Chapter 001

ALICE

The strings of the violins hummed from the corner of the hall, filling the room with the exact soft melody I had imagined since I was a little girl. I moved down the aisle, stepping past rows of high floral arrangements and silk drapes that were supposed to make the room look like something out of a fairy tale.

The heavy crystal lights overhead caught the sparkle in my gown as I made my way toward the raised platform. At the end of the carpet stood Dominic Steven. He looked perfect in his custom black suit, tailored down to the last inch.

I wanted to feel that familiar flutter of excitement in my chest, the kind a bride is supposed to feel, but the elaborate setup just felt like a trap closing in on me.

All around us, hands clapped and camera flashes cut through the air. I stepped up onto the platform to face Dominic. He smiled at me, a look that used to turn my knees to water back when I still believed it was real. But today, I saw right through it. His eyes widened slightly, his gaze sweeping down the length of my dress in surprise.

From the front rows, a loud cheer went up from his teammates and his family, their voices echoing off the high ceilings. I shifted my gaze away from him, letting a small smile touch my lips as I looked at the priest. The man raised the book in his hands, his deep voice carrying through the speakers.

"We are gathered here today to celebrate the marriage of Alice Brent and Dominic Steven," the priest announced, his voice steady. "To witness the beginning of their life together. We will now begin. Dominic, do you take Alice to be your wife, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish forever?"

Dominic did not answer right away. His blue eyes locked onto mine, searching my face as if he were trying to figure out a puzzle. Then, he gave a tiny shrug, like he was brushing a speck of dust off his jacket sleeve.

"I do," he said.

The priest turned his attention to me. "Alice, do you take Dominic to be your husband, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death parts you?"

The entire hall fell completely silent. The quiet was heavy, pressing against my ears as I stood there staring at Dominic. My heart battered against my ribs so hard I could feel the pulse in my throat.

"Alice, do you take Dominic to be your lawfully..." The priest paused, waiting.

"No," I said.

The word cut through the room. Dominic blinked, his brow furrowing as his smile vanished. He took a short step toward me, his voice dropping to a low, harsh whisper. "What are you doing, Alice? Don't start a scene here. If something is wrong, we should talk about it later."

I looked down at my hands. They were trembling, but I forced my fingers to steady as I looked back up at him. I let out a short, breathless laugh, even though my chest felt empty. "No. I am not marrying you, Dominic."

A collective gasp rippled through the rows of guests, instantly replacing the silence with a loud murmur.

"Are you out of your mind?" Dominic barked. His face flushed a dark red, his fingers clenching into fists at his sides. He looked around at the flashing cameras, his jaw tightening as he realized the press was catching every second of it. "You can't do this to me. Think about what you're doing."

I didn't answer him. Instead, I reached down, grabbed the thick layers of my skirt, and ripped the long train straight off the fabric. The material tore with a sharp rip, leaving the dress falling just at my knees. Dominic stared at the torn fabric on the floor, his mouth opening slightly in total shock.

I straightened my spine, looking right at the cameras. "Oh, I am still getting married today," I said, my voice ringing out clearly. "Just not to you."

"Alice, stop this right now!" Dominic yelled, stepping forward to grab my arm, but I walked right past him.

I turned my back on him and looked out at the rows where the hockey team sat. My eyes scanned the faces until they landed on Devon Shaun. He was leaning back in his chair, his arms crossed, showing no surprise at all. If anything, a spark of amusement danced in his gray eyes. I stepped off the platform and walked down the aisle toward him. The whispers from the crowd rose into a roar.

"Has she lost her mind?"

"She’s going after his own teammate."

"The media is going to have a field day with this."

I kept my eyes fixed ahead, ignoring the glares from Dominic’s family. I stopped right in front of Devon. He looked up at me, his face a calm mask. "Nice performance, Alice," he murmured, his voice smooth.

I didn't ask for permission. I reached out and took his hand. "Devon Shaun, will you marry me?"

The cameras swung around instantly, tracking our every move. I could see our faces projected on the massive screens at the front of the hall, knowing this would be on every news outlet in New York by the end of the hour. But I didn't care. If a reckless choice was what it took to save myself from the life Dominic had planned for me, I would take it.

Devon looked down at our joined hands, then up at my face. He studied me for a long moment, as if weighing the chaos this would cause against the prize in front of him. I knew he wouldn't say no. Everyone on the ice knew Devon and Dominic couldn't stand each other. They shared a jersey, but they lived like enemies.

"Are you going to answer me," I whispered, "or just let me stand here?"

A slow, sharp smile broke across Devon's face. He stood up completely, his tall frame blocking out the rest of the room. He gripped my hand tightly, weaving his fingers through mine with total confidence. He looked directly past me, locking eyes with Dominic, who was standing frozen on the stage with a look of pure fury.

Devon looked back down at me. "Yes, Alice. I'll marry you."