The church shimmered in gold and laughter.
Soft music floated through the air, weaving between the scent of roses and the hush of anticipation. Guests leaned forward in their seats, hearts thrumming, waiting for the moment the doors would open and the bride would walk in — radiant, promised, and pure.
On the altar stood Luis Blaze, elegance carved into every line of his posture. His smile trembled with nervous joy as he gazed toward the grand doors. Today was supposed to mark the beginning of his forever — his bride, his future, his everything.
Then, the doors opened.
But what stepped through wasn't the vision he expected.
There she was — Rachelle — not in the flowing white gown they had chosen together, but in a blue, sparkling mini dress, her hand laced with another man's. The crowd murmured in disbelief as the music faltered. Luis's chest tightened.
"Rachelle… what—what is this?" he stammered, stepping down from the altar, every movement trembling with confusion.
As she drew nearer, the man beside her lifted his head — and Luis froze.
Xavier Stones.
The ghost from his past.
The man who he had once betrayed — and vowed to come back for revenge.
"You…" Luis whispered, his voice cracking. "You, of all people?"
He turned to Rachelle, desperate. "Rachelle, what are you doing with him?"
She smiled faintly, a smile too composed, too cruel. "You don't get the message, do you, Luis? Let me make it clear. I'm married."
Luis felt the words slice through him. "You… you married him?"
Rachelle tilted her head, her eyes glimmering with something unreadable — sorrow, defiance, guilt. "Married — yes. Loved — definitely. Regretted — never."
Gasps rippled through the church. From the front pew, her father stood abruptly. His voice was low but shaken.
"Rachelle, what are you doing?"
Tears welled in her eyes. "I can't stop now, Dad. If I do… bad things will happen. Please, just understand."
Then she turned back to Xavier. "Let's go, honey. We've wasted enough time here. I'm tired — I need to sleep."
Xavier's smirk didn't fade. "Yes, baby."
He swept her up effortlessly, carrying her in bridal style through the stunned crowd, down the aisle, and out toward the waiting Lamborghini, leaving shattered hearts and unanswered questions in their wake.
---
Rachelle's POV
"You're quite the actress, wifey," Xavier murmured, his voice smooth and taunting as he leaned back beside me in the car. "You really do have talent."
His words slithered through my chest like poison. My stomach twisted. I shot him a disgusted glare, but he only smirked, eyes dark with amusement.
"I hope you've memorized my rules," he continued, adjusting his tie casually. "Because in my world, there's no forgiveness — only consequences. Don't test me, Rachelle."
He turned away, flipping through a stack of files, indifferent to the tears gathering in my eyes. I bit my lip until I tasted blood, swallowing the scream that burned in my throat.
How had it come to this?
How had my dreams turned into a nightmare?
---
Flashback
Two weeks earlier…
The clatter of dishes echoed in Dad's restaurant when my phone rang.
"Hello?" I said, balancing a tray of plates.
"Good afternoon. Are you by chance Rachelle Blues, the motivational speaker?"
"Yes," I replied, wiping my hands. "Is there a problem?"
"Not at all," the woman on the line said. "We'd like to offer you a contract with Stones Movie Industry — as one of our leading actresses."
The moment I heard Stones, my heart soared. Stones Movie Industry. The biggest production company in Washington D.C.
"Are you serious?" I gasped.
"Completely. We'll send the details to your email. Please come by 4 p.m. sharp to finalize the paperwork."
"Thank you — thank you so much!"
I could hardly breathe. My dreams were coming true — at once.
Dad had finally opened his long-awaited restaurant, Luis had proposed, and now I was about to become a star. Everything was falling into place.
I rushed home, changed into my best outfit, and hurried to the address they sent.
When I held the contract in my hands, I could barely contain my joy. A five-year deal with the top studio in the city. I didn't even read the fine print — why would I? What could possibly go wrong?
I smiled, signed my name, and shook their hands.
But that moment — that pen stroke — was the beginning of my misery.
---