Chapter 1: The Wrong Bride

“I do.”

I heard Evan’s voice from inside the church, and a small smile formed on my lips. He sounded obviously nervous. It seemed that even on the day of our wedding, the only heir of the Hartwell Group, was still rehearsing what he wanted to say.

“Ready, Miss?” the wedding coordinator whispered, giving me an encouraging nod.

I nodded back, my heart was pounding so fast as the doors slowly swung open. Excitement suddenly covered my whole body. I held my bouquet tighter, smoothing down the satin of my white gown. This was it. The moment I had spent years waiting for. Just a few more steps down the aisle, and I would finally spend my lifetime with him.

But as I stepped into the church, the music suddenly sounded different. My eyes landed on the altar, and the smile died on my face. Evan was standing there, looking annoyingly handsome in his tuxedo. But he wasn’t alone. He was holding another woman’s hand. A bride wearing the exact same custom designer dress as mine.

I froze halfway down the aisle. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. Maybe a manifestation of pre-wedding anxiety, so I closed my eyes and opened them again. She was still there. I couldn’t make myself move or run to them. Nor shout to stop the ceremony.

Behind me, I can see that the wedding coordinator was shocked by the unexpected scene before me. I heard her curse softly then immediately start swearing into her walkie-talkie. Nobody had a backup plan for this. And no one dared to stop it.

I lied to myself, desperate to believe it was just a prank. Everyone turned to look at me. They whispered to the people beside them, then looked back at me again. I could feel their eyes on me, like I didn’t belong there. I can hear their insults while whispering to one another. And I bet they were all wondering what I was doing there.

My grip on the bouquet tightened even more. I didn’t move from where I stood, even as shame and anger slowly started to build up inside me.

Tears began to gather in my eyes. I wasn't supposed to cry on a day that was meant to be one of the happiest days of my life, but fate seemed determined to make a fool out of me. Why did this have to happen on my wedding day?

The place where I stood felt suffocating as I watched the other woman standing in the place I was supposed to stand. I was the one who had stayed up late planning this ceremony. I was the one who loved him. So why was a complete stranger standing beside him?

But then the little strength I had left disappeared when the priest raised his voice, clear and loud. "Do you, Scarlett Sinclair, take this man…”

That wasn't my name. It clearly wasn't.

“I do.”

I didn't know what to do. Should I run away, or should I fight for what was supposed to be mine?

I couldn’t do anything. Tears continued to fall down my cheeks as I stared at them. What hurt the most was that when she answered him, Evan was looking at me. He was looking at me as if he was apologizing with his eyes. He knew that I saw them, and he knew that I was feeling so much pain in my heart right now.

I tried my best not to break down completely because all the guests were still judging and staring at me. But the pain was difficult to ignore. It felt like everything we had for so long suddenly lost its meaning because of what was happening in front of me. It hurt so bad like something sharp was slowly piercing my chest, over and over again until I couldn't take it anymore.

Even though I was enveloped with too much pain, I didn't cause a scene. I didn't scream. And I didn't stop the ceremony. If he wanted to throw his life away for whatever secret vow he made with Scarlett, I wouldn't beg for his attention. He decided on his own and I won't bother to make him change his plan.

Lifting my chin to keep my tears from falling, I dropped my bouquet onto the aisle and walked out the scene. I walked until I was outside the place that was supposed to be the start of my new life, knowing it would now be a place I’d hate for the rest of my life.

“I was a fool,” I said to myself bitterly, walking through the streets just outside the church.

This was his choice, and I would make mine. I would make sure he watched me climb higher than he could ever reach, and make him regret the day he chose to throw me away. Blinded by the tears, I walked and walked until I was in the middle of the road. And suddenly, a sharp screech of tires pierced the air.

Before I could even look up, my bridal trail tripped me, sending me flying forward. I braced myself, ready for the front fall, but instead, I fell to a hard and hot chest. A strong, heavy arms instantly locked around my waist, catching me effortlessly. A rich scent of expensive perfume suddenly washed over me.

"Careful, darling," a deep, commanding tone rumbled directly above my head.

I looked up to him. My eyes filled with tears met a pair of piercing, icy-gray ones. The man holding me was dressed in a charcoal suit, and his sharp jawline was very attractive.

It was Gabriel Vance. The ruthless CEO of Vance Group, and Evan’s multi-billionaire cousin.

His eyes looked over me like he was judging my whole personality. And all of a sudden, a dark, dangerous smile played on his lips as he looked back down at me.

"Running away from your own wedding?" Gabriel murmured, his grip tightened around my waist, enough to make my heart beat faster. "Good. Let's give them a real reason to whisper.”