Chapter 1 The Wedding

KAITLYN

Even the air can't hold in my happiness. Everyone knows how joyous I am as I stand before the altar with the man that I will ever love, Jesse Rider.

We have been friends for years and everyone knows that we will get married. Our family has approved of it ever since we became teenagers, today, that time has come, the time to tie the knot forever.

“Do you, Kaitlyn Peterson, accept Jesse Rider to be your rightfully wedded husband?” The words have not even left the priest's mouth before I mutter yes.

"Do you, Jesse Rider, accept Kaitlyn Peterson to be your rightfully wedded wife?” The priest asks.

I look into his eyes, waiting patiently for him to mutter yes. The smile on his face is gone, and the emotions in his eyes are unreadable as he stares blankly at him.

“Do you, Jesse Rider, accept Kaitlyn Peterson to be your rightfully wedded wife?" The priest repeats.

Tension fills the hall, replacing the excitement that drifts around.

"Jesse–”

"Yes…I accept.”

From the way he speaks, I notice that the words seem heavy to voice out. It feels like he is being forced to say the words he said over the phone yesterday.

What is wrong? Is he developing cold feet towards our relationship? Did I do something wrong?

My heart skips a beat when he flashes a reassuring smile at me.

I sigh, and relief washes across my tightened heart.

The priest smiles and looks up, piercing the congregation with his sharp chestnut eyes.

“Is there anyone who stands against this marriage, speak or forever remain silent," the priest mutters and I smile, knowing fully well that no one will stand against my marriage, aside…

I glance at my stepmother and glare intently at her, watching the smirk on her face with a constricted heart.

Is she planning to make a mockery of me again? She won't dare!

“Since no one…"

“I stand against this marriage!"

My eyes widen and my jaws drop.

My legs are wobbling, and I feel like I am losing my breath with each moment that passes by and with each time the words repeat in my mind.

Jesse's hand, which is wrapped around mine, has gone cold, and his eyes are bulging out in shock.

I snap my gaze away from my stepmother to the door which has been pulled open.

Sharp rays of light hit my face and I groan, slamming my eyes shut.

Pain is throbbing in my heart, and tears are beginning to roll down my eyes, forcing me to break into a whimper.

Who is that? That sounds like a man's voice. Who will dare stand against my marriage?

All heads turn as footsteps begin to echo in the large hall. It is steady and slow, bearing the graceful steps of a being with a aura powerful. An aura that everyone can feel, an aura that even makes Jesse's hands which are wrapped around mine, shake violently.

My eyes slowly pull open and I stare confusedly at the tall, huge figure advancing gracefully towards us.

I am sure that I can hear Jesse gasp. His hands slide away from mine and his jaws drop open.

I turn back to the man and stare intently at him, trying to figure out if I can recognize him.

The sun's rays are shielding his face, making him look glorious or, perhaps, angelic. But his aura speaks nothing concerning being angelic.

I am upset, confused, and filled with rage. I feel like shredding the nonchalant, uninvited guest to pieces.

“Who are you?" I snap out in aggression, feeling impatient.

The footsteps freeze and his head tilts to the side.

He steps forward, revealing the smirk on his face.

I run my eyes around his body, observing every inch of him.

Sharp jawline, prominent cheekbones, piercing grey eyes that seemed to draw in everyone, broad shoulders, toned body, and athletic build that exudes confidence and strength.

His sleek, three-piece suit, swung over a crisp white shirt that has no buttons at the top, reveals his well-define, chiseled pectoral, making him look irresistible.

My heart skip a bit as I shamelessly drool over the man's beauty.

My God, he is as handsome as a devil. That is if he is not a devil.

“Don't scream too much, mi amor, you will lose your voice," the way he speaks makes my jaws drop and causes a gasp to arise from the congregation.

“Mi… mi amor?" I stammer, praying that this does not cause a misunderstanding.

I swerve my head towards the priest and stare at the confusion and disgust on his face.

I glance at Jesse and the emotion in his eyes makes my heart shrink.

“Who are you?" I snap and glare at the man.

He lets out a dark chuckle, covers the distance between us in a fast stride, and grabs my chin.

"You should be getting married to me, not him,” he whispers loudly, and chaos slowly drops among the guests.

I gasp and slap his hand away, taking a step back.

"Don't touch me, you psycho! Who the fuck are you?” I scream, and the priest clears his throat at the unacceptable word that dropped from my lips.

“Who am I?" His brows raised in surprise and he grinned, revealing those perfect set of white teeth.

Goodness, what am I doing?

He turns his head and drops his eyes on my smirking stepmother.

“Didn't you tell her about me, Mrs Peterson?” He asks, and my heart clenches.

I spring up to my feet and turn in her direction and so does Jesse.

"What is he talking about, Lorain?” I yell, marching towards her with a clenched fist.

She doesn't seem perturbed with the revelation. Instead she she leans back into the seat and smiles widely, enjoying the peril I am in.

I knew it. I knew she would never let me be happy.

She has hated me right from the day my father brought her home as his wife. She had always wanted to take away everything my father left for me, every single thing.

“Well… he is the only one who can save your father's empire," she muttered in a low tone, that evil smirk still dangling around her lips.

My eyes dim at her absurd words and I huff.

“Is that your excuse for trying to ruin my marriage?" I ask, and she chuckles. My heart shrinks at her behavior, and I try to stop myself from blowing up before everyone.

“You should be thanking me, you ungrateful wasp!" She spits out, and my heart shrinks.

"You witch!” I growl and advance towards her, my fist clenched into a ball.

Filled with rage and the feeling of betrayal, I extend my fist to hit her, but to my surprise, she slips out of the way and grabs my extended hand.

Pain shoots through my body and I scream out, crinkling my face in agony and shame.

She winds to the back and twists my hands around, leaning down towards my bent posture.

"Didn't your dear father tell you about the bankruptcy that the company was facing before his demise? Seems like, he didn't care so much about you,” she sneers, her voice dripping with raw venom and mockery.

My heart stopped beating the moment she said those words, and my jaws dropped.

I stop struggling and stare dismayingly at the marble white floors of the large church, which has turned into a chaos-filled building.

“What did you say?" I stammer, my heart clenching.

She chuckles and leans closer, hitting my ear with her hot, deceitful breath.

"Do you want to shame your father's grave by shouting it out loud in front of his friends and foes? That man cleared your father's debts secretly in return to have you as a bride," she whispers and I whimper softly in regret.

I feel ashamed and betrayed. I trusted my father so much.

Why did he do this to me? How could he keep such a thing from me?

Now, I am stuck in a mess that I never created. Trouble that I will never be able to get out of.

Even if he manages to leave, will Jesse still love me? I can't tell the whole world why this man is here. If I do, my father's legacy will become nothing but a laughingstock to everyone.

“Now, go quietly to that altar and tie the knot with that man with no hesitation," Loraine snaps and lets go of me.

I stagger and drop to the ground, gasping for breath.

“Get lost, Jesse, and pull out that ring too!" The man's authoritative voice floods across the hall.

“You bastard, how dare you–” Jesse's words are cut short as the man wraps his hand around his chin, piercing him with his striking dark eyes.

A vicious grin spread across his face and he clenches tight onto Jesse's grip, forcing a wince out of his trembling lips.

“You took my inheritance away, but I will take your bride away," he mutters and Jesse's face goes pale.

“Inheritance?" My voice breaks through the tense air and he looks up at me.

A smile creeps into his face, and he shoves Jesse away, then walks gracefully towards me.

He squats down before me and sweeps me into his large arms, causing me to inhale the strong cologne on his body.

He gets to the alter and drops me down to my wobbly feet then snaps a glare at the priest.

“Get us married!" He snaps.

The priest staggers back and gulps hard, parting his lips to start the wedding processions all over again.

Tears gather up in my eyes as the priest begins another recitation of a verse.

The hall quiets down like nothing happened some minutes ago.

“Do you…" the priest pauses and stares questioningly at him.

He smiles devilishly and grips my hand tightly, victory dancing in his dark orbs.

“Nikolai. Nikolai Rider."