1.

ELEANOR

The soft rustling of silk and lace filled the air as I twirled softly for the second time to admire the wedding dress I had on in front of the mirror. The dress clung to me in all the right places, accentuating my slender frame before cascading to the floor.

I was currently in the private show room of Bridal Dreams, a shop owned by the renowned Lisabelle Jones, the most sought-after bridal dress designer in the country and this was my fourth fitting so far.

My wedding was going to be happening in less than a week and I couldn’t wait. Every move I made was filled with nerves as though something would go wrong but it’s so close now and I couldn’t wait any more.

It still felt like a dream even though I knew it wasn’t. I was finally going to be the bride I always dreamed of. I turned to my best friend, Isla who was sitting on the couch behind me.

“So, what do you think?” I asked, my voice edged with excitement and nervousness.

Isla Crawford, my best friend since childhood, leaned back against the couch, a glass of champagne in her manicured fingers with a smile on her lips.

“You look perfect, Elle. Just like everything else in your life”

I titled my head, confused about her reaction. She didn’t seem to share the same excitement as I did. “What do you mean?”

Isla let out a soft laugh and rolled her eyes playfully “Come on, Elle. Don’t play dumb.” she took a sip of her champagne before she set it down on the table beside her and got up.

She walked until she stopped in front of me “You are getting married to Theon Blackwell. The Theon Blackwell. Women would kill to be in your shoes. The heir to the Blackwell group, filthy rich, drop-dead handsome...”

“And the love of my life” I cut her before she could say more “He is not just a billionaire with a limitless pocket but the love of my life”

Isla rolled her eyes again and something flickered in them, but it was unreadable. “If you say so”

I wanted to push but Miss Violet, the consultant came running with a smile “Miss Sterling, is there anything you’ll like to change?”

“No, Miss Violet. It’s perfect” I replied with a small smile and gave her my attention instead.

We fixed a few other things before Isla, and I went to the nearest cafe to take a break. We had been shopping for my wedding, and it was a not so easy task to run around multiple shops in a day.

I took a deep breath, allowing the warm and comforting aroma of the freshly brewed coffee and pastries around us to soothe my nerves.

I leaned back and watched Isla. She had not said a word since we left the bridal shop, and it was making me worry because this was not the Isla I knew.

She was startled when she lifted her head and saw me watching her.

“So,” she began, plastering a teasing smile on her face “How does it feel to be marrying into the wealthiest family in the country?”

“Isla” I sighed “You’ve got to stop bringing up the Blackwell’s wealth every time we are in the room together. It’s almost as if I won a lottery when I’m just marrying a man I fell in love with”

Isla smirked “Oh come on” she scoffed “You can’t ignore the fact that this wedding is what the media has tagged the wedding of the year. People are talking. They want to know what you are wearing and how stunning you’ll look. Not even A-list actors and actresses get talked about this much”

"It’s all because of Theon. They wouldn’t pay me any attention on a normal day” I brushed her words off.

“But they are talking more than just the wedding and how lucky you are”

I frowned “What do you mean?”

Isla leaned in slightly, her voice dropping low “Some say it’s a business marriage”

I scoffed “That’s ridiculous and I’m mad that you even believe those gossip”

“But is it ridiculous?” She pressed, her tone casual but sharp “Everyone knows that Theon is ruthless in business, and he only makes moves that he stands to gain. Your family has a fair share of influence”

I frowned, getting irritated with the direction the discussion was heading. “Theon has more wealth and power than my parents. He doesn’t need me for that. He loves me”

Isla raised a delicate brow, her lips curving slightly “Of course, Elle. If you say so”

I eyed her with distaste, wondering why she was acting this way “I don’t like the way you’ve been acting. Are you mad at me or something?”

Her eyes widened with surprise, and she chuckled nervously “Elle, what are you saying? I was just telling you what people are saying”

“Why today of all days? I thought you would be happy for me, but you’ve been acting like I forced you to come with me. If you didn’t feel like it, you should have told me”

“You are the one not acting fair and treating me like I am some villain” she chuckled nervously.

“I don’t think so. I’m going home” I told her and paid for the coffee. “Maybe you can call me when you stop being a bitch”

“Eleanor” She gasped “Why are you overreacting?”

I turned to her with a sharp look “Am I really overreacting? If you think so, then I'm sorry but my mood is bad so I don’t think I will be able to get anything done today. I’m leaving”

“Eleanor” Isla called after me as I walked out but I didn’t bother to turn back. She had spoilt my mood, and I needed to leave else I would say thing I regret to her.

I stepped out of the cafe and the cool afternoon breeze lifted the strands of my golden-brown hair. Just as I reached for my car keys, my phone vibrated with a text message.

I suspected it was either a text from my mother asking about the shopping or Theon wanting to know where I was, so I quickly pulled my phone out with a grin, already feeling better while hoping the text was from Theon.

But as soon as I unlocked the phone, my breath caught when I saw the message.

It was from an unknown number, and it was just a single text message.

“Do you really think he loves you? You won’t be making it down that isle”