Chapter 4

Aria's Pov**

Since the day my father announced the final date for my wedding, one thought has lingered on my mind.

Would I have been happy if that wound didn't graze my arm but aimed at a more vital part?

Maybe then, I would have been hospitalized and fighting for my life instead of standing here today.

The venue for my wedding was an open field with breathtaking views from all side, transformed into a scene of pure opulence. 

Golden lanterns hung from towering arches, their glows, faint but could be seen and felt from around. The evening air was heavy with the scent of roses, their petals scattered along the pristine white aisle. 

Guests in expensive suits and dazzling gowns, both old and young, filled the rows of elegant chairs, their murmurs a low hum beneath the soft melody of a live string quartet.

I walked forward, my fingers trembling around the bouquet of white lilies as I marched. My wedding dress was a masterpiece of lace and silk, trailing behind me, a symbol of the life I was about to be bound to.

Vincenzo, my husband-to-be, stood at the altar with the priest, dressed in an impeccable gray suit. 

His gaze was unreadable, his posture rigid as be stood looking ready, while beside him stood the priest in his black and white attire, their gaze m, fixated on me.

This was it. The moment that would bound my life to another set of rules and decisions chosen for me, one where I won't have a say in.

As I closed in on the altar, I glanced to my side where my father and my brother stood, their smile clearly fake and I could see Viktor's displeased look in his eyes. 

After what happened that day, we didn't get much chance to speak to each other. I climbed the altar and Vincenzo took my hand in his, turning us to face the priest.

"Everything today, compliments how beautiful you are," he let out, smiling brightly at me.

"Thanks. You too," I replied, trying not to blush too much.

The ceremony proceeded without flaw, each moment passing in a blur as my mind drifted to Nikolai and the events in the bar. 

It soon got to the time we exchanged vows and that's when the first gunshot rang out in the air.

A sharp crack echoed through the field cutting through the ceremony like a blade. Gasps and screams erupted as guests ducked and ran for cover.

My heart pounded in my chest at the sudden intrusion, Vincenzo and I turned to the direction where the sound was heard and I instinctively took a step back.

Then, from the shadows near the altar, Nikolai emerged. Dressed in all black, his figure was commanding, his presence exuding waves of dread. A gun gleamed in his hand, the barrel aimed straight at my face.

"Everybody down," he ordered, his voice calm yet laced with authority.

The guests obeyed, falling to their knees in terror. The guards stationed around all stopped in their tracks as they got closer, their hands hovering over their weapons, but Nikolai's men stepped in from the sides, surrounding the place in an instant.

"One wrong move and she's dead," he snapped, his eyes fixed on mine.

I could barely believe my eyes, the same young man I spoke casually with in the bar a couple of days ago, had a gun pointed directly at my face as he pulled me off from Vincenzo. 

As he dragged me off him, I felt Vincenzo relent, his grip tightening around my wrist as he struggled for custody. 

"Now's not the time to be a hero," Nikolai pulled, aiming the gun at him, his eyes dark with intent.

His men were swift and precise, quickly disarming my enraged father and every other person with a weapon around the place.

"Let’s go," Nikolai voiced out, already pulling me away. 

Vincenzo, stubborn and reckless, tried to lunge forward, his hand reaching for mine one last time—only for another gunshot to crack through the air.

A scream tore from someone in the crowd and Vincenzo collapsed to one knee, blood seeping through his pant.

My eyes widened as I watched in horror, my mind racing. He actually shot someone, without a second thought.

I could hear the sound of his gun being clicked, and turning my gaze to him, I saw his gun aimed right at my forehead this time. 

"The next one goes in here," Nikolai said harshly, his eyes cold and unyielding. " And I'm not playing." 

Even though he had just shot someone, there was not a flicker in his emotions, his eyes remained the same as he glanced around one last time, before taking me away.

"Father...!" I screamed out, giving my father one last look.

"Aria!!" He yelled, temporarily standing up before being pushed down by Nikolai's men.

As we moved, my mind spun back to the night I first heard from him again. It had been a single message, delivered through an anonymous number.

"Meet me. We need to talk."

I contemplated between the choices of ignoring or answering it. And I should have but I didn't.

I went ahead and planned a meeting with him, a short and brief meeting where he asked me about my engagement and offered to pull me out of it.

"If you want, I can get you out of it," he had said, his voice low and filled with promise.

But I scoffed at first, holding on to the words my brother told me. "He's bad news, stay away from him,"

"Why would I accept such an offer?" I asked, skepticism evident in my voice.

"Because you're not being treated right," Nikolai answered, his tone soft and tender.

I didn't know the consequences of what my decision back then could mean, but seeing how things were right now, I was started to feel conflicted.

Nikolai dragged me away, his hand gripping mine harshly as we both ran towards the black car that was approaching us at am incredible speed.

"Get in," he ordered, his gun pointed at me. 

"You're making a mistake, Nikolai." 

"No,

you're making a mistake by stalling," with that, he stepped closer, knocking me out with his gun.