CASSANDRA'S POV
I was left dumbfounded.
My brain was still processing the fact that Alaric had announced me as his wife I could not even process the fact that he was Sinclair's uncle
I stared blankly at the man who was supposed to be my ex-uncle and found it hard to believe. He looked just a few years older than Sinclair, I had no idea until today that Sinclair had such a young uncle.
Several questions started to race in my mind, if Alaric knew I was engaged to Sinclair. Did he have any secret intention because I found everything fishy?
A low voice echoed next to my ears giving goosebumps. Alaric's eyes were locked on Sinclair's grip. "Better play along." He warned me. It felt more like a threat.
Alaric's grip on my waist grew tighter.
Shivers ran through my spine, it felt like he wanted to rip out his hand. "Your fiancé?" Alaric asked, his unwavering gaze still on Sinclair's arm with a look that could kill.
Sinclair gritted his teeth so tight his jaw could snap. "Cassandra is my fiancée. I don't know which games you are playing but it has to stop."
His words made me smile. It was completely ridiculous Sinclair was bravely claiming me after what he did. "Games?" Alaric asked, still unfazed.
"If there is anyone playing games, it should be you. My wife is clearly not engaged to you." He stated, "Your engagement went up in flames the same as the dress." Alaric added, and snatched my hand from Sinclair's grip.
His hands held me protectively. "I won't accept any slander, Nephew ", he said in a deliberate, condescending tone.
My head was still spinning. The lights around me blurred into vague shapes as my mind tried to catch up with the madness unravelling before my eyes.
Wife?
Did he really just call me that again?
Everyone's eyes were on us, reporters snapping photos, whispers spreading like wildfire through the crowd. My palms grew clammy, and my heartbeat roared in my ears.
"What is going on?" I whispered loud enough for him to hear, backing away slightly, but Alaric's grip on my waist didn't loosen.
"You will find out soon." Those words reached my ears before Sinclair grew more anxious. From the corners of my eyes, I could see my parents and Aurelia coming towards us with a ghostly appearance.
They didn't look any less pale than Sinclair's parents, who watched the scene with their mouths wide open.
This was a scandal, the reporters couldn't get enough. The bride who cancelled her wedding at the dying minute married the groom's uncle.
Only God knew the kind of story they were cooking.
Sinclair looked like he was about to explode. "Cassandra, tell him the truth! You don't even know him!" he snapped, his hand reaching for me again.
Alaric's arm moved before I could react, pushing Sinclair's hand away with a quiet, deadly strength that made the air freeze. "Touch her again," Alaric said, voice low and venomous, "and I'll make sure you lose that hand."
Gasps erupted around us. Finally, Sinclair's mother spoke up. "What do you mean by you're married??"
"How can you get married to your nephew's fiancée??" She barked pointing at our nose. Acting like I was the vile girl who betrayed Sinclair.
"How dare you do something so shameless?!" My hands clenched as I glared at them.
"Shameless?" I scoffed, finally gaining my bearings. Alaric smiled. This was what he wanted: a show.
It was fine. I will give them a show. "So I am the shameless one," I added and his mother's face had changed. There wasn't the faintest glimpse of guilt on my face as she expected.
"Who gave you the right to speak after what you just did? You both have humiliated the Von Duvall name." She said self-righteously. Alaric didn't say a thing. He already created the stage for me and I was willingly going to take the lead.
An eerie laugh rang through the hall. "If anyone humiliated the Von Duvall name it is your precious son. Why don't you ask Sinclair what he was doing with Aurelia on our wedding eve?"
Gasping erupted, panic ran through Sinclair's eyes for a moment. Anyone with a brain would understand what I meant. Whispers were already flying around the room.
Aurelia burst into tears; her expression was the pitiful, flawless white lotus. "What are you trying to do Cassandra?" She cried, acting like I caused her a heavy injustice.
"You were the one who was caught dancing with a stranger online, and you want to turn the blame to Sinclair and me." She perfectly spun the story. Fingers started to dig into my palm as realisation hit me
I had no evidence of their affair, and from the looks of things, I was the one who betrayed Sinclair. Aurelia wasn't done with her act. Her make-up was ruined by her tears.
"I always saw you as my big sister but you want to frame me and ruin this family. Sinclair deserves better than you." She added crying louder. Her act made Sinclair's mum's heart soften.
She pulled Aurelia into a hug to comfort. "No need to cry dear. I don't know what Sinclair saw in her but you have always been the best choice." She said with contempt.
Aurelia was still crying but there was a look in her eyes when she glanced at me. Smug victory. Aurelia shook her head, then glanced at our parents, then at me. She was holding Sinclair's mum's hand.
She sniffed, "Don't say that, Aunty. Sinclair loves my sister and I will never come between them. I don't know what happened to Cassie but we can resolve this issue." She said acting like the peacemaker
Mum, who had been standing by the side with a pale expression, finally spoke. Her voice was shaky. "Please, Cassandra. Enough of the games and apologise to Sinclair..."
"After the drama on the wedding morning, he was nice enough not to cut off our family. We still owe them a lot. Maybe if you apologise, he will forgive you." She said fanning Sinclair's ego
His expression grew more smug, the entire time. Alaric watched with an amused expression as if he were watching a circus performance.
"He still loves you." She finally stated. Mum tried to reach out for my hand and I avoided her touch.
"Yes, Cassie, we can't throw away all those years. Don't let my uncle fool you." Sinclair added. Public opinion changed, and I was the villain
The venomous woman who brought disgrace to him while Sinclair was the saint ready to forgive me.
My eyes turned sharp. Fine if they made me the villain then I would play the role.
"Why would I apologise to him when he was the one who betrayed me?" I asked, leaving them dumbfounded. Sinclair's expression faltered
The most infuriating part was the fact that he refused to accept he was cheating till now. I didn't let them have their say. I turned to Alaric with a victorious smile. He returned the smile. The flash of his dimples made my heart race
He was truly good-looking, better than I remembered.
"You all heard my husband," I said on my tiptoes. Alaric bent over his arm on his face, pulled me closer, and our lips met and our tongues entangled in a passionate kiss before them.
It was short but breathless enough to send the message. Leaning against his firm chest I glanced at Sinclair. His face was ashen. "I don't need your forgiveness. When I burnt the dress I sent a straight message..."
"There is nothing between us again. I am already Mrs Von Duvall." I declared enjoying the show. Sinclair looked like he had lost his gaze.
"Don't waste your words on them, darling. Tonight is to celebrate you." Alaric added sweetly, still holding me, ignoring Sinclair's heated gaze.
Sinclair's mother could not accept it. It was an insult to her family. Her face had changed various shades before she lunged at us. Her hand was ready to slap me
"You shameless vixen." She snapped rushing forward. Everything happened in a blur. Alaric quickly pulled me behind him to shield me. He grabbed her wrist, stopping her in time.
"Don't you dare touch my wife." His voice thundered.
His voice shook the hall. Chaos unravelled as reporters pushed forward to capture the scene. Sinclair's mother froze, eyes wide in shock, while Sinclair shouted something I couldn't make out.
My heart pounded so fast it hurt I couldn't grasp a breath. The lights were blinding, the noise deafening, voices clashing, cameras flashing.
"Cassie..." Mum's voice broke through the chaos.
Alaric turned sharply toward me. "Cassandra?"
I tried to answer, but my vision blurred. The world tilted. I swayed forward, my knees buckling before I could stop myself.
"Cassandra!" Sinclair's shout was the last thing I heard before everything shattered into a blurry mess.
Strong hands caught me just in time, trembling as he pulled me into his arms. "Call an ambulance!" he barked, his voice distant and hollow.
Everything collided before it all went dark
