Chapter one: The Bride Who Was Never Chosen

The scent of white roses filled the bridal suite, but instead of calming Ava Carter's nerves, it only made the room feel suffocating.

Outside, the soft melody of a violin drifted through the half-open window, reminding her that in less than thirty minutes, she would walk down the aisle and marry the man she had loved for four years. It was supposed to be the happiest day of her life—the day every little girl dreamed about.

Yet something didn't feel right.

She stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror. The elegant satin gown hugged her figure perfectly, its long train pooling across the polished wooden floor. Her makeup was flawless, her dark curls rested neatly beneath a delicate veil, and the diamond necklace around her neck had belonged to her late mother.

"You'd be so proud of me today, Mom," she whispered, brushing her fingers over the necklace.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Come in," she called, expecting the makeup artist or the wedding coordinator.

Instead, her stepsister, Chloe, stepped inside wearing a champagne-colored bridesmaid dress. Her smile was as bright as ever, but there was something strange about it—something Ava couldn't quite place.

"You look beautiful," Chloe said, closing the door behind her.

"Thank you."

"I can't believe you're finally marrying Daniel."

Ava smiled shyly.

"Neither can I."

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Chloe walked over and hugged her tightly.

So tight that Ava laughed.

I can't breathe."

"Sorry," Chloe giggled as she pulled away. "I'm just happy for you."

But when Chloe turned toward the door, Ava noticed something lying on the floor near the dressing table.

A man's wristwatch, Expensive, Familiar.

She frowned.

"Chloe..."

Her stepsister stopped.

"Isn't this Daniel's watch?"

Chloe looked down, and for the briefest second, her face lost all color.

Then she forced a laugh.

"Oh... he must've dropped it when he came looking for you earlier."

Ava frowned.

"Daniel was here?"

"Only for a minute."

"He wanted to see you before the ceremony."

"That's strange."

Daniel had promised they wouldn't see each other before the wedding. He'd said it was bad luck.

Before Ava could think more about it, Chloe quickly picked up the watch and slipped it into her handbag.

"I'll give it back to him." "Okay."

As Chloe left the room, Ava couldn't shake the uneasy feeling settling in her chest.

Maybe it was just wedding nerves.

It had to be.

Ten minutes later, Ava decided to look for Daniel herself.

She wanted one last hug before everything changed.

The hotel corridors were almost empty, most guests already seated inside the ballroom.

She smiled to herself as she imagined their honeymoon, their first home together, the children they'd once talked about late at night.

She reached the groom's private suite and knocked gently.

No answer.

She raised her hand to knock again when she heard something.

A woman's laughter.

Followed by a man's voice.

Daniel.

Ava smiled.

"So he's with his best man."

She was about to leave when another sound stopped her.

A soft moan.

Then Daniel laughed.

"You're impossible."

Her smile faded.

A cold feeling crept up her spine.

The door wasn't completely closed.

It had been left slightly open.

She shouldn't look.

Every instinct told her to walk away.

Instead, she pushed the door open just enough to see inside.

The world stopped.

Daniel stood near the window with his back against the wall.

His tuxedo jacket had been thrown onto a chair.

His tie hung loosely around his neck.

And wrapped around him...

...was Chloe.

His hands rested on her waist as he kissed her like she was the only woman in the world.

Ava couldn't breathe.

Her bouquet slipped from her trembling fingers and landed on the floor with a dull thud.

The sound made them freeze.

Daniel turned.

The color drained from his face.

"Ava..."

Chloe stepped away from him, hurriedly smoothing her dress, but there wasn't an ounce of shame in her expression.

Only annoyance at being caught.

For several seconds, no one spoke.

Ava stared at the two people she trusted most.

She wanted to scream.

To cry.

To wake up from what had to be a nightmare.

Instead, she heard herself ask in a voice so quiet it barely sounded like her own,

"How long?"

Daniel rubbed the back of his neck.

"It isn't what you think."

A broken laugh escaped her lips.

"Really?"

"Because it looks exactly like what I think."

He stepped toward her.

"Please, let me explain."

She took a step back.

"Don't."

Chloe folded her arms.

"Since she already knows, there's no point hiding it anymore."

Daniel closed his eyes.

"Chloe..."

"No."

She walked forward confidently until she stood beside him.

"I'm tired of pretending."

Then she looked Ava straight in the eye.

"We've been together for almost a year."

The words struck harder than a slap.

Almost a year.

While Ava had been choosing wedding flowers...

He had been choosing another woman.

While she had been planning their future...

They had been sharing secrets behind her back.

Tears blurred her vision, but she refused to let them fall.

She would not cry in front of them.

Not today.

Daniel reached for her hand.

"I never wanted you to find out like this."

Ava looked down at the hand reaching for hers.

The same hand that had just been touching Chloe.

Slowly, she lifted her eyes to meet his.

"When were you planning to tell me?"

His silence answered everything.

She nodded once.

Then turned and walked away.

Behind her, Daniel called her name.

She didn't stop.

She couldn't.

Because if she did...

She wasn't sure she'd have the strength to leave.