"I am not going to marry him," Audrey whispered, tears tracking hot paths down her cheeks.
"Just you keep quiet," Mrs. Clara Reed snapped, her voice tight with forced control. "The wedding is not canceled. You are going to climb that altar and say your vows to your new husband."
"But Anya..." Audrey's voice cracked, the sound betraying her broken heart.
"Don't be a stupid girl, Audrey!" her mother rebuked sharply. "Go to your room now. Elias will come and pick you up. You'll be on your way to the hotel soon." Her mother turned and walked away, her shoulders stiff with anger.
"Father, I don't want to," Audrey pleaded, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand.
"Darling, it's our only option," Harrison Reed said, pulling his daughter into a desperate hug. His chin rested on the crown of her head. After a moment, he began to sob quietly with her. Audrey wasn't sure if his tears were for her sadness or for his eldest daughter, Anya, who lay almost lifeless in the hospital, two days before what should have been the happiest day of her life.
He held Audrey like he feared losing her too. Audrey was close to her father, but everyone knew her sister, Anya, had been his favorite. Her mother never failed to remind her of that gap in affection, though her father tried to hide it.
"Do you want Elias to drive you, or should I call your aunt?" he asked, pulling back slightly. He brought out his handkerchief to gently clean her tears, handing it to her when he was done.
"I'll just go with Elias," she murmured. Elias was the family driver. She sniffed once and ran upstairs, locking herself in her room. She leaned back against the door, letting the tears flow again.
How had her life come to this? Just a week ago, she and Anya had gone dress shopping for Anya's final fitting. Just two days ago, Audrey was curled up Anya's sofa, feeding her baby kitten.
"I can't wait to marry him," she had said, beaming with smiles.
Now, she was packing a small suitcase, as her mother had instructed, preparing to marry not just anyone, but her almost-brother-in-law, Kellan Vance.
Audrey came back down to the living room. Elias was already there, efficient and always on time. "Madam Audrey, let me help you with that," he said, moving toward her small bag. She could only nod, still incapable of processing words.
Her father returned, his eyes red-rimmed. "I love you, sweetie. Your mom does too. She just doesn't know how to express herself when she's in pain." He placed a kiss on her forehead. Audrey simply nodded. His eyes were tearing up again. Without saying another word, she walked out and got into the car.
Audrey arrived at the hotel. It was the largest and most exclusive in the city, courtesy of the groom's powerful parents. Elias helped her with her bags.
Audrey stepped into the suite, looking around in a haze of awe and nausea. This was supposed to be Anya's. She had never seen anything so lavish. The walls were covered in rich silk wallpaper, the chandelier sparkled with a hundred crystals, and huge windows overlooked the city skyline, currently softened by the evening light. A vase of white roses stood on a marble table, their scent almost suffocating.
She sank onto the soft mattress. The sickness returned, stronger this time. Nothing felt right. The horrifying image of her sister's bloodied body resurfaced, along with the smell of blood still clinging to her memory. She rushed to the luxurious bathroom and emptied her stomach.
After splashing water on her face, she came back out. A faint, glittery substance caught her eye in the half-open closet. She pushed the door wider.
It was Anya's wedding dress. The pristine white silk, shimmering with beaded lace, was folded carefully.
Audrey felt sick to her stomach again. She rushed back to the restroom, vomiting for the second time that awful day.
Kellan Vance stood opposite Audrey's suite, in an identical room. He knew she had arrived; he had unwillingly watched her rigid figure climb out of the car through his window. She looked pale, like she might collapse.
He picked up a cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled slowly. The love of his life was on a hospital bed, and he was marrying her sister.
He regretted allowing her to come that night.
"I miss you so much," he remembered Anya telling him over the phone.
"I miss you more, my love, but there's no need for you to come. Let me come to you," he'd replied, a playful laugh in her voice. "Stop being a control freak, Kellan! I'll just drop by your house and be gone in a jiffy. I just want one last kiss before we're separated until the wedding."
Kellan couldn't say no. He missed her too, and wouldn't have minded spending the night with her one last time before they became husband and wife.
"I'll be waiting. I love you."
"I love you too..."
Those were her last words to him. Losing Anya hurt more than he could have ever imagined. She was his entire focus, his top priority. Now, his whole life felt hollow.
His parents were the ones pushing him to marry Audrey. He demanded a real reason, but his mother, Eleanor Vance, only burst into tears. She knew he wouldn't press her further when she was crying. She clung to his shirt, weeping for mercy. He was cornered. He couldn't do anything but agree to their urgent, desperate plan.
Mr. and Mrs. Vance were the top elites of the state, founders of Vance Industries and Co., a vast empire with four huge branches locally and twenty-four globally. They lacked nothing, and whatever they didn't have, they easily obtained. Kellan Vance, their only son and heir, was like his father: slow to speak, but his few words always carried fire and power. He was the city's most sought-after individual, and he was just days away from claiming possession of the business empire.
But tragedy had other plans.