Viviene's POV

The Donovan Mansion buzzes with excitement. Past the lavish gates, the world pushes ahead, longing to witness a luxury event. Outside the estate, cameramen, reporters, and socialites form a crowd, their voices undulating like waves on a rocky shore. They came for one reason: The Wedding of the Year. Between I, Viviene Donovan and the powerful Damien Calloway.

The air inside brims with a rich scent of roses and wood, as chandeliers illuminate the marble in golden light. All surfaces sparkle, highlighting the Donovan family's crafted elegance. Footsteps rush through the corridors as maids carry satin and lace, while stylists navigate the chaos, making adjustments.

I'm in the middle of it all.

I look at my flawless, doll-like image in the dressing room mirror. A soft blush on my cheeks, pearls in my hair, and lace from my veil floating over my shoulders. Everything's set. All is as planned.

My gown gleamed with luxury. It hugs my body fully with a bodice blinged out in pearls and diamonds, flowing into an enclosed chiffon convoy that overflows on the floor like glowing waves. This gown captures everyone's view and stops the crowd in their tracks. This is me.

I smile and lift my phone to my ear as Damien's smooth voice comes through.

"We'll meet soon."

Warmth fills me as I finish the call, my heart racing.

Damien Calloway.

Billionaire. Power broker. The man every woman dreams of marrying is mine.

I ignore the envious murmurs of gold-diggers. They do not understand what it is to be chosen. To attract a man like Damien.

The world will see it today.

Today, I take on the name Viviene Calloway.

I stand, gliding my hands over the gown, enjoying the soft silk on my fingers.

The mansion buzzes with activity outside.

In a flurry, staff verify final arrangements. The gardens now resemble a dream, with white flowers climbing gold arches and candlelit paths shining in the sun. Guests flock in stylish gowns and suits, excited to join the Donovan-Calloway union.

(At the Venue)

The crowd at the church is growing.

The Sanctum de Luna Cathedral showcases old-world elegance with its ivory stone and stained glass. The pews overflow, and the aisle shines like marble, bordered by tall white roses. The press waits outside, capturing every moment with bright flashes.

The crowd goes silent.

An elegant, custom car moves through the iron gates of the cathedral.

Damien Calloway's new purchase.

Aeternum Knight stands as the first hyper-luxury grand tourer. Its carbon-fibre body, midnight black, absorbs light for an ethereal shine. The edges look fierce yet elegant. A machine from a future where power is commanded and not requested. A phoenix emblem shines on the hood, symbolizing rebirth and power.

The doors rise open, straight and smooth.

Then came Damien.

He exits the car, embodying strength and control. His tailored three-piece suit fits him perfectly, featuring an ink-black colour with a slight shine. His dress shirt's crisp white collar reveals a hint of golden skin and a subtle smirk.

The cameras go wild.

Flashes light him up like a god coming to take his throne. He walks slowly, making a statement with each step. The crowd recognizes him without his acknowledgement.

A car arrives moments later.

Sleek. White. Elegant. Weaving through the crowd and past my car. It slows down beside my car and I wonder why. I don't have the time to process that before I catch a glimpse of my parents car.

The Donovan family crest features a rose wrapped around a dagger, shining on the hood. My parents exit first, smiling brightly and holding hands in triumph. This marks the peak of their efforts and sacrifices. Their daughter weds the city's most powerful man.

Reporters rush in, microphones aimed at them.

"Mr. Donovan! How does it feel to be hosting the wedding of the year?"

"Viviene's dress is stunning! Who designed it?"

"Mrs. Rachael, any last words before your daughter becomes Mrs. Calloway?"

They respond kindly, embodying wealth and poise.

It's finally time.

I breathe out, finding my balance.

This is it.

As soon as I exit, I belong to him.

I hold my hand near the handle.

Inhale deeply.

I open the door.

Silence greets me.

Not the anticipation of admiration I had envisioned I would receive from the spectators because of my beauty, but of something else. Before me is someone I never thought was alive.

In an ivory satin vision. A train flowing behind her like liquid moonlight. Hair styled in graceful waves, soft strands outline her face.

Aria.

Exiting Damien's car.

Wearing a wedding dress.

The world tilts.

I feel a chill that freezes my limbs and leaves me breathless.

(Viviene's pov)

Shock. Surprise. Pain.

I'm not sure what's going on inside me, but I can tell it's not happiness. Just a little while ago, I felt so happy, and now I'm feeling really upset and mad.

Clasps in a shimmering white wedding gown is Aria, that b*tch who was supposed to be dead.

"Mom" I gaze at my mother only to see that she is as shocked as I am. How is Aria still living? We left her inside a burning building, so how?

(Aria's pov)

I descend the car with grace, and I feel a million and one stares, trying to bore a hole through my body. Every time those camera lights shine, I realize how much my life has transformed; I'm definitely in the limelight.

I'm not Aria Donovan anymore, the one everyone used to walk all over; I've risen from the ashes!

I take a look at the red carpet. The bride is meant to walk through this carpet with her father, but I am with Damien, my husband-to-be. I did not consider it a loss as I held onto him tightly before stepping on the red carpet.

"Oh my gosh! What is happening? Two brides? Is this some sort of joke?" I hear someone say in the crowd.

"I think not? Another one counter. "I think the one with Damien is the real bride, if not, she wouldn't be walking arms in arms with him. See how shocked Viviene is, I'm sure she wasn't expecting this?"

"Hah!. She earned it; just a little while ago, she was strutting around like the bride, throwing us crazy looks and acting all high and mighty. Who would have thought her karma would hit her quicker than a flash of lightning? She's so proud. I don't like her." Another person says.

"She is so delusional, even wearing a wedding gown, on another person's wedding day? How could their family be so daft not to see that Damien Calloway wasn't even dating their second daughter like she claimed." The whispers go on and on, and I can hear the whispers from the surrounding socialites.

It's funny, though, some couple of days ago, these people were all fawning at Viviene and would have joined her in ruining my life if she had called for backup, but now, they all changed tone faster than flipping a book.

Human beings are fickle!

Of course, their fickleness is of no concern to me as I walk through the red carpet, my eyes scanning the venue looking for my sweet step-sister Viviene.

Halfway to the priests, I feel a dangerous stare like that of a venomous snake crawling through my neck. I turn slightly and see Viviene, in her pretty wedding gown glaring at me like a predator.

Her frustrated and venomous appearance is as sweet as honey to my soul, I give her a small smile and a mouth pout to her, "This is just the beginning!"

Yes! This truly is just the beginning, I will make her life and that of her heartless mother miserable because they took everything from me. My mother, my happy family tried to kill me twice.

Considering the evil they had done, I am completely a saint for just taking her groom on their wedding day and of truth, the groom has nothing like feelings for her! Their wedding is just a business deal.

Damien and I are on the altar now, not even minding their venomous views on us. Cameras are still flashing outside, and gossip is flying around the venue. Damien's parents are already dead, and his uncles have nothing of a close relationship with him; they would rather attend his funeral than his wedding.

His grandmother, the only person who would have been here for him, is seriously ill and in no condition to attend a wedding.

Looking at Damien, it dawns on me that we have many things in common; we both have no one to celebrate us on this day; it's just us!

The priest starts the reading of the vows, preaching about marriage and the sacredness of marriage. The priest was particularly enthusiastic about the sentence, one wife as he kept glancing to Viviene while he was speaking.

I glanced at Viviene and saw that she was almost losing her cool, but Rachael, the great witch, was holding her down.

"He is soon going to be mine," I mouthed again, this time, taking Damien's hands into my arms.

The part where the priest said the lines, "If you have a reason why this couple should not be together, speak or forever hold your peace," just came immediately. I provoked Viviene, and without thinking, she shouted.

Instantly, everyone turned to her; she was also dressed in a wedding gown, so she was already easy to spot.

Hearing Viviene's voice, I screamed in my mind." Finally!" I had been waiting for her to come out and speak. I had started believing that she wasn't at a point, knowing how much Dad hated being in the headlines. I aimed to humiliate her; just crashing the wedding wasn't enough. I wanted her to experience the love of her life rejecting her directly and brutally.

I confidently turned around and confronted Viviene. "Why sister, what is the problem?" I said, my voice gentle and full of innocence.

"Aria, you jerk!" Viviene yelled my name with a ton of anger as she shoved Racheal aside and marched to the middle of the hall.

"It's my wedding day, and everyone knows it! How could you just take the groom away like that? How can you even call yourself my sister?"

She wanted to win people over, but deep down, she still thought about getting back with Damien despite what most folks believed. Too bad that all the socialites were already against Viviene and no one wanted to cross Damien, so they just acted like she wasn't there.

"Damien, what are you doing with her? You love me, don't you remember?" Viviene turned to Damien and cried out.

I looked at Damien, honestly curious about how he'd respond to Viviene. He did this because I kind of forced him, after all.

"Viviene, the deal between our grandparents was for me to marry the eldest daughter of the Donovan house, you are not the eldest daughter, are you?" Damien gives Viviene a disapproving look as he was done but I felt like the fool Instead.

Contract? Grandparents? Eldest daughter?

What is this? Does this mean that Damien is my rightful husband?

I look at Damien in shock!