Chapter1
1789 Words
White roses.
Wedding bells echoed through the church.
Fiorella stood at the altar, her hands trembling inside her lace gloves.
Across from her stood the groom.
She couldn’t see his face.
The veil blurred everything.
Someone called her name.
“Fiorella…”
She took a step forward.
A gunshot shattered the silence.
The groom staggered backward.
Blood spread across his white shirt.
Guests screamed.
“NO!”
Fiorella bolted upright.
Her chest rose and fell as she struggled to catch her breath.
Her eyes darted around the room.
Dark curtains.
Cream-colored walls.
The familiar chandelier hanging above her.
It was her bedroom.
Not the church.
She pressed a trembling hand against her chest and forced herself to breathe.
“…It was just a dream.”
Yet the gunshot still echoed in her mind.
She leaned back against the headboard and rubbed a hand over her face.
Today…
It was finally her wedding day.
Her gaze drifted to the clock on the bedside table.
6:08 a.m.
“So this is how my wedding day begins.”
A humorless laugh escaped her lips.
No one had ever asked whether she wanted this marriage.
The decision had been made months ago.
All anyone expected from her…
Was to show up.
She slipped out of bed and walked toward the window.
Cars filled the streets as shopkeepers unlocked their doors and commuters hurried along the sidewalks, each chasing a future that still belonged to them.
Fiorella rested her forehead against the cool glass.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been allowed to choose her own future.
A knock interrupted her thoughts.
“Miss Okae?”
She straightened.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
Three maids entered the room.
One carried her wedding gown.
Another held a tray filled with jewelry.
The third pushed in a rack covered with garment bags.
“Good morning, Miss Okae.”
“Good morning.”
The room quickly came to life.
The curtains were drawn open, filling the room with warm morning light. Tiny crystals stitched into her wedding gown shimmered in the sun.
Makeup brushes, perfume bottles, and hair accessories quickly filled the dressing table..
The maids chatted as they hurried from one task to another.
Everyone moved with excitement.
Everyone…
Except the bride.
Fiorella barely heard them.
Her thoughts were somewhere else.
A gentle knock sounded at the door.
Before anyone could answer, it swung open.
“Trying to escape already?”
Fiorella turned.
A smile finally appeared on her face.
“Jenny.”
Jenny walked in with her usual bright grin.
Her smile faded when she noticed Fiorella twisting her gloves.
Fiorella was twisting the lace gloves around her fingers so tightly that tiny creases had formed in the fabric.
“You look nervous.”
“I am.”
Jenny laughed softly.
“I thought brides were supposed to be excited.”
Fiorella glanced at the wedding dress lying across the bed.
“Maybe”
“But today…”
“I’m not sure what I’m supposed to feel.”
Jenny’s smile faded slightly.
She understood better than most.
Jenny studied Fiorella for a moment.
“You’ve been awfully quiet.”
Fiorella smiled faintly.
“I’ve been thinking.”
“I can see that.”
Jenny walked over to the bed and sat beside her.
“You know…”
“Most brides would be counting down the minutes.”
Fiorella lowered her eyes.
“Maybe.”
“You don’t sound convinced.”
She sighed.
“I’ve never met him.”
Jenny frowned.
“Not even once?”
Fiorella shook her head.
“I’ve only seen his picture.”
Jenny blinked.
“I thought the two of you would’ve met before today.”
“So did I.”
A small silence settled between them.
Jenny leaned back.
“You know…”
“I’ve heard all kinds of stories about Billie Ashford.”
Fiorella looked at her.
“What kind of stories?”
Jenny shrugged.
“Depends on who’s telling them.”
“Some people say he’s hard to read.”
“They mistake his quietness for arrogance.”
She smiled.
“But my father met him once.”
“He came home saying Billie was one of the politest men he’d ever met.”
Fiorella lowered her eyes.
“So… which one is true?”
Jenny smiled.
“I guess you’ll find out today.”
Fiorella lowered her eyes.
“…I hope so.”
A knock sounded at the door.
Before anyone could answer, it opened.
Mr. Okae stepped inside.
The smiles disappeared.
The maids immediately stopped what they were doing.
Even Jenny rose to her feet.
His sharp gaze settled on Fiorella.
Without a word, he surveyed the room before speaking.
“Leave us.”
“Yes, sir.”
The maids quietly filed out.
Jenny lingered for a moment.
She looked at Fiorella.
“I’ll wait outside.”
Fiorella gave a small nod.
The door closed behind her.
The room became still.
Father and daughter looked at one another.
Neither spoke first.
Mr. Okae finally walked toward the window.
“The Ashford family called an hour ago.”
Fiorella’s heart skipped.
“Is something wrong?”
He shook his head.
“No.”
“They were confirming today’s schedule.”
She let out a quiet breath.
“I see.”
Mr. Okae turned to face her.
“You don’t look happy.”
Fiorella met her father’s gaze.
“Should I be?”
Mr. Okae’s expression remained calm.
“You are marrying into one of the most respected families in the country.”
“I know.”
“You’ll never have to worry about your future.”
A bitter smile tugged at her lips.
“My future stopped belonging to me the day this marriage was arranged.”
Her father’s expression remained unreadable.
Mr. Okae looked toward the window instead of at her.
His hands were clasped tightly behind his back.
“One day…”
His voice softened for a moment.
“…you’ll understand.”
For a moment, he looked less like the head of the Okae family…
And more like a father trying to convince himself he was doing the right thing.
She let out a quiet laugh.
“That’s what everyone keeps telling me.”
“But no one tells me what I’m supposed to understand.”
Neither of them spoke.
“Billie Ashford is a good man.”
“You’ll learn that in time.”
Fiorella searched his face.
“I hope you’re right.”
She lowered her eyes.
“Because I’m about to marry a complete stranger.”
A quiet sigh escaped Mr. Okae.
He slipped a hand into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small velvet box.
“ I was going to give this to you after the ceremony.”
He placed it gently in her hands.
“But I think today is the right day.”
Fiorella looked down at the box.
Her fingers trembled as she opened it.
Inside lay a delicate necklace.
She froze.
“I thought…”
“…it was buried with Mom.”
“So did everyone else.”
His voice softened for the first time that morning.
“I couldn’t bring myself to let it go.”
His eyes lingered on the necklace.
“It was her favorite.”
A lump formed in Fiorella’s throat.
She remembered seeing it in almost every photograph of her mother.
As a little girl…
She had always wondered where it had gone.
Mr. Okae closed her fingers around the box.
“I think she would’ve wanted you to wear it today.”
For a moment…
Fiorella couldn’t find her voice.
Then she whispered,
“…Thank you.”
Mr. Okae gave a small nod.
“The cars will be ready in thirty minutes.”
He walked toward the door.
His hand rested on the handle.
Without turning around, he said quietly,
“I’m proud of the woman you’ve become.”
The door closed behind him.
Fiorella remained where she was.
The velvet box rested in her hands.
Then…
She carefully lifted the necklace from the box.
Her fingers brushed against the cool silver.
Standing before the mirror…
She fastened it around her neck.
For just a moment…
It felt as though a part of her mother was with her.
A few minutes later…
Jenny returned.
She smiled the moment she saw the necklace.
“It suits you.”
Fiorella looked at her reflection.
“My father gave it to me.”
Jenny’s eyes widened.
“Your mother’s necklace?”
Fiorella nodded.
“I thought it was gone.”
“So did I.”
Jenny adjusted the veil one last time before gently squeezing her hand.
It was the same thing she’d done before every school performance.
Some habits never changed.
She smiled proudly.
“I think that’s the best I’ve ever done.”
Fiorella laughed softly.
“I’ll make sure my future husband thanks you.”
Jenny placed a hand on her chest dramatically.
“He’d better.”
“I worked too hard for this.”
Both of them laughed.
The sound faded as Fiorella’s phone suddenly began to ring.
She frowned.
“Who could that be?”
Jenny picked it up from the dressing table.
She glanced at the screen.
“No name. Just an unknown number.”
Fiorella looked away.
“Leave it.”
“It’ll stop.”
The ringing ceased.
Only for a moment.
Seconds later…
It started again.
Jenny looked back at her.
“Whoever it is…”
“They’re determined.”
Before Fiorella could answer…
There was another knock at the door.
Mr. Okae stepped inside.
His eyes settled on his daughter.
For the first time that morning…
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“You look just like your mother.”
The words caught Fiorella off guard.
She smiled.
“…Thank you.”
He offered her his arm.
“Shall we?”
She slipped her phone into the hidden pocket sewn inside her dress.
Then gently took his arm.
Together…
They walked toward the door.
Halfway down the hallway…
Her phone vibrated again.
Once.
Then again.
She frowned.
Mr. Okae had stopped to greet a few guests ahead of her.
For a moment…
No one was watching.
She quietly took out her phone.
The screen froze.
“…Not now.”
She tapped it with her thumb.
The display responded.
1 New Message.
She hesitated for a second before opening it.
“Don’t go into that church.”
Fiorella stopped walking.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Slowly…
She looked up.
The church doors were only a few steps away.
Guests were waiting.
Her father was waiting.
Everyone was waiting.
Her gaze dropped back to the screen.
Don’t go into that church.
- Writer
