Ditched

Cassian’s POV

​The Sterling Mansion was packed with guests, but the noise felt like a blur as I stood near the entrance with my father, waiting for the bride to appear. Two years ago, someone pulled me out of a burning car in the middle of a rainstorm, and even though my vision was blurred and I couldn't see her face, her voice remained clear in my memory. 

When the Sterling family presented Liora as the girl who saved me, I gave my word to marry her to repay the debt, so I was standing here today ready to keep that promise.

​Suddenly, Mr. Sterling hurried down the staircase with a pale face, and he grabbed my arm before pulling me into a private study while my father followed behind us.

​"Where is Liora?" I asked, looking around the empty study as the door clicked shut behind us. "The ceremony is supposed to start in ten minutes, so why are you looking like this?"

​"She's gone, Cassian," Mr. Sterling gasped out, clutching his chest while Mrs. Sterling began to cry softly into a handkerchief. "We checked her room just now, but her closet is empty and she left her ring on the dressing table."

​My father stepped forward with a deep frown on his face. "What do you mean she's gone? Half the city is sitting in that hall right now, so you need to explain what happened."

​"It's all because of Elaris," Mrs. Sterling said, pointing a finger toward the corner of the room where a young woman stood completely still. 

"She has been jealous of Liora ever since we brought Liora home, and she knew Cassian was marrying her sister today, so she must have said something terrible to drive Liora away."

​I turned my attention to the girl in the corner, who was wearing a faded dress while staring at the floor without making a single sound.

​"Did you drive your sister away?" I asked, stepping closer to her because I needed a straight answer before deciding what to do next.

​Elaris lifted her head slightly, but her voice was almost flat as she replied, "I didn't talk to Liora today, and I haven't seen her since last night."

​"Don't lie to him!" Mrs. Sterling shouted, stepping between us while tears ran down her face. "You always wanted what belonged to your sister, and now you've ruined the biggest day of her life because you wanted Cassian for yourself."

​"I don't care about the wedding," Elaris said softly, looking her mother in the eyes, "and I never asked for any of this."

​"Listen to me, Cassian," Mr. Sterling interrupted, stepping between us with a desperate look on his face. 

"The press is waiting outside, and the Virelli family name will be ruined if there is no wedding today, so we have to fix this right now."

​"How do you propose we fix a missing bride?" my father asked, crossing his arms with an irritated sigh.

​"Elaris can take her place," Mr. Sterling said quickly, pointing back toward his daughter. "She is wearing the inner dress already, so we can put the veil on her, send her down the aisle, and nobody outside will notice the difference until the paperwork is signed."

​"You want me to marry her instead?" I asked, looking back at Elaris, who hadn't moved an inch since her father made the suggestion.

​"It's the only way to save both our families from embarrassment," Mr. Sterling urged, coming closer to press the issue. "You promised to marry a Sterling daughter today, so this fulfills the agreement, and we can handle the search for Liora privately after the guests leave."

​"Elaris, put on the veil and get ready," Mrs. Sterling commanded, pushing a box into her daughter's hands without waiting for her consent.

​Elaris looked at the white box, then she looked up at me with calm eyes. "Are you really going to agree to this?"

​"I gave my word that I would marry into this family to repay the life that was saved," I answered, keeping my voice cold because I didn't care which daughter stood beside me as long as my debt was settled. 

"If your parents say you are taking her place, then put on the veil so we can get this over with."

​She took a slow breath, nodded once without arguing, and walked toward the small fitting room at the side of the study. Ten minutes later, she stepped out with the thick lace veil covering her face completely, and her parents quickly dragged her toward the doors.

​The music started playing as soon as we reached the back of the hall, and the guests stood up to watch us walk down the aisle together. I took her arm, feeling how tense her muscles were under the thin fabric of her dress, but I kept my eyes fixed straight ahead on the altar.

​We reached the priest, who began reciting the traditional vows, and every time he asked for a response, Elaris answered in a quiet tone that barely reached my ears. 

When it was time to exchange the rings, I slid the platinum band onto her finger, but my heart wasn't in it because the woman I intended to honor was missing, and the woman beside me was accused of driving her away.

​The priest finished the service and turned to the crowd. "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife."

​The crowd applauded as the priest motioned for us to turn around, but before she could lift her veil to face the room, I leaned in close so only she could hear my voice above the noise.

​"Don't expect me to ever love you."