The Bride of Alejandro

That morning, Evelyn realized one thing.

She could keep crying over Andrew’s betrayal. She could spend the rest of her life wondering why the man she had loved for years had been capable of hurting her so cruelly.

But what would that accomplish?

Andrew had chosen his path. Now, it was time for Evelyn to choose hers.

And for the first time in her life, she wanted to make a choice for herself.

“I want us to get married as soon as possible.”

Alejandro, who was sitting across from her, lifted his gaze from his coffee cup.

“Are you sure?”

Evelyn nodded. “If we keep putting it off, I might change my mind. I don't want you accusing me of acting on impulse.”

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

“Do you always speak as though you're negotiating a business deal?”

“No. I'm usually much nicer to people who don't sleep with me after I propose to them.”

Alejandro let out a quiet laugh. The sound seemed strangely unfamiliar coming from a man who had appeared so cold and unapproachable the night before.

“All right, Miss Evelyn. Let's discuss our arrangement.”

Evelyn straightened in her seat.

“There are a few things I want us to establish from the beginning.”

“I'm listening.”

“First, I will not be used as a tool to prove that you're not infertile. If we ever decide to have children, it has to be a decision we make together.”

His gaze settled on her. The teasing smile had disappeared from his face.

“Agreed.”

“Second, I won't let your family control me. I'll respect them, but I won't allow anyone to treat me as though I'm not worthy of standing beside you.”

“If anyone does, they'll have to answer to me.”

“Third, I don't want you marrying me out of pity.”

“I don't marry women out of pity.”

His answer was so firm that Evelyn fell silent for a moment.

Alejandro set down his coffee cup.

“I have a condition of my own, Evelyn.”

“What is it?”

“Don't pretend to be strong around me just because you're afraid of appearing weak. I don't need a wife who agrees with everything I say. I need someone who has the courage to tell me what she wants.”

Evelyn almost let out a bitter laugh.

“You clearly don't know me very well.”

“Perhaps not. That's why we need to get married and get to know each other.”

Evelyn studied his face, searching for any trace of doubt. But Alejandro looked perfectly composed, as though marrying his nephew's former fiancée wasn't the most outrageous decision anyone had ever made.

“So, do we have a deal?”

He extended his hand across the table.

Evelyn took it.

“Deal.”

His grip was warm and steady.

For the first time since discovering Andrew with Caroline, Evelyn felt that her future no longer rested entirely in someone else's hands.

She was finally taking control.

---

The wedding arrangements came together far more quickly than Evelyn had imagined.

Alejandro had a personal lawyer who handled the necessary paperwork and ensured that every legal requirement was met before the marriage could take place.

There would be no grand celebration, no hundreds of guests, and no extravagant wedding gown like the one Evelyn had once dreamed of wearing as Andrew's bride.

Just a decision.

And two people who each had their own reasons for making it.

Standing before the mirror in the simple white dress Alejandro's assistant had purchased for her, Evelyn stared at her reflection for a long time.

Yesterday, she had still believed she would become Andrew's wife.

She had imagined holding his hand in front of their guests, smiling when the photographer asked them to look into each other's eyes, and beginning a new life with the man she had spent a year caring for.

Now she understood that all those dreams had been hers alone.

Her phone suddenly vibrated on the table.

Andrew's name appeared on the screen.

Andrew: Don't be late. I want everyone to witness a day you'll never forget.

Evelyn read the message twice.

Once, a message like that would have made her smile.

Now, it only disgusted her.

So, he still thinks I'll show up.

He still believes I'm the kind of woman he can play with. The kind who will stand at the altar and wait for him, even after he's shattered her heart.

Evelyn typed a brief reply.

Evelyn: Don't worry. I won't forget this day, either.

Then she switched off her phone.

She didn't need to tell him anything else.

Let Andrew wait.

Let him believe his plan was unfolding exactly as he intended.

This time, Evelyn wouldn't be the victim waiting to be hurt.

A knock sounded at the door.

“Evelyn, are you ready?”

Alejandro's voice made her turn.

She opened the door.

He stood before her in a black suit that only enhanced his commanding presence. His gaze briefly traveled over her white dress before settling on her face.

“You look beautiful,” he said.

The simple compliment caught Evelyn off guard.

“Thank you.”

He offered her his arm.

“Ready to become my wife?”

Evelyn slipped her hand through his arm and lifted her chin.

“Ready.”

This time, she said it without hesitation.

---

The wedding venue was already filled with guests.

White flowers adorned the aisle leading to the altar. Crystal chandeliers glittered overhead, while soft music mingled with the conversations of the assembled guests.

Andrew's family occupied the front row.

His parents sat beside Grandpa Gorge. Caroline was seated not far from them, wearing an elegant gown and a smile that looked anything but sincere.

Evelyn could imagine how delighted she must have been.

In Caroline's mind, Evelyn was probably busy preparing to become the laughingstock of the entire room.

She and Andrew had likely spent hours imagining how the guests would whisper when the groom failed to appear, leaving Evelyn standing alone at the altar.

Unfortunately for them, the plan had already changed.

“The bride will be entering shortly,” someone whispered.

The conversations gradually died down.

The music changed to the wedding march, and every eye turned toward the grand doors at the far end of the hall.

They were waiting for Evelyn to enter.

They were waiting for Andrew to stand at the altar and welcome the woman who had been his fiancée for years.

But no one could have anticipated what happened next.

The grand doors finally swung open.

Evelyn stepped inside in her white dress, a bouquet in her hands. A faint smile played on her lips, though her heart was pounding so hard she could feel it in her throat.

Then she stepped aside.

The man standing beside her seemed to silence the music itself.

Alejandro.

Not Andrew.

Dressed in a black suit, Alejandro wore an expression of effortless composure. One hand held Evelyn's while the other gently guided her down the aisle, through a sea of stunned faces.

Whispers immediately erupted among the guests.

“Isn't that Alejandro?”

“Why is he with Evelyn?”

“Where's Andrew?”

“Isn't this Andrew's wedding?”

Evelyn heard every word.

But she didn't turn around.

She kept walking.

In the front row, Andrew's mother half rose from her seat, her face turning pale. Andrew's father stared at the couple as though he were witnessing something impossible.

Caroline's smile vanished.

Her lips parted, but no sound came out.

And Grandpa Gorge—

The old man stared at them with wide eyes before slowly settling back into his chair. Then, as though he had suddenly realized something, the corners of his mouth lifted into a faint smile.

He knew.

At the very least, he understood that Alejandro wouldn't walk down the aisle without a reason.

When they reached the altar, Alejandro stopped and turned to face Evelyn.

“Do you still want to go through with this?” he asked quietly, his voice low enough for only her to hear.

Evelyn met his gaze.

Behind them, dozens of pairs of eyes remained fixed on the couple in disbelief.

She knew this decision would change everything. She knew Andrew's family wouldn't simply accept it without a fight. And she knew this marriage wouldn't be easy.

But she was done living in fear of other people's opinions.

She nodded.

“Yes.”

Alejandro tightened his hold on her hand ever so slightly.

Then the officiant began the ceremony.

“We are gathered here today to witness the union of two souls in the sacred bond of marriage...”

The officiant's voice rang clearly through the silent hall.

Evelyn looked at Alejandro when it was time to exchange their vows.

“I, Evelyn, choose you, Alejandro, to be my husband...”

For a brief moment, the words felt strange on her tongue.

Only yesterday, she had imagined saying them to another man.

Yet when she looked into Alejandro's eyes, she felt no regret.

Only the startling realization that her life had taken a direction she could never have anticipated.

When it was Alejandro's turn, he never looked away from her.

“I, Alejandro, choose you, Evelyn, to be my wife...”

His voice was steady.

There was not a trace of hesitation on his face.

Once they had exchanged their vows and the officiant had completed the formalities, the couple was pronounced husband and wife.

Applause came a moment too late.

Some guests were still too stunned to react. Others whispered among themselves, struggling to understand how the groom could have changed from Andrew to Alejandro in such a short time.

Alejandro lifted Evelyn's hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it before turning toward her.

“Welcome to the family, my wife.”

Evelyn suppressed a smile.

“I'm not sure your family will be happy to welcome me.”

“Leave my family to me.”

His answer was simple, yet it eased some of the tension in her chest.

Across the room, Caroline remained frozen in place. Her eyes were fixed on Evelyn as though Evelyn had just stolen something that rightfully belonged to her.

Evelyn couldn't tell whether Caroline was furious, humiliated, or afraid.

Frankly, she didn't care.

She hadn't married Alejandro to take something away from Caroline.

She had married him because she wanted to take back control of her own life.

As they walked away from the altar, Evelyn glanced toward Grandpa Gorge.

The old man raised his teacup slightly, offering his congratulations without saying a word.

Evelyn returned the gesture with a small nod.

Then she tightened her grip on her husband's arm and kept walking.

Today, she had arrived at a place where she was supposed to suffer the greatest humiliation of her life.

Instead, she was leaving as a wife.

Alejandro's wife.