The smart TV came on with a command. Ariel propped up the fluffy Arabian pillow on her king sized Arabian duvet covered bed, and rest her back on it in excitement. She grabbed her popcorn and switched to a music channel.

Life after her near death encounter had been miserable. She fell into depression when she realized how powerless she was, and the fact she could be easily trampled on with no money. She had put no plan in place to make sure Axel helps her get revenge. She never made him understand he was going to help her. Instead she was stuck in a cramped office in his company that always left an aching feeling in her legs after work each day.

She stuffed her face with popcorn and watched the E-news on the screen. So far, the bts shows of her favorite movies were entertaining. The E-news program began shortly after. An actor had passed away, and a band were splitting. “Typical.” She muttered as four boy band members took a bow and left the stage while their female fans cried. All her favorite bands in the past had split for no reason at all. Their reason may have made sense to them, but it never made sense to her. Their constant splits made her dislike bands.

There were three minutes commercial breaks at intervals. Ariel happily munched her popcorn, she was having a swell time. She was already getting bored and was about to check out a food channel.

But the news after the last commercial break caught her attention. Athena was getting married. Ariel dropped the rest of her popcorn as she watched the grinning Bianca on E-news. She was all smiles, emerging from a concert and waving at her fans in her snatched mustard yellow dress. Ariel could feel a painful welling in the back of her throat. The next clip reveals Bianca and Damian taking loved up photos in an opera event. Ariel could not describe how she felt, she was shattered. She quickly memorized the date as the tears she had been restraining threatened to burst. She was going to make them pay for what they did to her.

Ariel was beside herself with anxiety as she counted down to the days they'd wed. She swore to expose both of them to the world. The whole world would see the beast behind the innocent girl facade Bianca was putting up. She took an advance from her salary to buy a dress. She was appearing before a live audience and was going to be on every news headline, so she had to look good. It was a basic dress. But she was Ariel, everything she wore always looked good on her. Everything except Axel's coat.

After what seemed like centuries, the day was finally here. Ariel got to the venue and watched every proceeding by the corner of the hedge. The venue was a secluded, enchanting garden draped in soft fairy lights and blooming with ivory roses, lavender, and jasmine. The gold accented chairs and crystal vases on the corners of the garden, added a touch of glamour to the natural romance. Tears stung her eyes as she watched the elegantly dressed bride. Bianca strutted around the field in her flowing wedding dress admist the attention from the paparazzi who had come to witness the joyful celebration. Ariel watched from an enclosed distance, her hiding spot barricaded her from the rest of the guests. Tears pooled her eyes and trickled down her cheek before she could even stop herself. Everything Bianca had was hers, Bianca took it all, her fame, her wealth, everything. Her heart churned as she watched Bianca smile like she had not thrown her best friend overboard two weeks ago. She could feel a twisting agony as she watched Damien smiling and welcoming his guest like he had not conspired with his fiance's best friend to murder his fiance who had done nothing but love him all these years.

Bianca walked across the garden. Ariel tailed her with her eyes until she was out of sight. The official ceremony was about to begin. She quickly cleaned her tears with the back of her palm. Memories of what they had done to her began to flash in her head, a deep seething anger consumed her chest like roaring flames. She was going to ruin their wedding and expose Bianca, she did not deserve to be happy.

The ceremony commenced shortly. Ariel watched from her position, bidding the perfect time to strike. She was going to tell everyone she was the real Athena, Bianca was a fraud. She was going to prove it, even sing if she had to. She was also going to tell everyone Damien murdered the CEO of Sky corp. Although she had no evidence any longer, Damien had tossed her phone into the sea. She was the last person Sky corp CEO spoke to before he died. The police were supposed to be in search of her by now, but she was surprised they had made no move to find her. The sinking realization hurt Ariel deeply. If she was truly dead, there would be no one to look for her, she'd be dead and forgotten. She was all alone, it was her against the world. She had dropped out of college in her third year. Bianca had several live tours around the globe, she was booked for the entire year.

She managed to convince Ariel to leave school and continue being her shadow. She had offered her a huge sum in return. Being the people pleaser she was, she agreed. But all she got after the tour was a small sized apartment outside town and lots of stories and gaslighting from Bianca about why she could not pay her.

“I'm sorry bestie, I love you and I really want to keep my word. But I barely made any money.” She'd sniff and blow her nose with tear stained face and smudges of mascara around her eyes. Being the soft hearted girl she was, Ariel would hug her and ask her not to worry about it. “We're family, you can assist me anytime you have it.” She'd remind the teary Bianca with a smile. Ariel recoiled at the memory of how foolish she had been.

She watched the man she had once given her heart to place a kiss on Bianca's forehead as she blushed. The guests and officiating priest were all smiles. Ariel was filled with agony. Although she used to run errands for him whenever he was with his friends, he was her companion, she'd sing love songs to him each time they sat on the bench under the desolate oak tree back in college. He'd always record her singing, but she didn't put attach much thought to his actions. She thought he just loved her voice. The fact he always wanted to hear her sing made her feel on top of the world. But even that had been a lie, he was doing all that for Bianca. He never loved her, they had conived perfectly and fooled her all these years. Clenching her fist in anger and firm resolve, she swore to expose them. Her eyes were burning with fury. She was going to make them pay for what they did to her. She was not going to sit around and wait for the right time to exert her pound of flesh. The perfect revenge is now.

The reverend stepped forward and addressed the small exquisitely glammed up crowd in the garden. “As I bind these two on the altar spiritually and legally, is there anyone that objects to this union, or have a reason why these two at the altar should not be joined as man and wife, let them speak, or forever hold their peace.

Ariel emerged from the back of the congregation, this was her chance.

“I object!!!.” She screamed. Every eyes turned to her. Bianca dropped her flower in shock. She trembled violently, her face was grave with fear, Damien was terrified. Goosebumps invaded his skin. His mother looked like she had seen a ghost, she thought her son had killed the orphaned wench. The grim reaper was going to skin them alive if news ever got to him that she was not dead.

Just then, everything happened in a blur. Ariel felt a strong arm pull her back to her hiding place violently.