~ LAYLA ~
I could feel my heart racing in my ears as I walked down the aisle, filled with excitement.
The chandeliers above filled the grand ballroom with a warm, golden light. It felt like I was in a dream. My perfect dream.
Every detail was perfect. Socialites whispered in excitement, the press jockeyed for the best angle, and my family looked proud.
I was about to become Mrs. Daniel Hart. This wedding wasn't just a romantic union; it was a business alliance between two powerful families. Everything I'd been groomed for led to this moment.
I smiled for the cameras, played the perfect heiress, and held the bouquet just right. I'd done it all.
Then the officiant's voice echoed through the hall.
"Do you, Layla Watson, take Daniel Hart to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
I looked into Daniel's eyes, trying to hold back my excitement. This was it. The moment I had been dreaming of. After five amazing years together, we were finally taking the step to commit to each other and seal our love for good.
"I do."
The officiant turned to Daniel.
"Do you, Daniel Hart, take Layla Watson to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
Daniel didn't hesitate. "I do."
I felt a rush of happiness that made my chest tighten with joy. The ballroom filled with soft sighs and applause around me.
The officiant moved the ceremony forward.
"If there is anyone here who objects to this union, or thinks that these two should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace."
A second passed.
Then another.
And then…
"I object."
Loud gasps reverberated across the wedding hall. Everyone turned to see who had just spoken. But I didn't need to look, I already knew who it was from the voice.
I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach.
Cassandra. My younger sister, my bridesmaid, and my rival in everything. She stood there in her lilac dress, hands clasped in front of her nervously. As she stepped forward, her lips parted slightly.
"What the hell is going on?" someone whispered from the front row.
"Cassandra?" I said, my voice cracking. "What are you doing?"
She turned to me with those syrupy eyes.
"I'm sorry, Layla, but I can't let you marry him."
Whispers spread around us quickly like wildfire. Daniel went pale, and I just stared at her, too shocked to even breathe.
"What is this?" my father growled.
"Cassandra, sit down, this isn't the time."
But Cassandra didn't back down.
"I can't let the marriage go on because I'm pregnant," she announced. "With Daniel's child."
The room suddenly erupted in chaos. People were gasping and shouting in surprise. A camera flash went off, adding to the frenzy.
"What?" I choked out, feeling dizzy all of a sudden. "T-that's not… what are you talking about?"
Cassandra's voice shook slightly, making her sound genuine."It wasn't supposed to happen like this. I didn't want to ruin your big day, Layla. But I couldn't stay silent, not when a child is involved."
"You're lying," I whispered. "You're lying."
"No," she said, reaching into her purse and pulling out a folded sheet of paper. An ultrasound result. And she held it up like a trophy.
"Oh my God," someone said from the back.
I turned to Daniel. "Tell me this is a joke. Daniel, tell me she's lying."
Daniel looked at me. Then at Cassandra. Then back at me. He didn't speak.
"Daniel!" my father shouted. "Say something!"
Daniel let out a shaky breath and ran his hand through his hair. "I didn't know for sure. She just told me about it last week. But yeah. There's a chance it's mine."
"A chance? What the hell does that mean?"
I stared at him, but he wouldn't meet my eyes.
"She said she missed her period last week and I didn't want to believe it. I told her to keep quiet until after the wedding so we could…"
"So we could what?" I snapped. "Lie? Pretend that you've not been banging my half-sister behind my back?"
He swallowed hard.
"I was going to marry you, Layla. I still am. But the truth is, I love Cassandra."
The world tilted beneath my feet. No, this was a dream. But it wasn't. The worst nightmare was simply playing out in front of me.
"I'm sorry," Cassandra said softly. "But we didn't mean for this to happen. It just did."
"You mean you didn't mean for me to find out this way, or find out at all," I said coldly.
My mother looked embarrassed, while my father looked like he wanted to throttle someone. Preferably Daniel.
"This is disgraceful," he growled. "We had an agreement, Daniel. You were to marry Layla."
Daniel raised his chin.
"And I tried. I really did. But I love Cassandra. And now, with the baby, I can't just walk away from that. Moreover, Cassie is your daughter too."
Someone gasped from the crowd.
"Wait, was this an arranged marriage? I thought they loved each other?"
But I wasn't listening. My fiery gaze was trained on my asshole of a fiancé.
"You could have told me before today. Before…" my voice choked at the end, "…I walked down that aisle."
"I didn't want to disappoint you," he said lamely.
"Oh, you've done that already," I said, glaring at him.
How was I going to survive in public now with this scandal hovering over my head like a neon sign?
"Layla, you don't understand," Cassandra said, trying to reach for me. "He was with me before things got serious with you."
"Don't touch me!" I warned her. "You knew exactly what you were doing. You always have."
Her jaw literally fell.
"You've always hated that I was the first child and the one to marry Daniel. So you took him."
"That's not true," she shook her head.
"It's exactly true! Stop lying!"
The argument was getting out of control now, and my dad stepped in.
"Perhaps we should take this to a private place," he said, casting a stern glance at the guests, some of whom were already recording with their phones. "You need to calm down, Layla."
Calm down?
Did he seriously just say calm down?
That was it. I lost it!
"I should calm down?! Maybe your other daughter should've thought of that before ruining my wedding!" I hurled the bouquet to the floor, the petals scattering.
"Sister, don't be like that…" Cassandra reached for my hand, trying to soothe me.
I swear to God, all I did was yank my arm free but she stumbled hard.
"Aww," she cried out, clutching her stomach
Shocked gasps rent the hall in two.
"Cassandra!" Daniel rushed to her side, panicked. "Are you okay?"
Then he turned to me, eyes blazing.
"What is wrong with you, Layla? What if you hurt the baby?"
I stood frozen, stunned, the scene blurring around me.
"I'm fine, Daniel," Cassandra whispered tearfully. "Don't blame my sister. She's just hurt."
That manipulative bitch. She knew exactly what she was doing—and it was working.
And just like that, the spotlight shifted.
I wasn't the heartbroken bride anymore. No, I was now the villain who attacked her pregnant sister.
I turned to my mother, expecting her to say or do something. But she simply looked away as if I wasn't worth the trouble.
Then my father. His eyes were filled with disappointment.
Disappointed? Really?
That's when it hit me.
It was all over.
"What the hell am I even doing here?" I said, my voice hollow. "You two go ahead with the wedding."
I gathered the folds of my dress and ran.