After my death, my husband who had wanted to divorce went insane. novel Chapter 8

8

Cooper and Dixie stood hand in hand, their faces glowing with bliss as they raised their champagne glasses. Among the crowd, only Demi looked genuinely thrilled.

Under the emcee’s lead, the champagne tower shimmered as it filled to the brim, sparkling brilliantly beneath the spotlight, but what truly stole the show was the necklace resting on Dixie’s neck.

Gaten stared blankly at it. The first time he had met my mother, Annie, was at a high-society banquet. She wore a flowing white dress, her every smile blooming. And around her neck was that very same necklace.

Back then, Gaten had been a mere bystander, barely noticed at such events. But the moment Annie walked in, every gaze shifted to her, including his.

During a break in the evening, Gaten gathered his courage and approached her, holding out a portrait he had just sketched of her.

“You looked so beautiful today, I couldn’t help but sketch you. I hope you’ll accept it,” Gaten said his face flushed with nervous color. Annie took the portrait, her eyes widening in surprise; every detail, every trace of her expression and grace had been captured perfectly.

That moment sparked their first real conversation. From then on, Gaten insisted on sketching her every single day, handing her each drawing as if she were his muse.

It wasn’t just about art. They could talk for hours, about music, films, anything at all. To her, it felt like she had finally found someone who truly understood her. Amid the dull grind of medical school, Gaten became her only source of joy.

Though my grandmother disapproved of the match, he had no wealth, no proper ring, my mother admired Gaten’s talent deeply. She was determined to marry him, even if it meant giving up the medical career she loved.

In the end, facts proved my grandmother right. After marrying my mother, Gaten never picked up a paintbrush again. Once he acquired a large sum of property, he quickly shifted his focus to starting a company, becoming someone completely different.

Now that the Schnapp Group stood at its peak, the talented man my mother once admired had long disappeared.

‘Gaten, once everything with the kids is settled, we can start planning our wedding too. Seeing our daughter so beautiful today, I really can’t wait,” Demi said, holding tightly to his hand.

Only then did Gaten return to his senses. The girl in the white dress from all those years ago was gone. A hollow feeling settled in his chest. He simply patted Demi’s hand in silence.

The lively atmosphere at the venue came to a sudden halt as a thick fog rolled in. Some guests began to notice the faint smell of burning, and soon, smoke rose from behind the curtain.

No one knew what was going on. Then, sparks jumped onto the stage, and someone in the crowd screamed, “Fire!”

Panic broke out instantly. Chaos swept through the venue. The bride and groom onstage stood frozen, still trying to make sense of it all, until flames began rising, slowly surrounding the wedding stage.

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Dixie’s eyes widened. She hadn’t realized that sparks had landed on her gown. In seconds, the fabric caught fire. Cooper and Demi both saw it and rushed toward her.

The fire spread fast. Dixie was quickly overcome by the smoke and fainted. Cooper and Demi tried to put out the flames on her, but it was no use. Soon, both of them were burned and passed

but.

The only one still conscious was Gaten. He hurried to call the police. How could a wedding catch fire so suddenly? His face was filled with doubt. Trusting his instinct, he tried to call the butler, Romeo, but the line wouldn’t connect.

The scene was pure chaos, with guests fleeing in every direction. A few men in black spoke quietly among themselves.

Looks like it worked perfectly.”

We won’t get caught, right, Kevin?”

Relax. The surveillance was cut long ago. No one will trace it back. What a shame Sabrina

couldn’t witness this beautiful mess.”

Dark clouds loomed overhead as heavy rain poured down. The wedding had been held outdoors. The downpour drowned the flames, leaving behind nothing but scorched ruins.