You’ll Regret Stealing Him from Me — My Sister Who Took My Fiancé and Celebrated Was a Fool - Chapter 39

I decided to postpone the greetings and focus on sticking to the schedule. But as I gave instructions to the staff, I felt a suffocating weight in the air.

It was heavy.

The atmosphere in the venue felt unnaturally oppressive, as if some invisible force was crushing down on us.

The guests’ reactions were sluggish. Conversations lacked energy. Their smiles seemed pasted on, their expressions weary.

It was stifling.

The venue was spacious, open—high ceilings, large windows. Yet an unbearable heat pressed in from all sides. Then I realized: there were too many people. Everywhere I looked, the room was packed.

“It’s hot…”

My dress clung to my skin, a deep crimson silk gown. Beautiful, but heavy. And unbearably warm. Sweat beaded on my forehead, ruining my perfectly applied makeup.

My meticulously styled hair was beginning to fray.

The hair ornament felt heavy. My head ached.

Looking around, the other nobles seemed just as miserable.

Ladies fluttered their fans over and over.

Men dabbed their brows with handkerchiefs.

“It’s so hot.”

“The air isn’t circulating.”

“It’s suffocating.”

“There are too many people.”

Complaints rose from every corner, voices thick with exhaustion.

And then, the smells.

Perfumes clashed, turning sickly sweet. Individually pleasant, but overwhelming when mixed.

Heavy. Choking.

The scent of food blended in meat, sauces, spices. I had specifically ordered simpler dishes today, yet the aromas were overpowering.

And then, the scent of breath. Of sweat.

All of it combined, making it hard to breathe. My chest tightened. Nausea rose.

“Ventilate the venue! Let in fresh air now!”

“Y-yes!”

I barked orders. Staff rushed to open doors and windows.

But nothing changed.

The air remained stagnant. The heat unbearable.

Only the faintest breeze slipped in. Too many bodies blocked circulation.

“Why?!”

“We’ve exceeded the venue’s capacity!” a staff member gasped, sweating and out of breath. “With this many people, we can’t refresh the air fast enough! We need some guests to step outside!”

But it was too late for that. Kick out some of the attendees? Impossible. Unthinkably rude.

And then…

“I feel faint.”

A frail voice, barely audible, yet it cut through the noise.

I turned to see an elderly noblewoman slumped in her seat, her face deathly pale. She clutched the table, pressing a hand to her forehead.

“What’s wrong?!”

People rushed to her side.

“It’s too hot! I can’t breathe.”

“Fetch a doctor!”

“Bring water!”

“We need to move her outside!”

“Somewhere with fresh air!”

The venue erupted into chaos. Staff scrambled. Some carrying water, others calling for a doctor, others trying to lift the collapsed woman.

Nobles watched with concern, murmuring anxiously. The air grew even heavier.

I stood frozen, witnessing what was clearly a catastrophic failure.

Why?

Why was this happening?

Too many people? A venue too small?

No. This wasn’t my fault. More guests had simply arrived than expected.

I felt unwell too.

The heat. The suffocation. The heavy dress. The unrelenting sweat.

And above all—

This unbearable frustration. My chest ached. My breaths came shallow. My heart raced.

But.

I still had the surprise prepared.

If I unveiled it now, surely—

They’d forget this heat, this chaos.

A dazzling, breathtaking spectacle.

If I revealed that surprise, everything would be fine.

It had to be.

I had to believe that.

A doctor arrived, checking the noblewoman’s pulse and complexion.

“Will she be alright?”

“She just needs rest and fresh air.”

“Thank goodness!”

Relieved murmurs spread. But…

The venue’s air remained unchanged.

Heavy. Suffocating. Hot.

The nobles’ expressions darkened—displeasure, fatigue, discomfort.

And then, more collapses.

Another noble, then another, were helped to the resting area, unsteady on their feet.

The guests watched uneasily, whispers growing louder.

The air grew even heavier.

“Excuse me.”

A low voice. I turned to see an elderly noblewoman heading for the exit, someone I hadn’t greeted yet. A key figure in high society. Her opinion would ripple through the entire social circle.

“W-wait, please!”

I hurried after her, clutching my skirt as I half-ran.

“My apologies for not greeting you earlier.”

“Unnecessary.”

Her voice was icy. Her eyes brimmed with clear disdain.

“I had high expectations, but…”

She snapped her fan shut with a sharp click.

“It’s sweltering. Suffocating. The atmosphere is atrocious.”

Each word was a merciless stab.

“No greetings, guests collapsing. What kind of hosting is this?”

“But—!”

I scrambled for excuses.

“There’s still a special surprise prepared! I’m sure you’ll—”

“A surprise?”

She scoffed, voice dripping with derision.

“I can’t wait any longer. Expecting us to endure this for some spectacle is absurd. And—”

She glanced around the venue.

“Do you truly intend to continue this party when people are fainting? You should end it now.”

“I—”

Words failed me. My throat closed.

“Good evening.”

She walked away.

I couldn’t stop her. My hand twitched, but I couldn’t move.

“I’ll take my leave as well.”

Another noble headed for the exit.

“This is unacceptable.”

“No reason to stay.”

“Let’s go.”

“Call the carriage.”

One by one.

They left.

No one stopped.

“Please, wait!”

I raised my voice desperately.

“There’s still a special performance!”

But no one turned back.

They filed out.

Voices called for carriages.

No farewells.

Everything slipped away from me.

“Wait! The surprise is almost ready! Please proceed to the special stage!”

No one listened. No one paused.

“I heard she was Lady Seraphina’s sister. What a disappointment.”

The words struck me like a blade.

Again, Seraphina.

Always Seraphina.

I’m trying my best too. I’m striving for perfection too.

Why won’t anyone acknowledge me? Why must it always be her?

“Isabella.”

Roderick’s voice came from behind.

I turned.

His face held no expectation, no trust only disappointment. Cold eyes. Harsh eyes.

“This is a complete failure.”

A low, final verdict.

“You did nothing to help! Nothing!”

“Not yet!”

I nearly screamed.

“The surprise is still coming! Once it’s revealed, everyone will!”

“A surprise?”

His voice turned glacial.

“People are collapsing, and you’re still thinking of a surprise? Are you insane?”

“But…”

“It’s pointless.”

He cut me off.

“Stop this now. Continuing will only worsen the damage to the Vandering name as well.”

“…!”

No words came.

Roderick looked down at me. His eyes no longer believed in me.

“And you should confess the truth.”

“…The truth?”

What? What was he talking about?

“About Seraphina. You claimed you were the one who achieved those results. But the opposite was true, wasn’t it?”

“Wha—”

Here?! Now?! With everyone listening?!

I reached to silence him.

Then.

“What?”

A blinding light flooded through the windows.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion shook the venue. Glass trembled. The floor quaked.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Red.

Blue.

Gold.

Colors flashed violently across the room.

“What’s happening?!”

“Run!”

“Explosions outside!”

“An attack?!”

Chairs toppled. Plates shattered. Screams and shouts filled the air.

The venue descended into absolute chaos.

I stood frozen.

This—

Could it be?!

But it wasn’t time yet!

Why now?

This wasn’t the plan! The guests were supposed to be guided to the special stage in the garden!

The fireworks meant to be seen leisurely, elegantly, in a designated area.

The explosions didn’t stop.

The lights didn’t stop.

The nobles’ screams didn’t stop.

The venue was swallowed by complete pandemonium.