"M-Mom," Ophelia gasped, her face frozen in shock as the stack of crisp bills slipped from her trembling hands, fluttering to the floor like fallen leaves. She rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Kelly, sobbing into her mother's chest. "Mom, trust me! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to steal!" Her words came out in frantic gasps between ragged breaths.

Kelly's arms instinctively tightened around her daughter, her heart hammering in her chest. "Dear, what is wrong with you? This... this isn’t like you," she said, panic lacing her voice as she stroked Ophelia’s hair, feeling the dampness of her tears soak through her dress.

"I’m sorry! I’m sorry for everything," Ophelia sobbed, her entire body shaking.

"Tell me what happened," Kelly urged gently, leading her to sit on the edge of the plush bed. She held Ophelia's trembling hands in hers, waiting patiently as the words spilled out in a messy, tearful confession.

Meanwhile, on the deck, the grand celebration was in full swing. The guests were gathered, sipping champagne and enjoying the ocean breeze under the twinkling lights of the cruise. The priest approached Alex and Uncle Lin, clearing his throat politely.

"Let’s start the wedding in ten minutes. Please ask the bride and groom to come," he said with a warm smile.

Alex nodded and turned to delegate the task, but his eyes fell on April, standing alone in the corner of the deck. She leaned against the sleek wooden railing, staring out into the dark abyss of the ocean. The golden glow of the ship’s lights reflected off the waves, casting eerie patterns that danced across her pensive face.

April sighed deeply, swirling the wine in her glass. Is this the life I truly want? she wondered. Would she ever find happiness, or was she forever destined to watch from the sidelines, trapped in a never-ending cycle of loneliness and regret?

Back in Ophelia's room, she finished recounting everything to Kelly, who sat in stunned silence. The weight of her daughter’s words pressed heavily on her chest. Kelly’s lips parted, but no sound came out at first.

"Don’t worry, dear," she finally said, brushing a stray tear from Ophelia’s cheek. "I’ll ask your dad to handle this. You just go get ready—look at you, you’re a mess."

Ophelia exhaled in relief and managed a weak smile, nodding. "Thanks, Mom," she whispered, standing up to fix herself once more.

As Ophelia disappeared into the bathroom, Kelly's phone buzzed in her hand. It was Alex. She quickly answered, trying to keep her voice steady. "It’s your dad! I’ll tell him everything. Go finish getting ready," she reassured Ophelia.

Ophelia hurried to retouch her makeup for what felt like the hundredth time, tying her hair up carefully. She looked in the mirror, forcing a confident smile. Everything will be fine, she told herself.

On the other end of the call, Alex listened intently as Kelly detailed the blackmail. His expression hardened, his grip on the phone tightening. "Oh my god," he muttered, rubbing his temple. "Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it. You just bring Ophelia to the deck."

"Thank you, honey," Kelly said with a sigh of relief, ending the call.

Alex’s jaw clenched as he turned to one of his men. "Find that bastard," he ordered, his tone icy. "Search the entire ship and don’t let him leave."

Within moments, the security team discreetly fanned out across the cruise ship, their eyes scanning the crowd for Devin. It wasn’t long before they spotted him lurking in the lower levels, blending in with the catering staff. He never saw them coming before he was quietly escorted away, his smirk turning into a grimace.

Meanwhile, Ophelia, now composed, met her mother outside the room. "Mom? Is it... handled?" she asked hesitantly.

Kelly's phone buzzed with a message from Alex. She glanced at it and then smiled reassuringly. "It’s all fine now," she said, cupping Ophelia’s face. "Just remember, if you ever have a problem, come to me. Don’t try to fix everything yourself."

"I will, Mom," Ophelia whispered, hugging her tightly. "I love you."

"I love you too. No more tears, okay? Let’s go meet your husband," Kelly said with a wink, making Ophelia giggle nervously. Together, they walked arm in arm toward the grand ballroom where the ceremony was about to begin.

Sen stood at the end of the aisle, looking dapper in his custom tuxedo, his face a perfect picture of anticipation. The music swelled, signaling the arrival of his bride. Ophelia stepped onto the aisle, looking radiant in her gown, a soft smile gracing her lips as her eyes locked with his.

April stood in the corner, observing the scene with a glass of wine in hand. Her lips curled into a bitter smile. "Congratulations, Ophelia and Sen," she murmured, raising her glass before taking a slow sip. The sight of them together stirred something deep inside her—a mix of longing, resentment, and an aching emptiness she couldn’t quite shake.

Just as the priest began speaking, the lights in the ballroom dimmed, and a hush fell over the crowd. The big screen at the front flickered to life. The soft hum of the ship’s speakers filled the room, followed by the unmistakable sound of Ophelia’s voice.

The screen lit up with images—Ophelia and Devin, locked in intimate moments, captured in photos and videos no one should ever see.

Gasps rippled through the audience, whispers turning into shocked murmurs. Ophelia’s face paled as tears welled in her eyes. She staggered, gripping Sen’s arm for support.

April's own glass slipped from her fingers, the shattering sound drowned by the collective gasps around her. Her heart pounded, confusion and shock flashing across her face. This... this wasn’t my doing.

All eyes turned to Ophelia, who stood frozen in place, her hands trembling. Sen's expression darkened as he stared at the screen, his once-loving gaze clouding with doubt.

"Who did this?" Kelly’s frantic voice echoed through the hall, but no one had an answer.

April’s gaze darted around the room, searching for any sign of Devin. She felt the weight of everyone's stares and for once, wished she could disappear.

Ophelia, tears streaming freely now, turned to Sen. “Please, I—”

Sen’s jaw clenched, his eyes hard. “Is it true?” he asked, his voice low but filled with the kind of hurt that cut deeper than a blade.

“I... I can explain,” Ophelia stammered, but her voice trembled with fear.

As the scene played out, April’s mind reeled. Had Devin done this? Had he betrayed her by going through with his plan anyway? A slow realization settled in—no matter what she did, some wounds could never be healed, and some battles were never truly won.