The Enigma Called Greg

Chapter 1

The hall shimmered with anticipation.

Guests shifted in their seats; some scrolling through their phones, others leaning in to exchange hushed whispers.

At the altar stood Greg.

This was meant to be the most important day of his life—his wedding to Eva. But she was nowhere to be seen.

As he struggled to steady himself against the quiet surge of anxiety within him, his best man stepped closer.

“Do you want me to call her?”

Greg shook his head slowly. “No… let’s wait a little longer.”

His voice was calm, almost assured, as though he believed she would appear at any moment—perhaps delayed by something he would soon understand.

Another ten minutes passed.

Still no Eva.

Then, just as the tension began to tighten, the doors opened.

Every head turned.

But it wasn’t the grand entrance anyone had expected. No music swelled. No procession followed.

Eva walked in alone.

Her wedding dress trailed behind her, but something about it felt off—creased, slightly disheveled, as if she hadn’t bothered to fix it. Her makeup was flawless, yet her expression was not. There was no warmth in her eyes.

No joy.

Greg straightened, his gaze locking onto hers, unease flickering through him as he stepped forward.

“Eva,” he called softly.

She didn’t smile. Without a word, she turned and walked into the office facing the hall, her heels striking sharply against the marble floor.

The sound echoed through the sudden silence as Greg and his best man followed closely behind.

“I’m not going through with this.”

The words rang out like a gunshot.

Greg blinked. “What?”

“I said I’m not marrying you!” Eva repeated, louder this time, her voice slicing cleanly through the air. “I only came because your best friend dragged me here and wouldn’t take no for an answer. At least this way, I could tell you myself.”

The room erupted.

“What is she saying?”

“Is this a joke?”

“Oh my God…”

Greg stepped forward, his expression tightening, though he still held himself together. “Eva… what’s going on?”

She laughed—a sharp, bitter sound.

“What’s going on?” she echoed. “What’s going on is that I finally opened my eyes.”

His brow furrowed. “Opened your eyes to what?”

“To you.”

The word dripped with disdain.

“To the reality I’ve been pretending to ignore.”

Greg glanced around, confused. “Eva, this wedding—everything here—”

“Isn’t enough!” she snapped.

Her gaze hardened. “Do you even realize how embarrassing this is for me?”

“Embarrassing?” Greg repeated, bewildered.

“Yes!” she shot back.

“What if I had invited people? People with real status? Real wealth? And this…” She gestured toward the modestly decorated hall. “This is what you offer me?”

A flicker crossed Greg’s face.

“Eva, you told me you loved me… that you wanted to spend the rest of your life with me—”

“I lied!” she cut in, her voice rising. “There's nothing like love, considering the way you are. I thought I could settle, thinking things would get better, but I’m tired of the mockery. I can’t keep watching my friends live in luxury while…” She trailed off, her gaze sweeping over him with open disdain.

“While I’m with you.”

Her expression hardened.

“You have nothing. All you have is a small rented apartment, a boring job—no influence, no connections!"

She let out a bitter laugh.

“Do you know how embarrassing it is?” she continued. “People look at me and wonder how I ended up with you. They pity me.” Her lips curled slightly.

“Some of them even think I’ve lost my standards. I’m tired of pretending I’m okay being with someone who can’t give me the life I want. I’m tired of watching my friends marry rich, successful men while I…” She paused, her eyes lingering on him.

“While I settle for you.”

Each word landed like a blow.

Greg exhaled slowly, trying to steady himself, though a sharp headache was already building behind his eyes.

“Eva… you can’t do this,” he said quietly.

Beyond the room, guests waited in the hall, murmuring among themselves, wondering what was happening.

Greg took a step closer to her.

“Eva, we’ve built something real. That has to count for something… doesn’t it?”

“No, it doesn’t!”

She reached into her clutch and pulled out a small box.

Greg’s eyes softened. “You brought it…”

“For you,” she said flatly.

She stepped forward and held it out. “I was going to return this too.”

Greg shook his head, refusing to take it. “Eva… we can fix this. Whatever you’re feeling—we can work through it. I love you.”

She stared at him.

Then she laughed again.

“You still don’t get it, do you?”

Before he could respond, she hurled the box to the floor.

The sharp crack echoed like thunder.

Gasps rippled through the hall. From the tension, the raised voices, and Eva’s disheveled entrance, everyone already understood—this wedding was falling apart.

“I don’t want this,” she said, her voice thick with disgust. “I don’t want anything from you. Not your gifts, not your promises—not you or your… pathetic version of love!”

Greg didn’t move.

His gaze dropped to the box. It had cracked, but not completely broken. It was the one he had given her the night before—the one he’d said wasn’t even his biggest gift. He had promised to give her the key to it after the wedding ceremony.

“I’m done, Greg,” Eva continued. “I deserve better. I deserve luxury. Status. A life that actually means something!"

She turned, gathering her dress, and started back, running down the aisle, avoiding any talks or gazes.

“Eva!” Greg called.

She paused—but didn’t turn.

“For what it’s worth,” he said quietly, “I would’ve given you everything.”

She scoffed. “You don’t have anything to give.”

And with that, she walked out.

The doors slammed shut behind her.

Silence followed.

All eyes slowly turned back towards the office where Greg was.

Some guests and family members even rushed toward the office to check on Greg, eager to understand what had happened.

For a moment, Greg stood completely still. Then, without a word, he bent down and picked up the box.

A thin crack ran across its surface, but it held.

He turned it over in his hands, his expression unreadable, then carefully opened it.

Inside were documents—bank statements with staggering figures, ownership papers, corporate seals, shares in global companies.

Beside them lay a sleek set of keys—one to a midnight-black Rolls-Royce Phantom, the other to a sprawling glass-and-marble mansion in the city’s most exclusive district.

And most striking of all—a black platinum card engraved with Eva’s name.

He had planned to place all of it in her hands after the wedding.

Greg straightened, adjusting his cuffs with quiet precision.

“I was going to tell her today,” he murmured almost to himself. “After the wedding.”

His best man, Darren, understood. He knew Greg had chosen a simple life on purpose—seeking something real, something untainted by wealth or status.

Greg’s gaze drifted to the closed doors.

“I thought I had found true love.”

For a brief moment, something like sadness flickered in his eyes.

Then it was gone.

He closed the box and handed it to Darren.

“It’s fine,” he said calmly.

He took a slow breath.

“She made her choice... And now… so have I.”