Ribbons Unbound: My Fiancé's Lingering Regret novel Chapter 76

When I unlocked Lorian's phone, the first thing I spotted was his pinned WhatsApp contact—"Jocelyn" with a little heart emoji next to it.

I tapped on their conversation, heart pounding.

Beyond the cute emoji responses were dozens of surveillance videos—of my bedroom.

My private moments captured like I was some kind of lab specimen.

The messages underneath cut deeper than any knife could.

"Like I promised, babe, this is all about payback. I'll play these videos at the wedding ceremony. After that, Sylvia will be completely erased from the Lancelot family picture. And it'll be just you and me—the way it should've been all along."

"Before you become Mrs. Lancelot, I'm clearing out all the obstacles. Nothing but happiness ahead for us."

"Jocelyn, baby, I love you. Always have."

I glanced up at the teddy bear he'd given me six years ago, sitting innocently on my shelf. In the dim light, its eyes seemed to glow with a creepy red light.

So that was it. From day one, he'd been plotting how to get rid of me—just another "obstacle" in his path.

God, I was pathetic—drowning in his fake promises, thinking I was living some fairy tale.

I clicked through to Lorian's private photo album. It was stuffed with pictures of him and Jocelyn together.

Their relationship chronicled from college to now—a complete timeline of their actual love story.

Every holiday when he'd texted me "swamped with work, sorry babe," he was actually with her.

For every gift he gave me, Jocelyn had gotten a matching one. Plus extras I never saw.

The second chat in his messages was with a wedding planner. This whole wedding had been in the works for six freaking months.

From the venue down to the damn fork selection, Lorian had personally micromanaged every detail.

Even the surveillance videos had been edited by him—scenes carefully selected for maximum humiliation.

All for one sick purpose: to completely expose our "inappropriate relationship" at his wedding and watch me burn.

I closed his phone just as I heard the shower turn off. Then I booked a flight leaving the country in three days.

At dinner, Father Lancelot wouldn't shut up about his son's wedding plans.

Lorian put on a show of being annoyed but casually agreed, setting the wedding date for three days later.

I swallowed my pain and forced a smile.

Relieved, he pulled me back against his chest.

After a moment, he hesitantly added. "But you know how the Lancelots do weddings—nothing casual. As my sister, you might have to..."

"It's fine. I'll be there," I cut him off.

I knew what he was getting at. Better to volunteer than be cornered later. At least this way, I could keep some dignity.

My easy agreement surprised him, but having scored his goal, he didn't bother digging deeper.

That night, he slept in my room like usual.

Early next morning, he slipped out before anyone else woke up.

As soon as he left, I was out the door too—headed to submit my visa application and study abroad paperwork.

What I never expected was running straight into Jocelyn there.