Chapter 1: The wedding without the bride

Olivia’s POV 

My legs were shaking on the tiled floor. Not because of the loud bang coming from the speakers but because my whole body stopped working the moment I stepped inside the registry. 

“I, Elena Brook , take you, Adrian Cross, to be my lawful married husband. For better or worse, in poverty and in riches…

I couldn't wait to hear the rest. I had heard those words during my brother’s wedding. Those vows, promises, those happy moments, the butterflies that usually fly in everyone’s belly. I had imagined myself saying those words one day. 

Now hearing them spoken to someone else entirely…it felt like a stab in my chest. And the only thing I knew was no one else but my beloved Man, My fiance was getting married but the bride isn’t me. 

I could hear my ears ringing. My chest tightened painfully like I was wrapped in someone’s hand and I was being squeezed. 

I raised my head up to look at them again. Adrian leaned forward and kissed her, not a polite kiss, not even a short kiss. 

The same lips that kissed me every morning before sunset, before going to work, before drawing down the curtains. Now, they belonged to someone else—Another woman. 

Everyone cheered in the hall, which brought me back to reality. 

“Oh my god..”

“They look so cute together.”

“May God bless this union.”

“This is the best wedding ever.” 

My fingers curled, gripping the edge of my gown, as if that was the only thing holding me upright. 

I couldn’t breathe, not properly. Not fully. Just shallow, broken breaths that made my chest ache. 

This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. Adrian wouldn’t do this to me. Not after everything, the promises. Not after the nights he held me and told me I was the only woman he would ever marry. 

A sharp laugh cut through the air somewhere behind me, followed by more whispers.

“Wait… isn’t that his ex standing there..?”

“Oh my God, she actually came?” 

“How embarrassing..” 

I swallowed hard, my throat dry, and burning. My eyes stayed fixed to him, on them like it if I looked away, my whole life would shatter completely. 

Adrian didn’t even look at me. Not once. Not when he slipped the ring in her fingers. 

The way he smiled like she was the best thing that had ever happened to him and the way he kissed her like I had never existed. 

That was when it hit me slow, heavy and crushing. 

I had been replaced..just like that???? 

“Oliviaaa?”

I didn’t know how long I had been standing there when I felt a hand grab my arm. 

I turned slightly, blinking and saw Shay—My best friend. She looked so worried. 

Her brows were drawn together, lips pressed tight like she was trying not to say something she would regret.

“Let’s go,  Olivia.” she whispered. 

I shook my head slowly..

“I just… need..need… a second.” I stammered. 

But I didn’t. I just needed a fucking lifetime for myself. 

Because the man I had built my future with for the past 6 years was now someone else's husband. 

Shay didn’t argue this time. She just stood beside me, her grip tightening on my arm like she was ready to drag me out if I collapsed. 

The music got louder. Applause filled the room again as the officials announced them as husband and wife. 

I turned and gripped Shay’s arm and walked out. 

The sunlight outside hit my face too harshly and too bright. Like the world didn’t get the memo that my life just ended. 

“Olivia,  calm down..” Shay said, rubbing my hand.

I stopped walking. That was a hell bad idea. Because the moment I did. Everything caught up. 

The tears, the pain.. humiliation..every damn thing. 

“Shay, they all saw me, they saw me standing in there like I didn’t know he was getting married.” 

Shay’s expression softened. “Hey babe, look at me.” 

I didn’t want to..just don’t wanna.!

“This is not you Olivia , Adrian is a coward! Selfish! A very disgusting coward..”  she said firmly. 

I let out a weak and hilarious laugh.

“He didn’t even tell me Shay.” 

My voice cracked on the last word. 

“He just disappeared for weeks, said he was busy with meetings, seminars, conferences and then…” I gestured back towards the building. “ he did that”

Shay pulled me into a hug before I could stop her. I stood firmly then broke completely. 

*********

A few hours earlier…

My phone buzzed violently against the kitchen counter just as I finished rinsing out a cup. I ignored it at first.

Probably another hospital reminder.

Another unpaid bill. Another problem waiting for me to magically solve it. But when it kept ringing, I sighed and grabbed it.

“Shay, if this is another one of your ‘motivational speeches,’ I swear I’m hanging up.”

“Olivia.” Her voice came fast and breathless. “Where are you?”

I frowned slightly.

“At home. Why?”

There was noise behind her…music, people talking, glasses clinking.

Then she lowered her voice.

“You need to come to the Ivory Crest Registry Hall right now.”

I blinked.

“What?”

“The Ivory Crest Registry Hall,” she repeated quickly. “There’s a private wedding event happening here and I think…no, I’m sure Roland is here.”

The cup nearly slipped from my hand.

“What?”

“I saw him myself.”

I laughed nervously.

“No. No, that doesn’t even make sense. He told me he had a business trip.”

“That’s exactly why I’m calling you!” Shay snapped softly. “Something feels wrong, Olivia.”

My chest tightened instantly.

For the past three weeks, Adrianhad been acting strange.

But every time I questioned him, he always had an answer ready.

Work, meetings and pressure. 

And because I loved him, I believed him.

“Shay,” I whispered slowly, “what exactly are you trying to say?”

There was a pause on the line. The kind that makes your stomach drop before the words even come.

“I think he’s getting married.”

“That’s not funny.”

“I’m not joking.”

My grip tightened around the phone.

“No, Adrian wouldn’t do that to me.”

“Olivia..”

“No.” I shook my head repeatedly like she could somehow see me. “No, he wouldn’t. We literally talked last night.”

My voice cracked at the end.

Because suddenly…I remembered how rushed the call had been.

How distracted he sounded. How he ended it quickly.

“I need you to come here,” Shay said gently this time. “Please.”

I swallowed hard.

Every instinct in me screamed not to go. Because if I went, then it could become real. And I wasn’t ready for that, not when my father was in the hospital. Not when my whole life already felt like it was collapsing. But another part of me needed answers.

I needed to see Adrian look me in the eyes and tell me it wasn’t true.

“I’m coming,” I whispered.

And deep down…

I think that was the moment my life started falling apart.