ELENA'S POINT OF VIEW
I never imagined silence could feel this heavy.
The room glowed with too much light, curtains pulled wide to let the afternoon sun pour in like honey. Victoria and Isabelle moved around me, their hands gentle as they adjusted ribbons and smoothed fabric. The makeup artist dusted something shimmery beneath my eyes.
She smiled. "You look beautiful."
I wanted to believe her.
Victoria stepped closer, her fingers trembling slightly as she arranged the veil over my shoulders. She was so careful, so tender, like she was afraid I might break. My chest tightened. She had been nothing but kind to me. If only she knew the truth. If only any of them knew.
"Elena," Isabelle whispered beside me, leaning in to inspect the gown. "You're going to make everyone faint tonight."
I laughed softly. It sounded hollow even to my own ears.
"Don't tease me."
"I'm not teasing." She squeezed my hand. "You look breathtaking."
There was something in her voice. Something careful. When I looked up at her, her smile was warm, but her eyes carried a quiet sadness I couldn't quite name.
She slipped a small mint into my palm.
"For nerves," she said quietly, glancing at Victoria before leaning closer. "You looked a little far away. Thought you could use this."
I swallowed. "Thank you."
"And Elena?" Her voice dropped even softer. "Whatever happens out there, I'm here. With you."
It wasn't dramatic. It wasn't heavy. It was real.
My throat burned as I nodded.
The gown was perfect. White fabric that caught every hint of light, shimmering like something woven from starlight itself. When I moved, it looked like stardust trailed behind me.
Behind us, the door opened.
"Elena..."
My mother.
She stepped inside wearing a soft lavender dress, simple but elegant. When her eyes found mine, they filled instantly with tears. She covered her mouth.
"Oh... my baby."
The way she said it broke something inside me.
She moved forward, cupping my face in her hands. "I am blessed. Truly blessed to see you like this."
I tried to hold it together. The burning behind my eyes made it impossible.
"Mom..."
Victoria stepped back quietly. Even Isabelle looked away, pretending to fix the bouquet to give us privacy.
My mother stroked my cheek. "Are you ready?"
No. I wasn't ready for the vows. For the ring exchange. For standing in front of all those people and pretending this was real.
But I nodded anyway.
"Yes."
We arrived as the sun dipped low enough for the moon to claim the sky.
The venue shimmered like a palace made entirely of glass. The restored conservatory was over a century old, its iron frame wrapped with climbing roses in soft pinks, deep reds, and pale whites. Lanterns hung from the arches, casting warm light over the blooming garden paths.
I had never seen anything this beautiful in my life.
Inside, the glass walls reflected moonlight, giving everything an otherworldly glow. Roses lined the aisle, their petals scattered like silent confetti. A soft classical melody drifted through the space, filling it with anticipation.
Victoria leaned toward me. "Richard and I had our engagement party here. Decades ago. Those were beautiful days."
Her voice cracked slightly. She smiled through it.
I squeezed her hand. She nodded, grateful, then stepped aside.
The guests stood as the doors opened.
My heart pounded violently against my ribs. Not because of the crowd. Because of him.
Alex.
He stood at the altar in a perfectly tailored tuxedo, dark hair styled back, expression unreadable. But he looked devastatingly handsome. The moonlight caught the sharp angles of his face, making him look carved from marble.
Nathan stood beside him, adjusting his cufflinks. When he saw me, his eyes widened. A stunned kind of admiration flickered across his face.
Isabelle noticed. I felt her hand tighten around mine for just a moment. Then she smiled, hiding whatever emotion had surfaced, and whispered, "You're doing amazing. Let's give them a show."
My mother linked her arm through mine. "You ready?"
I nodded, though my throat was dry.
We began walking.
Every step echoed softly through the conservatory. The roses. The lanterns. The music. Everything felt like a dream I couldn't wake from.
My eyes lifted and found Alex's.
He froze.
His expression didn't change, not exactly, but his eyes widened. Just slightly. Like something had punched him in the chest that he wasn't prepared for.
He swallowed slowly. His jaw tightened.
That was the first moment I saw something real.
Nathan glanced at him, eyebrows raised, but Alex didn't look away from me. Not once.
By the time I reached him, my heartbeat was chaos.
My mother carefully placed my hand in Alex's. Her touch trembled. She whispered, "Be happy, Elena."
Happy. If only she knew.
Alex's hand closed around mine. Firm. Steady. Warm.
He leaned in, his voice low enough that only I could hear.
"You look..." He paused. His breath caught, barely noticeable. "...presentable."
Presentable. Typical Alex.
But his voice had softened. Just barely. But it was there.
The vows passed in a blur. The words felt surreal in my mouth, like lines I had memorized but didn't truly own. Alex's voice was even, calm, emotionless. But his eyes never left mine.
The priest turned to Alex and handed him the ring. I watched as he took it, his fingers brushing mine. Warm, steady, grounding me. Then, gently, he slid the band onto my finger. My breath caught. It felt like a promise, silent but sure.
Then the priest gave me his ring. My hands trembled slightly as I took it. I looked up at Alex, into those intense, unreadable eyes, and slowly slipped the ring onto his finger. Time felt like it paused for us. Just him and me. Nothing else mattered.
The priest smiled, closing the book. "You may now kiss your bride."
My stomach dropped.
This was the part I had dreaded from the very beginning.
Alex stepped closer. The world fell silent. Completely silent.
He lifted my chin gently with his fingers. A touch I wasn't expecting. Not from him. Not this soft.
His eyes flickered. Something unguarded. Something raw slipped through his cold exterior.
"Elena..." he breathed.
Just my name. But the way he said it, quiet, almost reverent, knocked the air out of me.
Then he kissed me.
Not rushed. Not forced. Not cold.
Slow. Deep. Claiming.
The kind of kiss that wasn't supposed to happen in a fake marriage.
My heart didn't just skip. It stumbled hard, falling dangerously out of rhythm.
The audience disappeared. The music disappeared. Everything disappeared except him.
His hand slid to the back of my neck, gently pulling me closer. His other hand tightened on my waist.
Heat rushed through me, my knees weakening in a way I didn't understand and didn't want to understand.
When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against mine for half a second. Just half a second. But it was enough to feel the warmth of his breath. Enough to destroy every wall I had tried so hard to keep up.
Then the moment shattered.
The guests erupted into applause, their claps loud and cheerful, like we had just sealed a love story. But this wasn't a celebration. Not for me.
Alex stepped away, straightening his suit. His voice returned to icy normal.
"It's done."
Cold. Detached. As if the kiss had meant nothing.
But his eyes stayed on me too long. Too intensely.
And that was the second moment I saw something real.
I stood there trembling, my mind spinning, my lips still tingling from him. From Alex Reyes.
The man who wasn't supposed to feel anything for me. The man who wasn't supposed to make me feel anything at all.
And yet something inside me shifted.
Dangerously.
The reception hall was alive with laughter and music. Guests mingled, glasses clinked, and the night felt like it would never end. I sat at the head table beside Alex, smiling when I needed to, nodding when someone congratulated us.
Alex barely spoke. He sat stiff beside me, his hand resting on the armrest between us. Close enough that I could feel his presence, but far enough that it was clear he wanted distance.
Nathan appeared suddenly, grinning as he leaned over the table. "Mind if I steal the bride for a dance?"
Alex's jaw tightened. He didn't look at Nathan. He looked at me.
"Go ahead," he said flatly.
Nathan extended his hand, and I took it, grateful for the excuse to move. To breathe.