“Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. The ceremony is about to begin,” the announcer’s voice echoed through the grand hall.
I stepped through the towering double doors, deliberately late, just as the guests settled into their seats.
Gasps rippled across the room.
“Is that a wedding gown?” someone whispered.
“It can’t be,” another murmured.
“Wait… look at her neck! That’s the Cartier gold necklace!”
“The limited-edition one? There were only three made!”
“The last time it was seen, the Lady of the Gallo Clan was wearing it. Who is she?”
I didn’t look at anyone. My gaze was fixed on the couple at the altar—Elise Reid and Xander Winfield. Xander’s posture stiffened as his eyes met mine,. Elise, however, wasn’t so composed. Her smile wavered, her hands clenching the bouquet tighter.
I walked forward, the gown’s train gliding behind me. Each step seemed to pull the air from the room, leaving only whispers in its wake.
“Sorry I’m late,” I said smoothly as I reached the front. I tilted my head slightly, meeting Elise’s glare with a faint smile. “I wouldn’t miss your big day for the world. Wishing you both well.”
Elise’s nostrils flared as she forced a smile. “You’re wearing white,” she said, her voice low and cutting. “Only the bride wears white. Surely you know that?”
“Oh,” I said, glancing down at my gown with a feigned look of surprise. “I didn’t mean to. But white is such a lovely color, don’t you think?”
Her mask cracked. The tension in her shoulders was visible now, her composure slipping. “Lovely or not,” she snapped, “you’re out of place. Where did you even get that gown? Or that necklace?”
Her tone shifted, louder now, meant for everyone to hear. “Let me guess—a fake? Or did you take out a loan to pull this little stunt?”
A few chuckles broke out from the crowd, her insult hitting its mark. I smiled, calm and unbothered.
“You don’t know, do you?” I began. “I am the daughter of the Gal—”
The loud bang of a gunshot cut me off.
The crowd froze. The laughter stopped.
“What was that?” someone whispered.
“Was that… a gunshot?” another voice followed, rising with panic.
The room erupted into chaos. Guests screamed and scrambled toward the exits, their heels clicking frantically against the marble floors. Xander grabbed Elise by the arm, pulling her toward the hallway. And he left? That's it!
What an asshole. With not much choice, I followed the crowd.
The hallway was a mess. Bodyguards lay lifeless on the floor, blood pooling around them. Screams echoed as more people ran, trying to escape the scene.
I quickened my pace, the chaos making it hard to focus. Then came another explosion—a deafening blast that shook the building and sent debris flying.
I stumbled but managed to steady myself, coughing through the dust. The hallway ahead was blocked by rubble, forcing me to turn back.
Gunfire erupted again, closer this time.
I moved cautiously, drawn by a mix of fear and curiosity. A partially open door caught my attention, and I peeked inside.
A tattooed man in a hoodie stood in the center of the room, a gun in his hand. The faint scent of gunpowder lingered in the air.
On the floor was Alexus Winfield, Xander’s father and CEO of Alliance Insurance Company. Blood seeped from his chest, staining the expensive carpet.
My breath hitched, and I heard footsteps from behind.
When I slowly turned around, what I saw made my heart stop beating.
