of this tragedy, per my family’s tradition, I had to observe a hundred days of mourning (no celebrations), so the wedding had to be postponed.

I called the venue, the caterer, the florist, cancelling everything with shaking hands. Everyone was understanding, but it still hurt.

Nolan understood.

He held me as I cried, promising we’d reschedule when I was ready. He said all the right things, but I could tell he was disappointed.

My dad was a low-key man, so I decided to keep the funeral simple, only asking my cousin and Mariah to help—no other relatives or friends.

We held a small service at the local chapel, just a few of us gathered to say goodbye. I placed a single white rose on his casket, whispering a promise to make him proud.

Nolan wanted to pay his respects at the memorial, but I refused, knowing his parents wouldn’t want him visiting such a somber place before the New Year.

He argued, but I stood firm. Some traditions aren’t meant to be broken.

Even after the funeral, I couldn’t accept that my dad was gone. I became listless, shutting myself in at home and refusing to go out, even when Nolan or Mariah invited me.

I spent days in bed, curtains drawn, ignoring texts and calls. The world felt gray, empty. Nothing seemed to matter anymore.

Just thinking about losing a loved one made me cry uncontrollably. I didn’t want them to see me like that.

I’d wake up in the middle of the night, sobbing into my pillow, wishing for just one more conversation, one more hug.

After the New Year, Nolan brought good news: he’d been promoted from purchasing agent to purchasing manager. He said his former boss was transferred because he was connected to the company’s mysterious owner, who had disappeared before the New Year. Rumors said he might have fled or even died, but the company kept it quiet to avoid affecting stock prices. As a result, many people connected to the big boss were reassigned.

He was practically bouncing with excitement, telling me about his new office, his bigger paycheck. I tried to smile, but my heart wasn’t in it.

He was thrilled, saying he’d be busy for a while and might have less time for me. I told him it was fine—I understood. This was his chance, and he should seize it.

I meant it. I didn’t want to hold him back, not when he’d worked so hard.

As for me, I needed to get back to work and move on with my life.

I forced myself to open my laptop, to write again, even when the words felt hollow. I told myself it was what my dad would have wanted.

A hundred days passed quickly, and my mourning period ended.

The world kept spinning, even when I wished it would stop. I put on a brave face, trying to move forward.

Nolan brought up the wedding again. Because of my dad’s death, we’d delayed too long. He suggested we hold the wedding at the end of the month—he’d just completed his quarterly targets and received a big bonus, and wanted to take me to Hawaii after the wedding.

He showed me pictures of sandy beaches, turquoise water, promising we’d start our new life in paradise. I agreed, hoping a fresh start would help.

I agreed.

We set the date, sent out new invitations, and threw ourselves into planning. I tried to let myself feel excited again.

Before I knew it, the wedding day arrived.

The morning was a blur of makeup, hair, last-minute nerves. My dress hung on the back of the door, pristine and white, a symbol of everything I’d hoped for.

We hosted over fifty tables, mostly Nolan’s relatives and friends since I didn’t have many. I didn’t mind—in fact, seeing the banquet hall filled with people made me emotional.

I stood at the edge of the room, watching the guests laugh and mingle, feeling a strange mix of joy and sadness. My dad should have been there, walking me down the aisle.

The day had finally come.

I took a deep breath, straightened my veil, and stepped into the spotlight. For a moment, everything felt perfect.

As the lights dimmed and music played, I walked down the aisle in my white wedding dress. On stage, Nolan waited for me, smiling in his suit.

His eyes met mine, and for a second, I believed in happy endings again.

As I walked up, I caught a glimpse of a familiar face in the crowd, but had no time to think about it.

Someone I hadn’t seen in years, maybe. I pushed the thought aside, focusing on Nolan.

After some banter from the emcee, it was time for us to drink the wedding toast. Our wedding photos started playing on the big screen.

The lights dimmed, and the first slideshow images appeared—childhood snapshots, goofy selfies, moments from our engagement. The room buzzed with laughter and applause.

But suddenly, the hall erupted in chaos.

A hush fell over the crowd, then gasps, then shouts. I turned, confused, searching for the source of the commotion.

I stopped and turned to look. On the screen, instead of our wedding photos, a scandalous video was playing.

The audio blared through the speakers—moans, whispers, unmistakable. My stomach dropped as I realized what was happening.

The man in the video was Nolan. The woman—my best friend, Mariah.

There was no mistaking their faces, their voices. My world shattered in an instant.

Their movements were perfectly in sync.

I watched in horror as they kissed, touched, whispered promises meant for me. The betrayal was complete, undeniable.

At one point, the woman asked, "Nolan, do you love me or Autumn?"

Her voice was soft, almost mocking. I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to scream.

The man answered without hesitation, "Of course I love you. I’m only marrying her to get her family’s assets. That naïve woman thinks I don’t know she’s David Lane’s daughter. Now that David Lane is gone, once I marry her, the whole Lane family fortune will be mine."

His words echoed in my ears, cruel and calculated. The crowd erupted in shocked whispers.

"What about me?" the woman asked.

She pouted, running her fingers through his hair. I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t.

"Once I control Lane Holdings, you’ll get your share too, baby."

He kissed her, sealing the deal. My vision blurred with tears.

Then they continued their affair.

My ears rang. I couldn’t move. It felt like the whole room was spinning.

I couldn’t hold back my rage any longer. I slapped Nolan across the face with all my strength.

The sound rang out, silencing the room. Nolan staggered back, eyes wide with shock.

"Why did you do this to me? Why?" I screamed.

My voice broke, raw with pain. I wanted answers, even though I knew none would satisfy me.

"Autumn, let me explain—it’s all a misunderstanding! Mariah seduced me! You’re the one I love..." Nolan tried to argue.

He reached for me, but I jerked away, disgusted.

"You jerk! I must’ve been blind to fall for trash like you! We’re done, Nolan! From now on, we’re strangers!"

I yanked off the ring, throwing it at his feet. The crowd gasped, some cheering, others murmuring in shock.

Tears streamed down my face as I fled, the noise of the crowd fading behind me. I collapsed behind the curtains, sobbing.

My exit caused an uproar. Nolan’s parents rushed up to ask what was going on.

I could hear them shouting, demanding answers. The emcee tried to regain control, but the damage was done.

Enraged, Nolan yelled at the staff, "Who’s behind this? Turn it off! Turn it off!"

He stormed toward the tech booth, veins bulging in his neck. The staff scrambled, but the video kept playing.

"I did it! Nolan, what, are you saying that’s not you in the video?"

A voice rang out from the crowd, steady and cold. Heads turned as a figure stood up, removing his hat.

A figure stood up from the guests, took off his hat, and walked forward.

He moved with purpose, eyes locked on Nolan. I recognized him instantly.

It was Eric Miller.

He looked older, harder, but there was a glint of satisfaction in his eyes.

"You?" Nolan was stunned.

His mouth hung open, speechless for once.

Eric sneered. "Nolan, I thought you loved Autumn so much, but you were even better at hiding than I was. Even most cheats have lines they won’t cross, and you went after her best friend? You’re the worst of the worst! Hahaha!"

His laughter was harsh, echoing through the hall. Nolan’s face turned red with rage.

"You bastard! How dare you ruin my plans!" Nolan glared.

He lunged at Eric, fists clenched, eyes wild.

Eric smirked. "So what if I did? If I can’t have her, neither can you!"

He folded his arms, daring Nolan to make a move.

"Eric! I’ll kill you!"

With that, Nolan grabbed the cake knife and swung it at Eric!

The crowd screamed, chairs scraping as people scrambled out of the way. The knife flashed in the light, inches from Eric’s face.

Everyone was terrified.

People ducked under tables, some running for the exits. The band stopped playing, the room plunged into chaos.

Luckily, Eric reacted quickly, grabbing the knife.

They struggled, wrestling for control. The knife clattered to the floor, skidding across the stage.

But Nolan wouldn’t give up, still trying to stab him.

He lunged again, wild and desperate. Eric dodged, grabbing a chair to defend himself.

Just then, a gunshot rang out from outside the hall.

The sound froze everyone in place. Silence fell, thick and heavy.

"Drop the knife! Police!"

Uniformed officers burst through the doors, weapons drawn. The crowd parted, making way.

Several uniformed officers rushed in.

They surrounded Nolan, barking orders. He dropped the knife, hands shaking.

Even though Nolan was furious, with the police there, he didn’t dare act out further.

He glared at Eric, breathing hard, but didn’t move.

But everyone had seen him try to stab Eric, including the police.

The officers cuffed him, reading him his rights. The room buzzed with whispers and camera flashes.

However, the police had another reason for being there.

One officer stepped forward, holding a file. "Mr. Pierce, you’re under arrest for attempted murder. Please come with us for questioning."

Nolan turned pale. "You... you must have the wrong person. I... I would never kill anyone! Who reported me?"

He looked around, panic rising in his eyes.

"I did."

A figure walked out from backstage—Lane Holdings’ big boss, David Lane, my father.

He stepped into the spotlight, alive and well. The crowd gasped. I felt my knees buckle in shock.

Nolan was shocked. "You... you..."

His voice trembled, all bravado gone.

My dad sneered. "What, didn’t expect me to still be alive? You greedy little punk—it’s bad enough you wanted money, but you actually tried to kill me and steal Lane Holdings through Autumn? Did you really think you could pull it off?"

His words were sharp, each syllable a dagger. Nolan shrank before him.

"I... I don’t know what you’re talking about!"

He tried to sound confident, but his voice cracked.

"Still denying it? The video of you sabotaging my car has already been given to the police. You’d better explain everything!"

My dad handed the officers a flash drive. Nolan’s face crumpled in defeat.

With that, the police handcuffed Nolan and took him away in front of everyone.

The crowd parted, watching in stunned silence as he was led out. I felt a strange sense of closure, mixed with sadness.

With overwhelming evidence, Nolan confessed to everything.

He broke down in the interrogation room, spilling every secret. The news spread like wildfire.

Nolan grew up poor—his parents were farmers who scraped by to send him to school, hoping he’d make something of himself. Maybe because of his background, he always felt inferior and believed people looked down on him. He was determined to become rich and powerful, but thought normal means would take too long.

He told the police everything—his resentment, his ambition, his willingness to do whatever it took to climb the ladder.

So he decided to go after rich girls, figuring his looks and charm would win them over.

He’d practice pickup lines in the mirror, research his targets online, even change his accent to fit in. It was all an act.

In college, he’d already taken advantage of several rich girls, both for sex and money.

He’d brag about his conquests to friends, never caring about the damage he left behind.

But those were just short-term flings. He wanted a ticket to the big leagues—a real heiress.

He set his sights higher, determined to marry into money and secure his future once and for all.

In his senior year, as student council vice president, he learned that someone had donated three hundred thousand dollars to the new campus library.

He saw the plaque with my dad’s name on it and started connecting the dots.

Three hundred grand is no small sum.

He knew it had to be someone important—someone with deep pockets.

After digging, he found the donor was David Lane, the big boss of Lane Holdings. Through student council connections, he learned that David Lane’s only daughter had transferred to Maple Heights University.

He started asking around, piecing together clues. It didn’t take long to figure out who I was.

Transferring universities isn’t easy, especially in college. Nolan guessed David Lane used money to pave the way for his daughter, since a Maple Heights degree is well-respected.

He figured I must be special, worth the effort. He made it his mission to get close to me.

Lane Holdings is a publicly traded company and a real estate giant. If he could marry into the Lane family, he’d be set for life.

He started plotting, rehearsing what he’d say when we finally met.

So he decided to go after David Lane’s daughter.

He watched me from afar, taking notes on my habits, my friends, my favorite coffee shop. It was creepy, in hindsight.

The school hadn’t revealed her identity, but as student council VP, he figured he could find out.

He pulled strings, checked records, asked subtle questions. Eventually, he had his answer.

Just then, there was a flashy 999-rose proposal on campus—the couple was Eric Miller and Autumn Lane. There were plenty of girls with the last name Lane, but he knew Eric Miller was a player who dated wealthy girls.

He saw his opportunity and pounced, determined to outmaneuver Eric.

So Nolan started investigating Autumn and soon confirmed she was David Lane’s daughter.

He followed me, checked my social media, even asked Mariah for information. He was nothing if not thorough.

With only one daughter, if he could win her over, David Lane’s fortune would be his. Even if they divorced, he’d get a cut—win-win.

He calculated the odds, weighing the risks and rewards. In his mind, it was the perfect plan.

But at that time, Autumn was smitten with Eric, and Nolan knew he wasn’t as good-looking. So he stayed in the shadows, sending anonymous texts to smear Eric and following him, convinced that eventually he’d slip up.

He played the long game, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Sure enough, while dating Autumn, Eric was also seeing a sexy blonde. Nolan gathered evidence but waited for the perfect moment.

He took pictures, saved screenshots, building a case piece by piece.

When he saw on Facebook that Eric had proposed and they planned to register their marriage on the 15th, Nolan struck. On the 14th, he sent Autumn a photo of Eric with the blonde.

He knew the timing was crucial—catch her off guard, when she was most vulnerable.

He knew the real kill was catching them in the act, so he followed Eric to a hotel room.

He staked out the hotel for hours, determined to get proof.

He figured the harder I fell, the harder I’d crash.

He figured, if he could break my heart, he could swoop in and play the hero.

Sure enough, Autumn caught them red-handed and was devastated.

He watched from a distance, satisfied as his plan unfolded.

But Nolan didn’t expect her to try to kill herself.

He panicked, realizing he might have gone too far. But then he saw an opportunity.

He’d been a part-time lifeguard and knew the risks of rescuing someone from drowning, but for the sake of future riches, he took the gamble and saved her.

He told himself it was the right thing to do, but deep down, he knew it was selfish.

A heartbroken woman is vulnerable, so he stepped in as her support, confident he’d win her over.

He played the role of the caring friend, always there when I needed him. It worked—almost too well.

But Autumn, wounded by betrayal, was slow to trust again. This frustrated Nolan.

He grew impatient, but forced himself to wait. He knew patience was key.

Then Eric reappeared—Nolan saw it as a golden opportunity. He fought with Eric, knowing he’d lose, but that only made him look more devoted.

He let himself get beaten, figuring it would make me feel sorry for him. It did.

Just as he hoped, after the fight, Autumn agreed to be his girlfriend.

He celebrated privately, convinced he was one step closer to his goal.

Maybe she worried he was after her money, so she hid her identity and pretended to be poor. Nolan, knowing the truth, played along, thinking it only made him look better.

He sent me money, gifts, anything to keep up the act. He thought he was so clever.

Their relationship deepened, but every time he tried to sleep with her, she refused. He understood her concerns but, as a young man, found it hard to resist. Still, he held back for the bigger goal.

He gritted his teeth, telling himself it would all be worth it in the end.

Then, at a dinner, Autumn brought along her best friend, Mariah, who was beautiful and curvy. Nolan noticed her flirting but kept his desires hidden.

He was tempted, but reminded himself to stay focused. Still, temptation won out.

Unexpectedly, when Autumn went to pay, Mariah asked for his Instagram. Of course, he agreed.

He messaged her that night, unable to resist.

That night, he was supposed to take Mariah home, but she suggested going to a bar. He jumped at the chance, and they ended up sleeping together.

He told himself it was just a fling, but it quickly became more complicated.

After that, they met up frequently, and Nolan used Mariah to learn more about the Lane family, especially David Lane’s requirements for a son-in-law.

He pumped her for information, always careful to keep Autumn in the dark.

Mariah told him that David Lane already knew about his daughter’s relationship but didn’t like Nolan. If Autumn insisted on marrying him, David Lane would make him sign a prenup waiving any claim to Lane family assets in case of divorce.

He was furious, feeling cheated out of his prize.

Nolan was shocked by David Lane’s cunning, but grateful for the intel. Without it, he might’ve ended up with nothing and a ruined reputation.

He started plotting, looking for a way around the prenup.

But after coming so far, he refused to give up. Money and power meant everything to him.

He told himself he deserved it, that he’d earned his shot at happiness.

After much thought, he decided to get rid of David Lane.

He knew it was risky, but desperation made him reckless.

He couldn’t do it alone, but with Mariah’s help, he had a shot. He pressured her into cooperating, promising her a share of the spoils if they succeeded, and threatening to release their sex tape if she refused.

He manipulated her, using her fears and desires against her.

Mariah had no choice. She revealed David Lane’s habit of taking his late wife’s favorite old car for a drive every November 2nd.

She gave him the key, trusting him to keep his word.

This gave Nolan his chance. He hid in Mariah’s trunk to sneak into the Lane family’s garage. Mariah cut the power to disable the security cameras, and Nolan sabotaged the car’s brakes.

He worked quickly, sweating with fear, but determined to see it through.

When the power came back on, he left unnoticed.

He slipped out the back, heart pounding, convinced he’d gotten away with it.

As planned, the next night, news broke that a silver sedan had plunged off a bridge, the driver missing.

He celebrated, certain his plan had worked.

With David Lane presumed dead, Nolan felt his plan had succeeded. He didn’t care that the wedding was delayed—once he married Autumn, Lane Holdings would be his.

He started spending money he didn’t have, dreaming of his new life.

During the hundred days of mourning, Lane Holdings quietly reshuffled staff. Nolan’s boss was transferred, and he was promoted to procurement manager—a lucrative position.

He started taking kickbacks from suppliers, always in cash to avoid detection. He used the money to throw a lavish wedding banquet, inviting all his friends and family to witness his triumph.

He felt invincible, untouchable.

But he never imagined his dream would be shattered.

He thought he’d won, but the game had only just begun.

He didn’t know how Eric got the sex tapes or why David Lane was still alive.

He was blindsided, caught in his own web of lies.