ARIANA POV

“Do you, Ariana Greg, accept Cole Bryson as your lawfully wedded husband?” the pastor asked, his voice calm and steady.

“Yes, I do,” I answered happily, my lips stretching into a smile as I looked at Cole standing before me. He looked breathtaking in his tailored suit, his eyes locked on mine, filled with warmth and promise. The kind of look that made you believe forever was real.

“And do you, Cole Bryson, accept Ariana Greg as your lawfully wedded wife?” the pastor continued.

“Yes, I…”

“Ariana! Ariana, wake up! Wake up and see this news!”

I felt someone shake me hard. My eyes flew open as I gasped, my heart pounding violently against my chest. The image of the altar vanished, replaced by the dim light of my bedroom and the frantic face hovering over me.

Oh my God… it was a dream.

I sucked in a sharp breath, pressing a hand to my chest as I tried to calm my racing heart. My pillow was damp with sweat, and my body still felt warm from the illusion of standing beside Cole, waiting for him to say those final words.

I lifted my head and saw Lyra standing by my bed, her phone clutched tightly in her hand, her face pale and tense.

My eyes hardened immediately.

“Lyra, what kind of nonsense is this?” I snapped, my voice rising despite the lingering sleep in it. “Why did you wake me up like this?”

She didn’t answer immediately, just stared at me with a look I couldn’t understand, fear mixed with pity.

“I was dreaming about Cole and me,” I continued angrily, sitting up. “We were getting married. It just remained for him to say yes. I swear, Lyra, I will beat you to death if you keep disturbing my sleep like this.”

I swung my legs off the bed, about to stand, when she suddenly shoved her phone in front of my face.

I froze.

My entire body went stiff as my eyes focused on the screen.

“Lyra… what’s this?” My voice dropped to a whisper. “Is this one of your stupid pranks? Stop it.”

The picture was clear. Too clear. A wedding hall decorated lavishly. Flowers everywhere. Guests seated. And there, standing at the altar, was Cole.

My Cole.

Beside him was another woman, dressed in white.

“I know you probably photoshopped this,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “You always do things like this. It’s not funny.”

“No, I didn’t,” Lyra said softly. “I know your boyfriend is a cheat. This is all over the internet. Everyone is talking about it. It’s hot news right now. People are commenting a lot of shit about it.”

Her words felt distant, like they were coming from underwater.

“You must be joking,” I laughed nervously.

“Cole went to his grandparents’ house. They live out of the city. He must already be on his way back now.” I swallowed. “We talked this morning.”

“Sister,” Lyra said, her voice breaking. “stop deceiving yourself.”

“I’m not deceiving myself,” I snapped, though my hands had started trembling. “I know my Cole would never do this. He will never marry someone other than me.”

She sighed and took the phone back from me, scrolling before shoving it in my face again.

“It was posted on his official Instagram. The wedding. His parents. Everyone from his family is there. Maybe you should look at the picture again.”

I stared harder this time.

The groom’s smile. The familiar tilt of his head. His parents were seated proudly in the front row. The George family’s emblem displayed behind the altar.

No… no, this can’t be happening.

My chest tightened painfully. My throat burned as if something heavy was lodged there. Yes, Cole loves me. He loves me. He wouldn’t do this.

“That’s right,” I said suddenly, forcing a smile. “He loves me. This must be content. Yes, it’s content. Some kind of publicity stunt.” I nodded repeatedly, trying to convince myself.

“I can never doubt Cole. A relationship without trust won’t last. I believe in him. I believe in us.”

Lyra looked at me like she wanted to cry.

“Sis… I think you should call him.”

“Why should I?” I replied sharply. “I trust my man. I love him a lot. I can never doubt him.” I lifted my hand and shoved my engagement ring toward her face. “Look at this. Don’t forget we’re engaged. The whole world knows he proposed to me. They know how much he loves me.”

My voice cracked, but I ignored it.

“He said after he comes back, he would come with his parents to our house to discuss our wedding,” I continued stubbornly. “So I won’t call. I will wait for him to explain everything.”

Without warning, Lyra grabbed my phone from the bedside table and dialed Cole’s number.

“Stop it!” I hissed, my voice shaking now.

Panic crawled up my spine. Even as I protested, part of me desperately wanted to hear his voice, wanted him to laugh and tell me this was all a misunderstanding.

The phone rang. Once. Twice. My heart hammered violently. Then the call connected. Lyra shoved the phone into my trembling hand.

“Hello,” he said.

His pleasant voice poured through the speaker, familiar and warm, and something inside me shattered instantly.

“Cole…” My voice came out small, broken.

“I saw something on the internet just now. About you having a wedding with the George family’s only daughter.” I swallowed hard. “Is it true?”

There was silence. A long, deadly silence that screamed louder than any denial. My mind went blank.

The room started spinning. The walls seemed to close in on me as my grip on the phone loosened. I heard Lyra calling my name, her voice distant and panicked, but I couldn’t respond.

The last thing I felt was my heart breaking into pieces, and then everything went dark.

ARIANA POV

The scenery outside the car window was one of the few things capable of calming a troubled soul. Endless rows of trees lined the road, their leaves dancing gently with the breeze, sunlight filtering through in soft golden streaks. Nature had always had a way of healing wounds, especially for those who truly loved it.

I watched everything pass by in silence, my forehead resting lightly against the glass.

Yet despite the beautiful view, my heart still felt painfully empty.

I never imagined that the man I had known and loved for seven years would betray me like this. Seven long years of trust, sacrifice, and dreams carefully built together, was destroyed in a single moment. It had been three days since I found out, but his words still echoed loudly in my head, refusing to let me rest.

“I’m sorry, Ariana. Please believe me. I don’t want this either. I just can’t disobey my parents. I love you. Wait for me, I will find some solution.”

Those words replayed like a broken record. My lips trembled as the memory replayed itself, and my chest tightened painfully. If he truly loved me, how could he stand at an altar and say vows to another woman? How could love be so weak in the face of parental pressure?

I never knew the man I was dating was nothing more than a toy in his parents’ hands.

A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it.

“Ariana, are you crying again?” Lyra asked softly, turning to look at me.

“No, I’m not,” I lied quickly, wiping my cheeks with the back of my hand.

She frowned. “You better not cry for him. You promised Mom, Dad, and me that you wouldn’t cry over him again.”

I looked at her, my vision blurring as fresh tears welled up. Without another word, I leaned forward and hugged her tightly. My body shook as everything I had been holding back poured out.

“Please, let me cry it out,” I whispered. “I promise, this will be my last tear over him.” My voice cracked. “I should have listened to you all when you said he and his parents weren’t good people.”

Lyra wrapped her arms around me as I continued, my words spilling out uncontrollably.

“Because of me, our parents helped his family so much in their business. They stood by them when no one else would. But now that they’ve made a name for themselves, they chose the daughter of an official instead.” I laughed bitterly through my tears. “So now I, the daughter of a businessman, am no longer worthy of him.”

“It’s okay,” Lyra murmured, rubbing my back gently. “I understand your pain. Cry it out. Once you’re done, your mind will find peace.”

She pulled back slightly and looked at me seriously.

“But from now on, open your eyes when choosing a man. Don’t ever date a scumbag again.”

I nodded weakly. “Okay.”

I rested my head on her shoulder, staring blankly outside as the road stretched endlessly ahead of us. I felt drained, empty, like something vital had been ripped out of me.

“Ariana, stand up,” Lyra said after a while, shaking me gently. “We’ve arrived.”

“Oh… we’re already here?” I asked, lifting my head.

The car had stopped in front of a large gated compound. My eyes widened slightly as I took in the familiar sight.

My maternal grandparents’ house.

I had been asked to come here to spend some time, to relax, to heal, and to forget him.

The car drove in and parked. As I stepped out, the air immediately felt different, cleaner, quieter. The familiar scent of earth and old trees filled my lungs. Memories of childhood laughter, secret hideouts, and peaceful evenings flooded my mind.

I loved my grandparents deeply. They were influential people. My grandfather was a retired army major, disciplined and feared by many. My grandmother was a retired Minister of Foreign Affairs, elegant and sharp-minded. Yet despite their status, most people didn’t know of our connection to them.

Not even Cole. They had only given birth to my mother, choosing a private life afterward.

“Hey, look who’s here, Aaron!” Grandma’s cheerful voice rang out. “My beautiful princess has arrived!”

I turned to see her walking toward us with a bright smile, arms open wide. Lyra and I rushed forward.

“Good afternoon, Grandma,” we said in unison, hugging her tightly.

“Good afternoon, my dear. How are you?” she asked warmly.

“We’re fine,” Lyra answered quickly.

Grandma’s eyes shifted to me knowingly.

“Yes, I know you’re fine, but you don’t have to speak for her.”

She clicked her tongue. “We warned you about that small boy. I even offered to introduce you to better ones, but no. Now you’re bearing the consequences.”

“Grandma,” I said weakly, “you shouldn’t be saying that now. You’re making me feel worse. You should be pampering me, I just got my heart broken.”

She paused, then sighed. “Alright, my child. Since you’ve said that, I’ll give you the best treatment. Let’s go inside.”

The house was as silent as ever. My grandparents loved quietness. They lived simply, with only one guard and one maid, both of whom had become family over the years.

“Hey, Gramps!” I said excitedly as I spotted him sitting in the living room. “How are you? I missed you.”

“I missed you too, my princess,” he replied, pulling me into a hug. “Come here, Lyra.”

Lyra stepped forward obediently, hugging him as well. She had always been a little afraid of his stern appearance.

“Go upstairs and shower,” Grandma said.

“After that, come down to eat.”

“Alright,” I replied. “We really need it. I’m starving.”

I dragged Lyra upstairs playfully, and we headed to our shared room.

The moment I closed my bedroom door behind me, all the strength I had been holding onto vanished. I collapsed against the door, sliding down slowly until I was seated on the floor.

“No, Ariana,” I whispered to myself. “You can’t break down. You have to stay strong, for your family’s sake.” I clenched my fists. “You can’t fall apart over a man who isn’t worthy of it.”

I wiped my tears harshly. “You’re smart. You’re beautiful. You’re independent. A well-established woman at that.” I took a deep breath. “I will never cry over him again.”

I stood up and walked toward the balcony, my favorite place in the house. The cool breeze brushed against my face as I stepped outside. From here, I could see the entire Crest Town spread out before me. Though small, the town housed many influential retired figures, powerful men and women who had once ruled boardrooms, armies, and governments.

A place of silence. Of history. Of power.

“I’m back, Crest Town!” I shouted suddenly, my voice echoing faintly. As the sound faded, a strange sensation crawled up my spine.

I felt it. Someone was watching me.

My heart skipped as I slowly turned toward the direction of the gaze and froze.

I was speechless.

Shocked.

ARIANA POV

I felt it again. That strange, unsettling awareness that someone was watching me.

Slowly, almost hesitantly, I lifted my head and looked toward the neighboring house, the one beside ours. Grandpa Ronan’s house. I had always known it was occupied, but I had never really paid attention to who lived there.

Until now.

A man stood on the balcony. He was tall, broad-shouldered, dressed simply, yet there was nothing ordinary about him. He stood with a quiet authority, his posture straight and commanding, as though the space itself bent slightly to his presence.

His face was sharp, handsome in a way that didn’t feel gentle but powerful. His eyes, dark and unreadable, even from this distance, seemed to pierce straight through me.

He was looking directly at me. My breath caught in my throat. Who is he? Why is he there? My mind raced. Could he be Grandpa Ronan’s grandson? A visitor? Someone important? I had heard rumors that influential people often stayed around Crest Town, but this, this felt different.

The moment stretched uncomfortably. Then, suddenly, he looked away. As if my shout earlier had disturbed him. Heat rushed to my face, embarrassment flooding me. Oh God. That was so embarrassing. I didn’t even know someone was nearby when I shouted like that.

Without thinking, I turned and ran back inside, closing the balcony door behind me and throwing myself onto the bed. My heart raced wildly, my chest rising and falling as if I had just run miles.

Wow. That man… he was handsome.

Not just handsome, he looked powerful. Dangerous, even. The kind of man who didn’t need to raise his voice to command respect. The kind people listened to.

If only I had met him earlier, before I met that scumbag Cole.

The thought slipped in uninvited, and I found myself giggling softly, covering my mouth immediately as guilt followed. When did I turn into someone who imagined herself with a stranger?

“Stop it, Ariana,” I muttered, knocking lightly on my forehead. “You’re someone whose heart was just broken, remember?”

I exhaled deeply, trying to steady myself. Attraction didn’t mean healing. It didn’t mean forgetting. It was just a passing thought, nothing more. Still… handsome men truly were a cure for many things.

Shaking my head, I stood up and went into the bathroom. The sound of running water filled the space as I stepped under the shower, letting the warm water cascade down my body. It washed away the lingering tension, the embarrassment, and some of the heaviness in my chest.

After my bath, I dressed in a simple gown, nothing fancy, just comfortable, and headed downstairs.

“Grandma! Is the table set? I’m hungry,” I shouted as soon as I reached the living room.

“Yes, dear. Come to the dining table,” she replied.

“Coming!” I said, jogging toward the dining area.

“Come, sit here, my dear,” Grandma said, patting the seat beside her.

I paused.

That seat was usually Lyra’s. I preferred sitting beside Grandpa, while Lyra sat with Grandma. The change made something tighten in my chest.

Maybe it was because they knew I was hurt.

“Alright,” I said softly, taking the seat.

I served myself quickly and began eating. In our family, meals were quiet, no talking, no distractions. Just the soft clinking of cutlery and the occasional glance exchanged.

Soon, we were done and moved into the sitting room.

“Ariana, my dear,” my grandmother said gently, folding her hands on her lap. “We would like to talk to you.”

My heart skipped.

“Alright,” I replied, forcing a small smile. “I’m all ears. I’m listening.”

“As you know, you are the first child,” she began. “Lyra is the second.”

I nodded slowly, confusion flickering through me. I knew this already, why was she saying it now?

“She is already engaged and will soon be married to the man introduced by us,” Grandma continued. “We can say it was an arranged marriage meant for you originally. But you didn’t like him because you were with Cole.”

My stomach tightened.

“So we introduced him to Lyra instead, and they liked each other.”

I swallowed hard. What is all this? I already know this, so what is she insinuating?

“We have always let you do what you wanted,” she went on. “We supported you. Trust your decisions.” Her eyes softened. “But this time, we have also arranged your marriage with someone.”

The words hit me like a slow, creeping wave.

“But the decision lies with you,” she added quickly. “We will not force you into anything.”

I sat frozen, my hands clenched tightly in my lap.

“You will meet him tomorrow night,” Grandma said. “At the party we are all attending.”

A party. A man. An arranged marriage, again. My mind spun as a thousand emotions crashed into me at once: shock, confusion, fear, resistance. Cole’s face flashed briefly in my mind, followed by the image of the man on the balcony, silent, commanding, watching.

I didn’t know what scared me more.