Chapter 1

• Ivy Hughes
• "Praise my soul, the king of heaven," The cathedral choir sang as I prepared to walk down the aisle. I furrowed my brows uncomfortably because that wasn't the hymn I chose for the bride's procession. I paid little attention to it and assumed there must have been a mix up.
• I will be getting married to my best friend today. I stepped out of a red range rover with my wedding dress stung on my body like I was born with it. The dress was designed by a popular designer and it costs a fortune. Many thanks to my soon-to-be husband, Ryan, I was able to look elegant on my wedding day.
• The man I will be tying the knot to is one of the A-list actors in New York. I am also an actress but hardly recognized by anyone. I will be deceiving myself if I classify myself as a D-list actor. My grade is lower than that.
• "Where is Evelyn?" I asked my sister, Kayla.
• Evelyn is my best friend and my bridesmaid. She left the hotel we lodged last night because of an emergency and hasn't arrived since then.
• "Dunno! I tried her number, but there was no pick," Kayla answered, checking her simple makeover in the car's mirror.
• "We can't wait anymore. Let's go on without her. I am sure she had her reasons,"
• Kayla nodded and smiled at me. We have learned to cherish each other since we lost our parents a few years back.
• She clasped her hand with mine and we footed toward the church's entrance, putting on the cutest smiles ever.
• Our faces were struck with shock as soon as we took a step into the church. The congregation in the church was more than my expectations. However, that was not the case.
• Another wedding was going on in the church and Ryan, my soon-to-be husband was the groom and there was a bride beside him. Which definitely wasn't me because I haven't even walked down the aisle.
• "I hereby present Ryan Austin and Evelyn Desmond as the newest couple in the world,"
• The priest announced and I felt my world crashing. I was oblivious to the shouts and joyful screams that were going on. The last statement the priest made echoed in my ears.
• Did Ryan get married to Evelyn?
• Was that the reason she left the hotel last night claiming there was an emergency....?
• "Arrgh!" I shrieked.
• The shrill garnered everybody's attention and they all turned their heads, fixing their eyes on me.
• Their stares were piercing into my skin. I felt like there were needles all over my body. I prayed earnestly to God to let the ground eat me up. My legs were transfixed. Thinking of the next thing to do was a problem because my head was aching badly.
• The betrayals' lips were curled up victoriously. There was neither guilt nor remorse on their faces. It only meant one thing. It has been planned out, but I trusted them so much as not to suspect them.
• I pushed the brimming tears back and looked at the congregation faces one after the other until my eyes landed on a man. His amber eyes were shining like a star and his cold expression did nothing to my body but gave me an idea.
• I walked into the church, surprising everyone. Kayla tried to stop me by holding my hand, but I jerked her hands away. She thought I was losing my mind or maybe I was.
• I stopped in front of the man with amber eyes, and in front of everyone, I asked him to marry me.
• "Will you please, take me as your bride?" I asked, garnering another whisper from the congregation.
• My mind was trying to chide me to stop, but my head wasn't comprehending that. All I wanted to do was to save myself from the disgrace and shame they had both planted. The man stood up from his seat and looked into my eyes. I felt shivers in my spine as he pierced his beautiful eyes into mine.
• I was praying to God and hoping he wouldn't say NO.
• "Okay... Let's have a wedding," He agreed and I forced a smile from my lips.
• He took my hands and walked me down the aisle.
• Ryan and Evelyn gave me their last glances and walked out of the church, majestically.
• "Ivy, you are not in your right senses. You don't even know the man you are getting married to,"
• Kayla spoke while shaking my shoulders, but I have made up my mind.
• "Start the vow, priest," I instructed, looking at nowhere in particular.
• "The groom should say after me,"
• The priest began and we were asked to exchange vows. There was no ring and it was time to exchange the rings. I removed my veil and tore a little part of it. The man collected the torn part from me and split it into halves. He tied one to my finger and I tied the other to his. All these actions took place with a bright smile on his face. He looked like a man who has been in love with the woman in front of him.
• "People of God, I present to you, the newest couple in town," The priest announced.
• The church was as silent as a graveyard, a clap could not be heard and that was none of my business. The only thing I wanted to do after the wedding was to go home.
• I gave the man a last smile and footed out of the church hurriedly, Kayla opened the car's door, I hopped into the car and she followed suit. The driver drove off.
• The tears I have been forcing back moved freely out of my eyes. Ryan and I started from scratch. We'd been dating since our college days before he chose acting as his career and everybody knew us as a couple. Even if I was expecting to be betrayed, it wasn't from him. I wasn't expecting to be betrayed by them.
• The car stopped in front of the mini flat I stayed with Kayla, but I was still sobbing. She circled her arm around my shoulders and patted me softly. These gestures were supposed to make me stop crying but they increased my tears instead.
• We entered the small living room and Kayla helped me settle on one of the single couches.
• She turned the lights on and helped me remove my shoes and veil. She flung them and took a seat in front of me. Of course, I knew it was time to listen to her endless nagging sadly, I wasn't in the mood for that.
• "Ivy, why did you do.....,"
• She started but I cut her off.
• "Spare me that, Kayla. I am not in the mood for that,"
• I stood up and strolled into my bedroom weakly. I just want to shut the noises in my head.