THE BILLIONAIRE'S RECLAIMED BRIDE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER ONE

ISABELLE

It was in moments like this that I wished I was not my father's daughter.

The church is filled to the brim with people in attendance. This was more than just a wedding, it was the joining of two powerful families, and everyone who was someone in society had been invited.

I'd stopped listening to the priest a while ago, and now I was focused on calming my heart which was beating erratically. My husband's unfaltering megawatt smile and My father's reassuring nods did nothing to make this moment any less daunting.

Ethan and I had been engaged for 2 years prior to this wedding. We'd gone out a few times in public "to get to know each other " as our parents had so gracefully put it. He was a nice man and had never treated me badly, if anything I'd say he liked me a little too much, but that didn't change the fact that I was not in love with him. He wasn't even Italian. Father hadn't minded though and neither did I. This marriage would benefit both families and that was all that mattered.

"If anyone has a reason why these two should not be joined together in holy matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace"

The words of the priest echoed in the building. For some reason, the church seemed to become more quiet and I looked around the congregation with held breath. Ethan's hands tighten around mine, drawing my attention back to him. I muster up a brief smile beneath my veil and his gets wider. He's grinning from ear to ear now, but a dreadful feeling settles in the pit of my stomach.

Just as the priest begins to proceed with the ceremony, there's a gust of wind and a loud noise as the church doors swing open. "I hate to be that guy, but I believe you have the wrong bride"

A few gasps ring through the guests as the owner of the voice walks into the church. Curious set of eyes follow the tall impressive figure clad in an expensive suit with astonishment as he slowly walks down the church aisle, making his way towards the altar. My own shocked gasp rises above the murmurs as I feel the blood rush to my head making me lightheaded. I think I'm actually going to throw up. Ethan's firm grip on me is the only thing keeping me upright, but even that doesn't last long as I feel his hands tremble slightly when the intruder reaches us at the altar and pins him with a challenging glare.

"Well, maybe not the wrong bride, but this one is mine"

"Santi?" my voice is barely a whisper. His eyes burn fiercely into mine, without a shred of familiarity. The church suddenly grows colder and my skin prickles with goosebumps. I feel Ethan turn to look at me as if expecting an explanation to try and make sense of whatever this is. Receiving no response from me, he turns back to the man whose glare is now directed at me "How dare you come in here and make such outrageous claims? Who are you? You have no right to be here!"

My father snaps out of his state of shock and rises to his feet suddenly "What do you think you are doing here?" Sebastian Gallo has always been a fearless and well-respected man. Very few people had dared to challenge him, ever. But right now his authority sounded forced and it seemed to have no effect on this man before us.

"Claiming what's mine" he looks away from me and turns to my father, acknowledging him for the first time since he walked in.

"Nonsense. I have no idea what you are talking about. Leave" He knows exactly what he's talking about. Oh my goodness, this can't be happening. I feel myself get faint.

"You don't?" one perfect eyebrow rises as he gives my father a contemptuous look. "This document says otherwise" he stretches out his hand to my father. The paper in it has two seals stamped on it. One of the seals clearly belongs to my family. I watch the colour drain from my father's face when his eyes fall on the paper. He doesn't reach out to take it though, instead, he recoils and staggers backwards as if repelled by the sight of it.

The priest clears his throat loudly behind us. "I'm sure there has been a mistake somewhere"

Ethan stutters beside me "Y..yes, I'm sure this is all just a misunderstanding"

Ethan's parents look more embarrassed than shocked as they watch the events unfold from their place on the pews. Fiona wrings her hands frantically, her face turning redder than just her blush. His father finally speaks up. Addressing my father, "Sebastian? Care to explain what this is?"

My father tries and fails to feign ignorance. "There is nothing to worry about. This man is an intruder, and he will be treated accordingly" Turning to the church doors, "Guards!"... Nothing. No one comes to answer him. "Guards!" still nothing. His gaze whips back to Santiago's. The panic on his face obvious to everyone.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Your men are not… available, I'm afraid." turning to Ethan and his family with mock sympathy, "And while I would love to fill you in on what's going on, it's really not my place to tell and I quite frankly do not care about your confusion." he yanks me out of Ethan's hands and into his arms. Lifting me off my feet in one swift motion, completely ignoring my sounds of protest as he marches out of the church. "Hey, you can't do that!" Ethan's voice sounds alarmed and I struggle further. Just before he exits the building, I look over his shoulder, staring one last time at the altar. When I'd walked in, it had looked imposing and I'd taken my time walking in slowly on my father's arms. Now I was being carried away from it, I suddenly wanted to run towards it and remain there. Nobody dares to stop him as he makes his way down the aisle, between the rows of church pews and obvious stares of bewilderment. I go limp in his arms, the fight leaving me when he steps outside and I see men wearing suits, stationed outside the church. They don't belong to my father. I see a number of my father's men lying unconscious on the ground, the few conscious ones are being held hostage by these new men.

There are three cars parked on the street, a man comes to open one of the doors for us. Santiago places me inside and gets in himself, the engine comes to life as we drive off immediately. Away from the church and its over-decorated altar, away from my husband and most importantly, away from my family.