Wedding

I walked down the aisle slowly, my white dress flowing around me like it was made for this moment. It wasn’t a wedding dress, not exactly, but it was close enough to make a statement. I could feel Roy’s glare on me, burning into my skin, but I didn’t care. My heart raced, a voice in the back of my head whispering that this was a terrible idea. But I had lost too much to let him smile over my pain, over the ruin he caused me.

As I got closer, I noticed Ethan standing behind Roy, his face unreadable, watching me silently. with a mix of disapproval and disbelief.

Then there was Mrs. Claus. Her glare could’ve set me on fire. Her perfectly styled hair and pearl necklace did nothing to soften the fury etched into her face. She looked like she wanted to break me into pieces and toss me out the nearest window.

But I didn’t care.

I met her gaze head-on, daring her to say something, daring her to stop me. I knew the scene I was about to cause would ripple through this room and beyond. And I welcomed it. Roy deserved every second of chaos I was about to unleash.

My heels clicked against the polished floor, the sound echoing in the silence. The guests’ whispers grew louder with every step I took.

“Is that Darla?”

“She’s wearing white. The nerve.”

“What is she doing here?”

I kept walking, my focus flickering between the altar and Ethan, who stood off to the side. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in his stance that reassured me. He wasn’t going to interfere, not yet.

Roy’s eyes locked onto mine as I got closer. His face twisted in anger, a flush creeping up his neck. His bride tugged at his sleeve, whispering something, but he brushed her off, his focus entirely on me.

“What the hell are you doing, Darla?” Roy hissed as I reached the bottom of the stairs. His voice was low but laced with rage, loud enough for those nearby to hear.

I tilted my head and smiled, the kind of smile I knew would infuriate him. “Oh, don’t mind me. I just wanted to congratulate the happy couple,” I said, loud enough for everyone to hear.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing? And how did you get in here?” Roy’s voice cut through the air as he stepped toward me, his hand snapping around my wrist just before I could climb the stairs. His grip was tight, anger radiating off him.

I yanked my hand free, taking a step back to avoid him. My eyes moved to her—the woman in the strapless dress who was supposed to be marrying the man who’d destroyed me. She met my gaze with a smug smile, like she didn’t have a care in the world, like nothing I could say or do would crack her perfect little world. It only made me angrier.

Turning toward the crowd, I let my voice carry as I swung my gaze back to Roy. “Did you think you could knock me up and then marry another bitch?”

The collective gasp from the crowd was immediate, rippling through the room like a wave. All eyes were on us now, whispers buzzing among the guests.

“Darla,” Roy hissed, his tone low and dangerous as he stepped closer to me. “You are testing my patience. Leave now, or I’ll have my men throw you out.”

I tilted my head, looking up at him defiantly. “Throw me out?” I scoffed, loud enough for everyone to hear. “You’ve already thrown me out of your life, Roy. What’s one more shove?”

“Enough!” he snapped, glancing nervously at his bride. She looked less smug now, her brow furrowing as she watched the scene unfold.

“Does she know?” I asked, tilting my head toward the bride. “Does she know what you’ve done, Roy? Or are you planning to keep this little secret buried just like you did me?”

“Stop,” Roy demanded, his voice cracking slightly as the tension in the room grew heavier.

“I’ll stop when everyone here knows the truth,” I shot back. “Do you want to tell them, or should I?”

Roy’s jaw tightened, his gaze flickering toward Ethan. “Get her out of here,” he muttered, but Ethan didn’t move. He just stood there, arms crossed, watching silently.

“What’s wrong, Roy?” I asked, stepping closer. “Cat got your tongue? Or is it guilt?”

“You don’t belong here,” he ground out, his face a mask of fury.

“And you don’t deserve to stand up there, pretending to be some kind of noble groom,” I spat, turning my attention to the bride. “And you. I treated you like family not knowing that you were nothing but a snake”

“I swear to you Darla that if you don't leave then I will do something bad to you” he growled, reaching for my arm again. But this time, I stepped back before he could grab me.

“Something bad, you have already done your worse?” I echoed, my voice sharp. “After begging me to sleep with you, Please Darla, I will give everything, please Darla, let's do it just once, please Darla, prove your love to me.”

The crowd erupted into whispers, the tension in the room thick enough to choke on. Roy’s face was red, his fury barely contained.

"Enough" a voice roared from the crowd, Mrs Claus walked hastily towards me before she froze in her steps and walked right back to her seat like a lost puppy.

"Do you think you will be happy in this marriage, you will only know hell. I curse you Roy Claus that you will never find happiness wherever you go and not even with this bitch that you are marrying" I voiced out loud.

Roy’s words cut through me like a blade, each one sharper than the last.

“What about you?” he sneered, his voice dripping with venom. “You threw yourself at me the same way you throw yourself at every other man. No one wants you, Darla. No one would be dumb enough to want a woman like you. You’ll never get married. You’ll never walk down the aisle like a real bride. You have no family—you’re just a petty little orphan now. Used and discarded.”

I felt the weight of his words pressing down on me, threatening to crush the last bit of resolve I had left. His fiancée grabbed his arm, trying to stop him. “Roy, please,” she whispered, her voice shaking, but he shoved her aside. She stumbled into the priest, who caught her just in time, her white dress crumpling in the process.

“You’re wasted, Darla,” Roy continued, his voice echoing through the hall. “Nobody wants trash like you.”

For a moment, I froze. My chest tightened, and his words echoed in my mind like an unforgiving chant. Maybe he was right. Maybe no one wanted me. But then something inside me snapped. I wasn’t going to let him win—not like this.

I straightened my back, squaring my shoulders as I faced him. “No one wants me?” I repeated, my voice shaking at first but growing stronger. “I can bet you, right here, right now, that there are men who would be more than willing to marry me.”

A hush fell over the room. My eyes scanned the crowd, landing on their stunned faces. “Is there anyone here,” I said, my voice daring and defiant, “who wishes to tie the knot with me?”

The silence was deafening. I could see the fear in their eyes, the hesitation. No one wanted to betray the Claus family—not in front of Roy, not in this room.

Roy let out a cold, mocking laugh, crossing his arms as if he had already won. “See?” he sneered. “I told you. No one wants—”

“I will,” a voice interrupted, firm and unwavering.

I turned to see Ethan stepping forward. The room shifted, all eyes now on him.

He stopped in front of me and held out his hand, his gaze locking onto mine. “What about you, Darla?” he asked, his voice steady. “Are you willing to marry me?”

The room erupted into gasps and murmurs, but all I could hear was my own heartbeat.

Not once did I think that Ethan would step forward, his green eyes was all I could see and it made my lips quiver. He didn't look bothered like this was a hasty decision, his fingers wrapped around my waist almost lifting me off the ground and pressing my body closer to his.

Has the room always been that hot? Or was it just me and my unsteady beating heart that has rested up until this minute.

“Do you accept to marry me Darla Winters?” His voice is louder this time that the whole room could hear him.

I blink my eyes in panic, staring back at him.