Chapter 7 - The Unraveling
At 12:00 PM sharp, the cathedral doors closed.
The seventy-piece orchestra began playing the grand wedding march. The double doors opened, and Chloe appeared, holding a bouquet of white roses, leaning on my dad’s arm.
At the altar stood Julian Sterling—twenty-eight years old, tall, wearing a bespoke Tom Ford tuxedo, smiling like a man who had just won the lottery. Beside him stood his father, Arthur Sterling, the elderly patriarch of the Sterling empire, looking proud and imposing.
As Chloe walked down the aisle, her eyes scanned the crowd, soaking in the admiration.
But as she reached the third row, she noticed the guests weren't looking at her. They were looking at the front row—at me.
Chloe’s eyes locked onto my glowing red pixie cut and my black silk jumpsuit. Her smile faltered. A look of pure, unadulterated venom flashed across her face.
She reached the altar, stepping beside Julian. My dad took his seat in the front pew beside my mother.
My mom leaned over to my dad, whispering furiously: "Look at her sitting there in black! She’s trying to steal Chloe’s moment!"
"Ignore her," my dad muttered, wiping sweat from his neck. "Just three more minutes and the wire clears."
The officiant—a high-ranking bishop—stepped forward, holding a gold leather Bible.
"Dearly beloved," the bishop began, his voice echoing through the grand acoustic halls of the cathedral. "We are gathered here today in the presence of God and these witnesses to join Julian Sterling and Chloe Vance in holy matrimony..."
Julian smiled at Chloe, reaching out to take her trembling hands.
"If anyone here knows of any reason why these two should not be joined in holy matrimony," the bishop continued, scanning the silent crowd, "let them speak now, or forever hold their peace..."
The room was completely silent.
My dad let out a quiet sigh of relief. Julian grinned.
May you like
Then, from the back of the cathedral, a loud, metallic THUD echoed through the hall.
The heavy wooden double doors were slammed open.
