Ellie POV
The aisle stretched ahead of me like a battlefield, polished marble reflecting crystal chandeliers overhead, velvet ropes framing the path. I could hear the muted whispers of the crowd, the occasional click of a camera, the faint scent of roses and polished metals mingling with the softest hint of champagne.
And then I saw him.
Reign Sinclair, waiting at the altar. The sight nearly knocked the air from my lungs. Sharp, fresh suit, hair carefully tousled yet deliberate, blue eyes catching the light in a way that almost — almost — softened him. My pulse stuttered. Not that I would admit it.
He smirked, just slightly, the kind of smirk that dared me to show even the tiniest flicker of emotion. I straightened my spine, lifted my chin, and took a careful breath. Step by step, I mo
