CHAPTER TWO

Chapter Two

~Wedded In Chaos

>Kate’s POV

The weather was cloudy in the morning of my wedding. It felt as if a storm was just waiting to break.

The hair stylists made a fuss over doing my hair as the makeup artists dusted my cheeks with enough powder to last a lifetime.

Their assistants ran in and out, everywhere, trying to put up every last minute details. I just sat still amd folded my hands on my lap.

I was getting married.

This was not a fairy tale. 

This transaction was taking place.

My phone buzzed on the table, distracting me from my thoughts.

I reached for it and frowned at the message from an unknown number. I hesitated before I opened the message with a tap.

“Congratulations, Mrs. Delacroix. I am glad to inform you that your collection is no longer yours.” I stared at the words confused. 

There was a link attached to it. I tapped it. The moment it opened, I gasped and my world tilted.

I hurried opened my browser and inputted the name of my collection. It was there. 

There was my designs. Every sketch, every concept, and it has been posted online before my exhibit.

Someone had stolen my designs.

My hands trembled as I stared at my phone screen. The headline glared back at me:

"RISING DESIGNER KATE BEAUMONT'S ENTIRE COLLECTION LEAKED HOURS BEFORE HER WEDDING TO THE DELACROIX HEIR."

I punched a number into my keypad and dialed my assistant. She picked in the first ring.

"Miss Kate!" She said breathlessly, "your designs t- they're they're everywhere!" She panicked. "They are all over social media."

"How did this happen?" I asked her as I held the edge of the vanity table in a death. 

"I do not know." She said in a small remorseful voice. "All the files were securely kept and only five other people had access to it."

"Call the lawyer and sort this out Sarah, please."

"Yes ma," was all she said before she went off the line.

I gripped the phone as my vision blurred. My six months of hard work gone, destroyed in minutes. 

This was my future, my reputation, and it was gone.

The door swung open and Cyra glided into the room with what was unmistakably a triumphant smile on her annoying face.

“Is the bride having cold feet?”

I stood to my feet. “You did this, did you not?”

She tilted her head at me. “Did what?”

I shoved the phone in her face. “My entire collection was leaked online.”

"Oh dear! That is terrible timing." She said as she examined her manicure. "It is such a shame about your collection sister."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "You seem unbothered about this Cyra."

"Why should I not be? It is obviously not my career that is going up in flames. Though I will advice that you should focus less on fashion and more on your upcoming marriage. Pierre Delacroix is quite the catch, even in his current state."

“Do not play innocent Cyra!” I screamed at her in frustration.

She sighed and took a step back. “I have better things to do than sabotage your career Kate.”

The door opened and my father came into the room. 

"Kate, it is time to walk you down the isle," he said. "Come out, and you too Crya," he said before he turned and went out.

Cyra smirked. “Come now, you do not want to keep Captain Hook waiting.”

I saw exactly what she did there, but I only clenched my fists and followed her out.

My father walked me down the isle. I had my eyes on Pierre the whole time, enjoying the music. He stood at the altar with his good eyes fixed on me. And for some reason my heart was racing seriously.

When I was halfway down the aisle, I noticed his face go pale as his body swayed slightly. However he steadied himself quickly. 

"Are you alright?" I whispered the moment I was standing afore him. He nodded, his eyes reassuring.

"I am fine," he said to me in a strained voice.

"Dearly beloved," The priest began in the background. "We have gathered her today to-"

"Oh just get on with the vows please!" I said to him loudly. He was stunned for a moment and then he laughed.

"Impatient are we?" He asked. But I did not care. Pierre's countenance was no good. He was not alright and I could see that. I did not want him collapsing at the wedding.

"Do you Katherine Beaumont..."

"I do!" I interrupted him. 

"Do you Pierre-"

"I would not be here if I didn't," he said to the priest as he reached out and slipped the ring unto my fingers. 

But he did not let go. His grip tightened and for a moment electricity shot through me.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife!" The priest declared. "You may kiss the bride." 

And just like that, I was Kate Delacroix.

The crowd cheered as Pierre unveiled me. He drew me into his arms and kissed me. 

The air instantly charged with the intensity of our passion, surprising even me as he deepened the kiss. My body grew hot with heat as he devoured my mouth. 

"You can continue later," the priest was saying in the background but we were not paying attention.

The doors to the church slammed open and a woman came in.

"Stop the wedding!" She barked. I amd Pierre disengaged at her voice. 

What was this?

The woman who was clad in a red dress strode down the aisle. I watched as her strawberry blonde hair bounced with each dramatic step that she took.

"This marriage can not happen!" She said the moment she reached us. 

Gasps echoed throughout the church and I felt Pierre stiffen beside me.

"Ella," Pierre asked in a cold voice. "What are you doing here?"

  

"You should know better Pierre Delacroix!" I noticed then that she was insanely beautiful. She looked to me as if God had taken special time to create her.

"Leave!" He ordered, "before I ask the security to take you out!'

She chuckled evilly. It was a sound that made me rather uneasy. She placed her hand on her stomach and looked straight at me. "Oh you can not do that Pierre. At least not when I am carrying your child."

The words, they sliced through me.

Pierre said nothing.

And neither did I.

"Security." Pierre shouted. "Remove her quickly."

"After everything we shared?" Ella said as she grabbed him by the collar, dragging his down just as security came rushing in.

"Take her away!" He ordered them.

"You can not deny this Pierre!" She shouted as the guards approached. "I have proof!"

"Get her out." Pierre's voice shook with fury. 

The guards attempted to draw her away from Pierre but she was too strong, struggling and lashing out. The scene was too much.

Oh I needed air!

I ran outside, my heels clicking against the floor. My hands trembled as I curled them into fists.

I stopped running, arriving at the fountain. I crouched low, in my wedding dress. I was there for a while until someone joined me.

Then a voice, low but clear wafted into my ears. I listened.

“The doctor confirmed it,” the voice muttered. “One more cardiac episode should be able to finish Pierre off.”

My blood ran cold while my breath caught in my throat. I covered my mouth to hold my gasp. 

Who was that? Why did they want to finish him off?

"I will cleanly take care of him, don't worry." I recognized the voice them as Pierre's step brother.

He was trying to kill Pierre, he and his partner -whosoever that was.

After he left, I waited a while and stood, my feet leading me to the car as my mind raced.

They were going to kill him.

They were going to kill my husband.

And I had no idea how to stop them.