Chapter Seven: The Wedding Ceremony

I stood at the foot of the grand staircase, the weight of my father’s words and Mia’s quiet warnings still swirling in my mind. It felt as though the entire mansion was holding its breath, waiting for me to take that final step, the one that would seal my fate. My father, Mia, and Victor all stood behind me, their eyes fixed on the grandiose doors that would open to the ceremony.

The wedding. The real thing. It was no longer just an idea, a vague promise or a distant future. It was here. It was now.

The butler’s footsteps echoed down the hall, and his soft voice reached me before he even rounded the corner. “Ms. Spears, it’s time.”

I took a deep breath, clutching my bouquet tightly, and let my eyes briefly close. Alexander was already waiting for me. I could feel his presence, even though I hadn’t seen him yet. This wasn’t just any wedding. This was our wedding—the culmination of secrets, lies, and a love that felt both real and fabricated all at once.

Mia squeezed my hand lightly, her soft smile offering me some comfort. “You’ve got this, Elena,” she whispered, her words almost drowned out by the hushed chatter that filtered through the hall. “You’re strong.”

But I wasn’t sure if I felt strong anymore. I felt torn, conflicted, and vulnerable. I looked back at my father. He smiled at me, pride shining in his eyes, as if this moment was a victory for both of us. For our family.

“Ready?” Mia asked, breaking through my tangled thoughts. Her eyes softened as she met mine. “This is it. This is the beginning of your new life.”

I wanted to believe her. I wanted to think that I was making the right choice, but the doubt in my heart was a heavy weight that refused to be shaken off.

Taking a final, steadying breath, I nodded. “Let’s do this.”

The butler opened the large double doors, revealing the magnificent ballroom that had been transformed into a dreamlike scene. White roses were draped across the archway leading to the altar, their fragrance sweet and overwhelming. Crystal chandeliers hung above, casting a soft glow over the crowd that had gathered to witness our vows. The atmosphere was lavish, suffocatingly perfect, and for a fleeting moment, I almost believed in the fairy tale.

But then, I saw him.

Alexander stood at the altar, his sharp features softened by the soft lighting. His tailored black tuxedo hugged his broad shoulders, and his eyes, dark and intense, were locked on me. Despite the crowd around him, despite the weight of the event, it felt as though everything had fallen away, and it was just him and me. A moment suspended in time.

I walked slowly down the aisle, my heels clicking softly against the marble floor. The faces of the guests blurred in the background, but I couldn’t take my eyes off Alexander. He didn’t smile. He didn’t need to. His gaze spoke volumes, a quiet intensity that held me in place as I reached the altar.

When I reached him, I noticed his hands were clenched at his sides, the muscles in his jaw tense. But there was something else in his eyes—a flicker of uncertainty that mirrored my own.

“Elena,” he whispered, as though speaking my name was a fragile thing, something to be handled with care.

I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. The priest cleared his throat, and the ceremony began, but my mind was far from the vows we were supposed to be exchanging. All I could think of was the weight of the promises we were making. How could I promise anything when I wasn’t sure of the truth?

The ceremony continued, each word feeling like it was slipping away from me, lost in a sea of confusion and unspoken doubts. And then, as the priest asked if anyone had any objections, a chill ran through me, like an electric current that froze my spine.

I turned my head slightly, and that’s when I saw her.

Victoria.

She was seated in the front row, her platinum blonde hair cascading in perfect waves down her back. Her eyes locked onto mine with a smile that was nothing short of predatory, as though she knew something I didn’t. As though she knew exactly what she was doing by showing up.

My breath caught in my throat. Why was she here? Was this some twisted game she was playing? Her gaze didn’t falter as she held it, unblinking, as if daring me to say something, to make a scene. I felt a flicker of anger ignite inside me, a flare of protectiveness for what was mine. This was my moment. No one—especially not her—was going to ruin it.

I could feel Alexander’s tension beside me. His eyes darted to Victoria, and for the first time, I saw a crack in his calm demeanor. His jaw tightened, and his knuckles whitened as his hands fisted at his sides.

Was she here to sabotage us?

But before I could gather my thoughts, the priest’s voice broke through the tension. “Do you, Alexander Wells, take Elena Spears to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

Alexander’s eyes met mine, and despite everything, there was a softness there. A flicker of the man I had begun to fall for—before the secrets and the distance. “I do,” he said, his voice steady, but there was something dark behind it. Something that made me question whether it was truly the vow of a man who loved me—or a man who was bound by something much more dangerous.

The priest turned to me. “And do you, Elena Spears, take Alexander Wells to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

My heart raced. I knew what I was supposed to say. What I was expected to say. But as I opened my mouth, something caught in my throat. I looked at Alexander, his face so close, his expression unreadable.

The crowd was silent, waiting, as the weight of the moment pressed down on me. My hands trembled at my sides, and in the back of my mind, I could feel the eyes of Victoria burning into me. I could feel the storm she was about to unleash. I had no idea what it would be, but it was coming, I could feel it.

“Elena?” the priest asked again, his voice gentle, almost coaxing.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. My thoughts were in chaos, my emotions a tornado swirling around me.

I couldn’t do this. Not yet. Not with the doubts, the secrets, and the shadows looming over everything.

I had to rethink my decision.

Before I could stop myself, the words escaped me.

“I can’t.”

The room fell into stunned silence.

Alexander’s face drained of color, his eyes widening in disbelief. Victoria’s lips curled into a smug smile. And in that moment, I realized the consequences of my words had just shattered everything I thought I knew.