Bang...
The deafening sound of the gunshot shattered the sacred silence of the chapel.
Screams erupted. The guests ducked, scattering in panic. Candles fell, their flames dancing wildly before being snuffed out by the sudden gust of fear that swept through the room.
The scent of gunpowder burned the air.
Hikky's heart thundered against her ribs as she instinctively clung to Dante's arm.
Her eyes darted toward the direction of the sound toward the aisle.
There she was.
"Clara Bryan".
Standing in the middle of the chapel, her trembling hands gripping a silver gun, tears streaming down her face.
Her red gown shimmered beneath the flickering lights, as if soaked in blood itself.
"Clara…" Dante's voice was calm, too calm. His sharp gaze narrowed. "Put the gun down."
"Don't you dare tell me what to do." she screamed, her voice cracking like glass. "You think you can just walk away from me? Marry her? Pretend I don't exist?"
The murmurs of panic quieted.
The crowd froze, their fear mixing with curiosity.
Hikky blinked, her breath caught in her throat. "Walk away from her".?
Clara's eyes glistened with heartbreak and rage. "You promised me, Dante! You said I was your everything. You said no one could replace me. "
Hikky felt her stomach twist. The words dug into her chest like needles.
But Dante didn't flinch. His face remained unreadable. He stepped forward slowly, each step deliberate, dangerous, composed the way only a mafia man could move when standing before death.
"Clara," he said evenly, his tone dipped in authority. "This isn't the place. Lower the gun before you regret it."
"Regret?" Clara laughed a sound so hollow it sent chills crawling up Hikky's spine. "I already regret giving you my life, My time, My loyalty, you came close because you needed a fame because of my step father was a known man" Her hands shook, but her aim stayed fixed right at Dante's heart.
"Stop please" Hikky cried, her voice trembling.
She stepped forward without thinking, her instincts screaming to protect the man she was still trying to understand. "Please, you'll hurt him... "
"Don't move" Clara yelled, pointing the gun toward Hikky now. "You don't get to speak, you gold-digging thief, You took what was mine, shameless slave."
Hikky froze, her breath hitched.
"Enough," Dante's voice sliced through the chaos like a blade.
The next second happened too fast, he moved, like a shadow made flesh, grabbing Hikky by the waist and pulling her behind him.
His hand came down on the gun with terrifying precision, twisting Clara's wrist just enough to make her cry out and drop it. The weapon clattered to the marble floor.
But before the guards could react, Clara shoved Dante hard, tears spilling freely now. "Why, Dante?" she screamed, her voice raw. "Why her and not me?"
He stared at her, his jaw tightening, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes. "Because," he said quietly, "you lost me the moment you betrayed me, I will prove to you to stop deceiving the guest, I had my fame before you came into my life, in fact you used me for your selfish purposes because you and your father knows what I possess."
Her body went still.
The room fell silent. Even the priest lowered his gaze.
But Dante didn't respond not with words. Instead, he gestured subtly to one of his men.
"Project it," he ordered.
A faint hum filled the chapel. The projector from the security team flickered onto the large marble wal, revealing footage no one expected.
The video showed Clara half -naked, in a dimly lit bedroom.
Her face was unmistakable. But what made the audience gasp was the man she was with.
It wasn't Dante.
It was her stepfather.
Their bodies were tangled beneath the blanket, his voice calling her name. F*cking her in a doggy position. The sound of pleasure mixed with shame filled the silent chapel. Clara froze, horror spreading across her face as her secret played out before everyone.
"Enough" she screamed, dropping the gun to the floor as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Stop it! Please stop it!"
Dante didn't move. His voice remained calm, steady, merciless.
"You wanted to expose me, Clara? You wanted truth before witnesses? Here it is. The truth you've hidden under silk and lies."
Clara fell to her knees, shaking uncontrollably. "You… you'll regret this," she whispered, clutching her chest as the guests turned away in disgusted whispers.
Dante's gaze was like ice. "No, Clara. You will."
He turned back to the stunned audience, his tone sharp and composed. "Don't believe her desperate stories. She's a liar and besides, you're late."
clara Bryan blinked, confused. "Late?"
Dante reached for Hikky's trembling hand, lifting it for everyone to see, the glint of a gold ring shining through her black veil.
"The priest already joined us together as husband and wife."
A murmur of discussions rippled through the crowd.
Hikky's eyes widened as Dante intertwined their fingers tightly, grounding her with his touch.
"Let's go," he said, his deep voice cutting through the whispers.
Hikky hesitated only for a second before following his lead. They began walking down the aisle together his arm firm around her, her steps unsteady but obedient.
Clara's sobs echoed behind them, raw and broken.
Her world was collapsing, and the man she once claimed as hers was walking away with another woman, "his new bride".
She couldn't bear it.
The pain twisted into something dark.
"Dante…" she croaked, standing shakily, eyes glinting with madness. "You can't just walk away from me like that…"
Her trembling fingers found the gun again on the marble floor.
The cold metal kissed her palm like an old friend.
"You'll regret this," she whispered one last time.
Hikky didn't see it coming.
But Dante did.
He turned his head just as Clara pulled the trigger....
Bang!
The explosion echoed through the chapel.
Hikky gasped, her body jerking backward as Dante shoved her hard, shielding her with his own back. The bullet tore through the air and buried itself deep into his back.
Time slowed.
The guests screamed.
The priest held his Bible close.
Hikky's veil fluttered as she fell to her knees beside him.
Dante's body trembled, his grip tightening on her hand before blood trickled down his lips.
"Dante..." she cried, her voice breaking, catching his weight as he collapsed against her.
His breath hitched. A crimson stain spread across his black suit.
His knees buckled.
And with a final, shaky exhale.....
He dropped to the floor...