Chapter 3: Marry Someone Else

I stood among the crowd inside a soaring, luxurious church.

​Everyone around me, including myself, was waiting for the bride to arrive. I wasn't entirely sure how I got there, but the building was filled with well-dressed guests and breathtaking floral arrangements. Roses—my absolute favorite—bloomed in a myriad of soft colors, beautifully adorning the pews and the altar.

​I looked toward the front, where a priest and the groom stood waiting. Try as I might, the groom's face remained blurred and indistinct. Yet, his tall, broad-shouldered physique and posture instantly reminded me of someone very familiar.

​When the chimes rang out to signal the bride’s entrance, the murmurs of the crowd died down instantly. All eyes turned toward the grand oak doors. A sense of bewilderment washed over me—whose wedding was this, and why couldn't I remember receiving an invitation? A celebration this magnificent surely belonged to a prominent, wealthy family.

​Slowly, the bride walked down the aisle in a stunning white mermaid-style gown, a delicate veil covering her face. Though her features were hidden, her graceful steps and the perfect, feminine silhouette of her dress were undeniable. Red rose petals drifted gently from the high ceiling, transforming the scene into something straight out of a romantic movie.

​As the bride reached the altar, she extended her hand toward the waiting groom with a soft smile.

​Suddenly, the mist cleared, and the groom's face came into sharp focus. Dark, neatly trimmed eyebrows, a sharp nose, a firm jaw, and intense dark eyes. It was a face I would know anywhere—a face I looked for every single day.

​Bubba?

​Why was Bubba standing at the altar? Was he the one getting married today? And to whom?

​His smile was wide and as warm as the ones he always reserved for me. He gently kissed the bride's hand and placed his large hand around her waist, helping her up the steps.

​Tears instantly welled in my eyes. Was this the answer to all my unspoken fears?

​A wedding should be a place of joy, but watching this scene felt like my heart was breaking. I could hear the priest's voice carrying through the sacred ceremony, but the words sounded distant. I couldn't bear it. Bubba belonged to me. I loved and cherished him with everything I had. How could I live in a world where he belonged to someone else?

​"Do you, Sirius Brown, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?" the priest asked.

​"I do," Sirius answered clearly.

​No. No, this can't be happening!

​"No!" I screamed, sobbing uncontrollably.

​When my eyes flew open, I found myself lying safely in my own bed.

​It had all been a terrible dream. Ashley let out a trembling sigh, wiping the remaining tears from her cheeks. What a deeply unsettling dream to have. Why would she dream of Bubba marrying someone else? Was she really that insecure?

​They said dreams were often omens. What if it meant Sirius truly would find someone else? The thought of her stepbrother marrying another woman was a pain she couldn't endure.

​Ashley realized she couldn't keep her feelings bottled up any longer. If Sirius only saw her as a sister, she would rather quietly walk away than watch him build a life with someone else.

​That was the exact moment she had made the panicked phone call earlier that evening.

​Now, back in the quiet sanctuary of the mansion, Sirius hurried through the double doors and walked straight toward his bedroom. His heart raced with an unfamiliar, restless tension—he had never felt this panicked over anything harmless before.

​Gently, he turned the brass handle and slipped inside, careful not to wake her.

​Ashley looked small and fragile beneath the heavy blankets of his oversized bed. Letting out a soft sigh of relief, Sirius sat down on the edge of the mattress and leaned over to look at her sleeping face.

​It always amazed him how someone could look so effortlessly breathtaking. While many women relied on heavy makeup, Ashley possessed a natural, captivating grace that surpassed anyone he had ever met. Her long, dark eyelashes rested softly against her flushed cheeks, and her gentle breathing filled the quiet room.

​As he watched her, a stray lock of hair brushed across her shoulder, revealing the soft, elegant neckline of her simple black top. Sirius felt his breath catch for a fleeting second before he gently tucked the strand behind her ear.

​"Bubba?"

​Ashley’s soft, sleepy voice startled him, though his expression remained perfectly calm.

​"Baby, are you awake?" He shifted his full attention to those wide, luminous brown eyes.

​Without warning, fresh tears spilled over her lashes. "Hiks... Bubba..."

​Sirius didn't hesitate. He pulled her into his arms, resting her head against his chest as he gently stroked her hair. "Relax, baby girl. It was just a bad dream. It’s over now."

​Holding her close brought an instant wave of comfort, though it also stirred a deeper longing within him.

​Ashley pulled back slightly, her lower lip trembling as she looked up at him. "Did Bubba guess what I was dreaming about?"

​Sirius cupped her cheek with his large, warm palm, his thumb softly brushing away a tear. "No. What were you dreaming of, my love?"

​"I... I dreamed that Bubba married someone else," she whispered, her small hands gripping the fabric of his shirt. "Are you really going to leave me one day?"

​A faint, knowing smile touched Sirius's lips, though his voice remained firm. "I won't. I would never leave you, no matter what."

​Ashley looked up, her tear-filled eyes searching his. "Then... do you have a girlfriend? Do you love someone else? Is that why you've never looked at me that way?"

​Sirius let out a soft breath, his gaze softening completely. He could never bear to tease her when she looked this vulnerable.

​"You silly girl," he murmured, gently flicking her tear-stained nose. "Who ever said I wanted to marry someone else? Who said I loved anyone else?"

​Ashley blinked through her tears, her heart skipping a beat as she tried to process his words.

​"I have never looked at anyone else the way I look at the girl sitting right here," Sirius said softly, his voice steady and full of quiet conviction.

​Ashley's breath hitched, her wide eyes reflecting pure disbelief mixed with a sudden, overwhelming spark of hope.

​"R-really? Are you serious, Bubba?"

​"Of course," he replied, a gentle smile gracing his handsome face. "Have you ever seen me close to anyone else?"

​Ashley slowly shook her head, a radiant smile finally breaking through her tears.

​"Me neither! Because I don't want anyone else!" She threw her arms around his neck in a burst of pure joy. "I like you, Bubba! Not just as a brother... but as much more than that."

​She pulled back shyly, her cheeks burning crimson as she lowered her gaze to the floor, suddenly too nervous to meet his eyes.

​Sirius gently reached out, using his fingers to lift her chin so she was forced to look at him. A slow, meaningful smile spread across his face—the look of a man who had finally claimed what was his.

​"My sweet princess," Sirius whispered, his voice deep and magnetic. "If you think of me as a lover, then you should know there's no turning back. Are you ready for what comes next?"