The Uninvited Guest

Unsolicited Arrival

As the sound of chatter filled the room, a sudden tapping of a glass drew everyone's attention to the opposite side of the venue. Heads turned, curiosity piqued, as the room fell silent in anticipation of the next speaker.

Elena's heart skipped a beat as she recognized the source of the noise. Norman, her ex-boyfriend, stood there with a self-satisfied smirk, his eyes fixed on her with an unsettling intensity. Jason, unaware of their history, followed the gaze of the crowd and turned to Elena with a puzzled expression.

"Who's that?" he whispered, leaning in close to Elena.

Elena's stomach churned with dread as she looked at Norman, unable to form the words to respond. She felt a sense of panic rising within her, her mind racing as she struggled to comprehend what was happening.

Before she could gather her thoughts, Norman raised his glass in a mock toast, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "I'd like to propose a toast to the happy couple."

Elena's heart sank as she realized what was about to happen. She watched in horror as Norman continued to speak, demanding a toast for his "friend" with a smirk plastered across his face.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Norman began, his voice smooth and polished, "It's a shame that I got here late. I really didn't wanna miss the vows, you know? Also Elena, you look positively radiant today. I'm truly happy to witness that."

Frozen in shock and disbelief, Elena could do nothing but stare, her mind reeling with confusion and fear. Everyone else in the room seemed oblivious to the tension in the air, smiling and nodding along as Norman spoke.

"Now, I'm not one for long speeches," Norman chuckled, a twinkle of mischief in his eye, "but when it comes to Elena and Jason, I simply couldn't resist. After all, who wouldn't want to celebrate the union of two such perfect specimens?"

Elena exchanged a worried glance with Yennifer, their shared history with Norman adding an extra layer of tension to the room.

"You know," Norman began, his voice lowering slightly, "Elena and I go way back. We shared some good times, didn't we, Elena? Some memories that will stay with us forever."

Elena's heart skipped a beat as she felt the weight of Norman's words, the memories of their tumultuous relationship flooding back to her in a rush of emotion.

She could feel the eyes of the guests upon her, their curious gazes like daggers piercing her soul.

"And yet," Norman continued, his voice growing colder, "some memories are best left in the past, wouldn't you agree, Elena? Some wounds never truly heal, no matter how hard we try to forget."

The room fell silent. The guests, no longer laughing, exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to react.

Jason's expression shifted from confusion to concern. He could sense the tension in the room mounting, but he remained oblivious to the true nature of Norman's intentions.

"Elena, what's going on?" Jason whispered, leaning in close to her as he watched Norman with growing unease. But Elena could hardly tear her gaze away from Norman, her mind reeling with fear and confusion.

She was lost in a whirlwind of emotions, unable to form the words to respond to Jason's question.

But Norman paid them no mind, his gaze fixed on Elena with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. And as he raised his glass in a final mock toast, a sinister smile playing on his lips, Elena knew that her perfect day had been shattered beyond repair.