Candice’s POVThe video kept playing.Even with Alora screaming her lungs out and begging Dorian to shut it down, the screen stayed bright, and the sound stayed loud. There was no going back now.On-screen, the man finally loosened his grip from Alora’s neck. She coughed, gasping for air, her hands trembling. He stood back, breathing heavily. “I’m not just gonna stand by and let you kill my child, Alora,” the man said, his voice low and broken. “You promised me… and now you wanna erase everything like it never happened?”Alora wiped her tears roughly, shaking her head. “It’s gone,” she said, her voice weak. “The child is gone. I already did it, okay? There’s nothing left. So just… just leave.”The man’s eyes narrowed. “You’re lying.”“I’m not.”“I know you didn’t go through with it,” he snapped. “I know everything, Alora. You think I wouldn’t find out? I’ve seen the clinic records. They said you never showed up. Never took the pills. Never did anything.”Alora looked away, silent.“J
Candice’s POVJust as the vows ended, the priest stepped forward, holding his holy book and smiling like this was the happiest day of his life.“If there is anyone here,” he began in that serious, dramatic voice, “who believes these two should not be joined together in holy matrimony… let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”I blinked at the TV screen. My lips parted a little.Alora immediately turned her head and looked around the hall like a scared rabbit. Her hands tensed around Dorian’s arm. Her eyes filled with fear. I could practically feel her anxiety through the screen.And I couldn’t help it—I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they’d stay that way.“Oh please,” I muttered, half-laughing, half-pissed. “If I wasn’t stuck in this damn hospital bed, I swear I would’ve marched into that wedding in heels and shouted, ‘I OBJECT!’ right in that priest’s wrinkled face.”I threw a pillow across the bed.But of course, no one in that fairy-tale wedding hall said a word.The prie
Candice's POVI was lying in the hospital bed, one hand gently on my stomach, the other holding the TV remote. The screen in front of me showed the wedding live. Or, I suppose I should say the "planned" wedding, since Dorian had made it clear it was all part of a bigger picture. Even knowing that, my chest felt a little tight.The TV showed Dorian standing next to Alora. He was carefully adjusting her white dress and helping her sit comfortably in her wheelchair. He leaned in close, whispering something that made her giggle softly. Then he smiled—that smile, the one that always made my heart flutter.My lips pressed together. "Really?" I mumbled under my breath, pressing the volume button. It wasn't going to change the fact that I was watching this fairytale.There he was again, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face, laughing with her as if they were truly deeply in love. Oh, goodness. I rolled my eyes so much as I took a deep breath. "If I could just wish for something,"
Dorian’s POVHer face had gone pale, her breathing quickened, and now… she was acting as if the man posed some kind of serious threat to our wedding. I turned to her slowly, a gentle frown on my face. “Alora,” I said softly, “why are you so against the camera guy being inside? What’s wrong? Do you know him from somewhere?” I watched her carefully, wondering if she'd confess.She blinked rapidly, clearly searching for an answer. Her cheeks flushed a deeper red, and I noticed a slight sheen of sweat on her forehead despite the cool air. She shook her head quickly.“No, I don’t,” she said, her voice a little too quick. “I just… I felt a bit nervous. He looked… unsettling.”“I was worried he might be one of those people from a gossip blog—you know, those unauthorized media folks who try to slip into weddings just to get sensational photos.”You understand how they operate, right?” She looked up at me, trying to sound convincing.“They twist stories, invent falsehoods. I just didn’t want
Dorian’s POVI had sent out invitations to almost every major media outlet in the city. Reporters. Paparazzi. Entertainment bloggers. Even a few wedding magazines. I wanted this moment to be everywhere. It had to be seen. Watched. Recorded.I wanted the world to witness what was coming.Not long after I sent out the invites, the phone calls started rolling in.The first came from Alora’s mother. Her voice was high with excitement. “Dorian, dear, thank you so much for doing this. This means the world to us. Alora has been dreaming about this day since she was a little girl.”I kept my tone soft. “Of course. I just want her to be happy.”Another call came from my stepmother. She sounded even more emotional. “Dorian, you have no idea how proud I am of you. You’re finally making the right choice. This wedding… this moment… you’ve made the entire family proud.”I gave her a short chuckle. “I’m just doing what’s expected of me.”If only they knew.—I was seated inside my black car, parked
Dorian’s POVIt had been several days.I sat in the same position I always did, eyes fixed on my phone screen, where the live feed of Alora’s hospital ward played silently. She was always alone, pretending to be weak, pretending to be innocent.But that was the problem.She wasn’t doing anything. No sudden movements, no strange phone calls, no whispers, no weird visitors—nothing. Just lying there like a patient waiting for healing.I raked a hand through my hair and let out a frustrated groan. “Why the hell isn’t she slipping up?” I muttered under my breath. “Damn it.”“Can’t you for once do something that would serve as solid proof to me??” I leaned back and shook my head, talking to myself like a madman. “If this is all she’s going to do every damn day, what proof am I supposed to take to court? Just my word? That’s not going to cut it…”I facepalmed and let out a tired breath.“I’ve had enough of this,” I muttered, rubbing my eyes and picking up my phone again.I opened the survei