A marriage without a face, a love built on whispers, and a betrayal that left a man shattered. As the haunting details of Elina's past are dragged into the light, the woman who claims to be a victim is now painted as a heartless deceiver. But how can a woman forget her own wedding day? The truth is a tangled web, and the spider is finally coming out of the shadows.
Elina stood frozen, her heart hammering against her ribs. Married? To Nikhil? How was it possible for someone to be completely oblivious to their own wedding?
She turned to her grandfather, her voice a desperate whisper. "Grandfather, what is this? What is she talking about?"
Mr. Louis stepped toward Jasmine (Jasy), his face etched with a mixture of shame and sorrow. "Jasmine, what you believe to be the truth... it isn't quite as it seems. There is more to this story."
Jasy let out a harsh, bitter laugh. "The truth? The truth is that Elina betrayed my son! My poor Nikhil is still out there, losing his mind over her. For months, they spoke on the phone for hours every day. My son was so blinded by love that he agreed to marry her without even seeing her face. Your 'precious' granddaughter didn't even give him her real name! It was only through your lawyer that Nikhil finally found her photo and her true name: Elina Thomas."
David and Jack, their faces dark with confusion and rising anger, stepped toward Jasy. "Auntie, tell us everything," David demanded. "When did this happen? How could they have been married? We need to know the truth."
Jasy looked at them with pity. "I'll tell you. You both need to realize how manipulative this woman truly is."
"Watch your mouth!" Mr. Louis barked. "Don't you dare throw false accusations at my granddaughter."
"False?" Jasy sneered. "The only liars here are you and your granddaughter. You trapped my innocent boy and ruined his life, and now you play the victims?"
Elina felt like the world was spinning. The memory of her own assault was still fresh, a jagged wound in her soul, and now she was being called a villain. She looked at David and Jack, waiting for a sliver of support, but they were silent, waiting for Jasy to continue.
"A few years ago," Jasy began, "Nikhil dialed a wrong number by mistake. That was the beginning of the end. Elina picked up. Nikhil introduced himself, but she was sharp with him—called him 'insolent' and hung up. But her voice... it haunted him. He saved her number as 'Naughty Girl.' At the time, he had just finished his studies and started handling our family business.
"He couldn't stop thinking about her. Slowly, their phone calls turned into a friendship. He never knew her real name; he always called her his 'Naughty Girl.' They never met in person. Every time Nikhil begged to see her, she would tell him to wait for the right time. He sent her many photos of himself over WhatsApp, so she knew exactly what he looked like. That's why she recognized him immediately, even though Nikhil couldn't recognize her when he saw her with David."
David stepped back, his expression turning to one of pure disgust. "Shame on you, Elina. I'm embarrassed that I ever loved you. I should have just stayed with Sarlin; at least she wouldn't have played me like this. I was ready to throw away my childhood friend for you... and you're nothing but a liar who destroyed an innocent man's life."
Elina grabbed David's hand, her eyes wide with terror. "David, no! This is a lie! I swear to you, I didn't do any of this! I didn't know Nikhil!"
But David pulled his hand away. There was no belief in his eyes. Even Jack looked away, his jaw tight.
Elina turned to her grandfather, sobbing. "Grandfather, please! Say something! I've never cheated anyone. Why are you standing there silently while they say these things?"
Jasy stepped closer, her voice dripping with venom. "Stop the act, Elina. I thought you loved my son, but you're more twisted than I imagined. You turned his life into a living hell."
"Auntie," David interrupted, his voice hollow. "Tell me... when did the wedding happen?"
"Nikhil had never seen her face," Jasy continued, her voice breaking. "When he proposed, she asked him, 'Nikhil, if I turn out to be ugly, will you still love me?' Nikhil promised her he would love her no matter what. He even vowed not to look at her face until they were officially husband and wife. Elina seemed thrilled. It all felt like some dramatic movie.
"Nikhil went to the address she gave him—to meet Mr. Louis. He told him everything. Even then, Elina came before him with her face hidden behind a heavy dupatta. Mr. Louis asked her if she wanted this, and she said yes. My son was so happy... I had never seen him glow like that. He spent every waking moment preparing for the wedding.
"The day finally came. They were married. But even after the rituals, Nikhil kept his promise and didn't lift her veil. During the reception, Elina's phone rang. Without a word to anyone, she slipped away. We searched everywhere, but she was gone. A neighbor later claimed they saw the bride running away with another man. From that day on, Nikhil lost his mind. He loved a woman whose face he had never even seen."
Jasy wiped a tear from her cheek. "A few months ago, Mr. Louis went to his lawyer to transfer some land to his granddaughter's name. That's where Nikhil saw the name 'Elina Thomas' and her photograph. He tracked her here and found she was married to you, David. He stayed quiet because you were his friend. He didn't want to hurt you. My son is a good man; he forgave her sins so easily. But then he found out she was divorcing you just to marry Jack. That was the final straw."
Jasy walked right up to Elina. "I have never seen a woman as shameless and characterless as you."
"It's a lie!" Elina screamed. "David, listen to me! You said you found my locket in Nikhil's pocket. If he's so innocent, why did he have my chain? He is a rapist! He deserves to hang!"
Jasy let out a cold, sharp laugh. "The chain? You mean the identical chain and locket you had made for him? The one you gave him as a 'token of your eternal love'? You're a lying, manipulative fraud, Elina."
Elina is legally married to Nikhil, but why does she have no memory of it? What dark secret is hidden in the gap between her past and the present? Is Nikhil truly a jilted lover, or is this the most elaborate frame-up in history?
To uncover the truth buried in the shadows, keep reading 'Beneath The Truth' only on Webnovel.