Abandoned At The Alltar, Married His Rival

I was getting married to the love of my life, billionaire mogul James Calloway, but it had been an hour since I was supposed to walk down the aisle to him, and he was nowhere to be found.

I tried calling him, thinking this was all a joke but all his calls weren't going through. The paparazzi were all flashing their cameras at me, ready to publish vicious gossip about the latest scandal in town.

I stood frozen at the centre of the church, my gown wrapping around my body too tight. My heart was pounding as the crowd got louder, with whispers and gasps.

Another couple of cameras flashed in my face again, blinding me for a moment. My head was hurting as my hands clutching the flowers trembled.

James wasn’t coming to the wedding.

My fiancé has abandoned me at the altar.

I could hear my best friend and chief bridesmaid calling him over and over on her phone with no response, leaving messages and begging him to show up.

But I already knew he was gone. I could barely look at my parents but I could hear my mother's murmurs as she blamed me for disgracing her in front of her friends and society.

This was going to be the largest scandal of the century.

‘Elle King, daughter and heir of business mogul Macmillan King, left at the altar by a billionaire fiancee, James Calloway .’

I tried my best to hold back my tears but I couldn't. It only got worse as the phones of the crowd all pinged and their eyes all landed on me with pity.

My best friend gasped and turned the phone towards me. I blinked, staring at the screen.

It was the picture of my fiance leaning into another woman; her face was hidden by the angle but it was obvious they were kissing.

The headline read:

‘James Calloway was spotted with a mystery woman kissing on the balcony of a hotel.’

I heard whispers from the crowd.

“James never loved her; all this while she forced herself on him,” a girl said.

“I knew a famous handsome playboy like James would never settle for a woman as ugly and plain as her.” Another snickered, their harsh laughter tore through the air and my knees felt weak under me.

I choked on air, a whimper leaving my lips. How could he do this to me?

I was trying to calm myself when the grand doors of the cathedral flung wide open, and all heads turned. My eyes landed on the huge man standing at the doorway.

My vision was blurry as the man strode into the church in a black tuxedo. I frowned as he came closer, his features familiar; he was no one else but Cain Blackwood, James’s biggest business rival.

He had the largest communications company in New York, just a little bigger than James' father's company. I was surprised to see him here; he was always away on business and his showing up at my wedding was a shock.

His deep, smooth voice cut through the chaos in the church as he got closer.

“Pathetic, isn’t it?”

He watched me with amusement and something else in his eyes.

The crowd watched us with interest. Cain was a businessman, ruthless, feared, and always two steps ahead of his enemies.

I clenched my fists, “What do you want?” I snapped.

He took a step forward, his lips curling into a smirk. “What I want is not important. What do you need, Elle?”

I took in a breath. I wanted James to suffer. But right now all I wanted to do was disappear from this humiliation.

“You want revenge,” he asked. “I can give it to you.”

My heart stuttered.

“I’m here to make an offer.” He stepped closer. “Marry me.”

I took in a sharp inhale. “What?”

He tilted his head. “James ruined you. But if you become my wife, you can change that.” His voice was slow. “Instead of the humiliated bride, you become the woman who married his biggest rival.”

“This is insane; I can't just marry you without thinking,” I whispered.

He shrugged. “Right now, they’re telling everyone you are the tragic victim. But if you walk out of here with me,. You become untouchable.”

Could I do this? Marry the man James hated more than anyone for revenge?

“Think carefully, Elle. Because if you say yes, I won’t let you back out.”

The words settled over me, and I knew Cain Blackwood didn’t do anything without reason. He had something to gain from this, but so did I.

James would never see it coming.

“Fine,” I whispered. “I’ll do it.”

His lips curled. “Good choice.”

Before I could think about it longer, he held out his arm. I slipped my hand into his elbow.

And then we walked up to the altar together.