Chapter 4:

Chapter 4:

Olivia's POV

"You're not Vanessa."

The moment I heard those words, my knees nearly gave out beneath me. My heart pounded wildly in my ribs.

The laughter around us faded into a dull hum.

I parted my lips, desperate to say anything that could somehow save the situation. Before a single word left my mouth, another voice interrupted.

"Aunt."

Xander's calm voice cut cleanly through the silence.

"You're mistaken."

The woman blinked before turning toward him.

He met her eyes without the slightest hint of uncertainty. "This is Vanessa."

His expression remained perfectly composed.

The confidence in his voice made even me question reality for a second.

"But..." the woman said hesitantly. "I've met Vanessa a few times before. She just looks a little—"

"I know who my wife is."

His reply was firm and final. The conversation ended the moment those words left his lips.

The woman looked between the two of us once more.

Her expression slowly softened.

"Oh dear..." she laughed awkwardly. "Perhaps it's the makeup. Brides always look so different on their wedding day."

She smiled apologetically at me. "I'm terribly sorry if I offended you."

I forced a smile. "It's alright."

The surrounding relatives chuckled, quickly brushing the misunderstanding aside before moving on to congratulate us once again.

Within seconds, the tension had disappeared.

Everyone except me seemed ready to forget what had just happened.

I couldn't.

My eyes drifted toward Xander. He hadn't even looked at me. His attention remained fixed ahead as though nothing unusual had happened.

A chill crept down my spine. He knew. He had to know. There was no possibility he had mistaken me for Vanessa.

My parents had made sure they met several times before the wedding.

He wasn't fooled. Which meant he had lied. For me.

But why?

Before I could think any further, Theodore's warm laugh echoed through the hall.

"Enough standing around,” the old man said cheerfully, clapping his hands together. "Today is a celebration.”

The guests immediately burst into applause.

The musicians began playing again, filling the ballroom with lively music.

Servers appeared carrying trays of champagne and appetizers while photographers hurried over to capture the newlyweds.

The atmosphere quickly returned to one of joy.

My parents soon made their way over to us.

The moment my mother's eyes met mine, relief washed over her face.

She smiled so naturally that no one would have guessed she'd been seconds away from disaster.

"You both look wonderful together," she said warmly.

My father nodded in agreement. "Congratulations."

His smile was calm, but I caught the gratitude hidden in his eyes.

Theodore laughed happily. "See? Didn't I tell you these two were meant to be?"

***

A few hours later, I was leaving the wedding venue.

Not as a guest nor the bride's younger sister. But as Mrs. Sterling.

The thought still didn't feel real.

When I'd opened my eyes that morning, I had expected nothing more than to watch my older sister marry the man our families had chosen for her.

Instead, I had married him. And now I was leaving with my husband for a home I had never seen before.

Life really could change in the blink of an eye.

Outside, the evening breeze brushed against my face as we made our way toward a sleek black luxury sedan waiting by the entrance.

The train of my wedding gown dragged behind me, making every step slow and awkward.

Several attendants carefully gathered the layers of fabric to keep it from brushing against the ground.

Two staff members helped Xander out of his wheelchair and assisted him into the back seat of the car before carefully folding the wheelchair and placing it inside.

One of the attendants then hurried around to my side and pulled the rear door open.

"Mrs. Sterling," he said respectfully.

I gave him a small, nervous smile. "Thank you."

Gathering the heavy folds of my dress with both hands, I bent carefully and slid into the seat, trying my best not to wrinkle the gown or trip over it again.

A moment later, the door closed with a quiet click.

For the first time since the ceremony, it was just the two of us.

"Drive," Xander instructed quietly.

The car pulled away from the wedding venue.

Silence settled between us. Not the comfortable kind. The kind that made every passing second feel longer than it actually was.

I folded my hands tightly in my lap, staring out the window as the city lights slipped past one after another.

The events of the day replayed endlessly in my mind throughout the entire ride.

The silence remained unbroken until the car gradually slowed to a stop.

"We're here."

His deep voice echoed.

I lifted my gaze toward the window and my breath hitched.

Standing before us was an enormous modern mansion, its sleek glass walls reflecting the warm glow of hundreds of lights. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked perfectly landscaped gardens, while a sparkling fountain stood proudly in the center of a circular driveway. 

Luxury cars lined one side of the entrance, and the entire estate looked less like a home and more like something from the cover of an architecture magazine.

My jaw slowly fell open.

This was where Xander lived?

I was so absorbed by the sight that I unconsciously leaned against the car door, trying to take in every detail outside.

Suddenly…

The door swung open.

Without warning, the support beneath me disappeared.

"Ah!"

My body tilted forward.

For one horrifying second, I thought I was going to fall on my face onto the driveway.

I stumbled out of the car, barely managing to catch myself from hitting the ground. My cheeks burned with embarrassment.

The security guard who had opened the door immediately looked horrified.

As I straightened myself, I noticed Xander's expression darken.

He turned his gaze toward the security guard who had opened the door. "Watch yourself.”

The guard immediately lowered his head.

"I'm deeply sorry, Miss... Mrs. Sterling," he apologized sincerely. "That was my mistake."

"It's... it's alright," I replied quickly, still flustered.

Without another word, Xander turned toward the entrance. The large glass doors slid open automatically as we approached.

Taking a quiet breath to calm my nerves, I followed him inside, wondering what kind of life was waiting for me beyond those doors.