Chapter 1
The white rose pinned to Julian’s lapel felt heavier than lead. Standing at the altar of St. Jude’s Cathedral, surrounded by cascading white hydrangeas and soft amber light, he stared down at the folded sheet of heavy linen paper in his trembling hands. The words inscribed in sharp, hurried ink had shattered his world in a fraction of a second. Just feet away, seven-year-old Lily stood frozen against the first pew, her blonde curls framing a face stained with heavy, silent tears. Her blue eyes locked onto his with an agonizing plea that broke his heart.
Julian swallowed hard, the taste of ash dry in his mouth. He looked up from the letter just as the heavy oak doors at the back of the cathedral swung open. Elena stepped into the sunlight, breathtaking in her elaborate lace wedding gown and cascading veil. A radiant, brilliant smile lit up her dark features as she began her slow, graceful walk down the aisle. She had no idea. She walked toward her future completely unaware that the foundation beneath her feet was about to crumble into dust.
A low murmur rippled through the packed pews of family and friends. Julian’s chest heaved with a ragged breath as he forced his feet to move. He stepped away from the altar, closing the distance between himself and weeping little Lily. Placing a protective hand on the child’s trembling shoulder, he turned his body to face the oncoming bride. The silence in the cathedral grew deafening, heavy with the weight of impending catastrophe.
Elena stopped ten feet away, her smile faltering for a brief second before she tilted her head in playful confusion. "Julian? What’s wrong? Why is everyone staring?" she asked, her voice carrying a light, melodic sweetness that only made the truth sting sharper.
Julian’s gaze hardened, though his eyes swam with unshed tears. He gripped the white letter tightly in his hand, letting the paper crumple beneath his fist. He took a slow, measured breath, fighting the urge to look away from the woman he had loved for three years. The air in the cathedral grew impossibly cold.
May you like
"I’m sorry," Julian said, his voice cracking slightly before steadying into a hollow, resolute monotone that echoed off the stone pillars. "But this wedding is cancelled."
Elena’s face froze. The bright, joyful smile instantly vanished, replaced by an expression of absolute, bone-chilling shock. Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening in disbelief as she stared at the man she was supposed to marry. For a heartbeat, time seemed to stop entirely inside the grand cathedral. Then, Elena opened her mouth wide, letting out a piercing, agonized scream that shattered the sacred silence and sent shockwaves through the stunned congregation.
