Chapter 1: The Wedding Day
1200 Words
"Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
The priest's voice echoed through the grand cathedral.
Elena Hart stood frozen.
Her hands trembled beneath the delicate lace gloves she wore. The expensive white gown hugging her body felt heavier than it should, as though it carried the weight of every secret she had buried over the years.
Hundreds of guests filled the church.
Business tycoons.
Politicians.
Celebrities.
People whose names appeared in magazines and television broadcasts.
Yet Elena felt completely alone.
Her emerald eyes lifted to the man standing opposite her.
Damien Blackwood.
The most powerful billionaire in the country.
The man every woman wanted.
The man everyone feared.
His sharp gray eyes remained fixed on her.
Cold.
Unreadable.
Dangerous.
The tailored black suit he wore made him look less like a groom and more like a king preparing to claim his throne.
Or perhaps an executioner waiting for his victim.
The thought sent a shiver through her body.
Damien noticed.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You look nervous."
His deep voice was barely above a whisper.
Elena forced a smile.
"Shouldn't every bride be nervous?"
"Not this nervous."
His gaze lingered on her face.
As if searching for something.
As if trying to read her thoughts.
Elena quickly looked away.
If Damien discovered what she had seen three nights ago, everything would fall apart.
Everything.
The priest cleared his throat.
"Miss Hart?"
The entire church waited.
Elena swallowed.
"I do."
Applause erupted around them.
The ceremony continued.
Yet a terrible feeling settled deep inside her chest.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
And she couldn't shake it.
Three nights earlier.
Rain hammered against the windshield of Elena's car.
The road leading to Blackwood Manor was nearly deserted.
She had forgotten her phone after dinner and returned to retrieve it.
Simple.
Or at least it should have been.
As she approached the estate, she noticed headlights near the old guest house.
Strange.
That building hadn't been used in years.
Curiosity got the better of her.
She parked and stepped into the rain.
Thunder cracked across the sky.
The closer she moved, the louder the voices became.
A man.
And a woman.
Arguing.
Fiercely.
She stopped near a window.
The curtains were partially open.
Inside stood Sophia Sinclair.
Elena's best friend.
Sophia looked furious.
Across from her was an older man Elena vaguely recognized from one of Damien's business meetings.
"What are you doing here?" Sophia snapped.
"I want my money."
"You've already been paid."
"Not enough."
Sophia laughed coldly.
"You should be grateful you're still alive."
Elena frowned.
What were they talking about?
Then everything happened at once.
The man grabbed Sophia's arm.
Sophia reached into her purse.
A gun appeared.
Elena gasped.
Bang!
The gunshot exploded through the room.
The man staggered backward.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Elena's heart nearly stopped.
The man collapsed.
Dead.
Sophia stared at the body.
Breathing heavily.
Then she spoke words Elena would never forget.
"No one can know the truth."
Elena stumbled backward.
A branch snapped beneath her foot.
Crack.
Sophia's head whipped toward the window.
Their eyes met.
For one terrifying second.
Sophia saw her.
Present Day.
The wedding reception was in full swing.
Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead.
Guests laughed and celebrated.
Champagne flowed endlessly.
Yet Elena couldn't enjoy any of it.
She kept feeling Sophia's eyes on her.
Watching.
Waiting.
Planning.
A waiter approached.
"Miss Hart."
"Yes?"
"Someone asked me to give you this."
He handed her a folded note.
Elena frowned.
"Who?"
The waiter shook his head.
"I don't know."
Then he disappeared into the crowd.
Elena unfolded the paper.
Her blood turned cold.
Meet me behind the cliff overlook.
Right now.
If you want to know the truth about the murder.
The note slipped from her fingers.
Murder.
Someone knew.
Someone else had witnessed what happened.
Her pulse raced.
Should she tell Damien?
No.
Not yet.
If the note was genuine, she needed answers first.
She quietly slipped away from the reception.
No one noticed.
Or so she thought.
The evening air was cold.
Dark clouds covered the sky.
The cliff overlook stood several hundred yards from the estate.
Elena wrapped her arms around herself as she approached.
The ocean crashed violently against the rocks below.
The sound was deafening.
She looked around.
Nothing.
No one.
"Hello?"
Silence.
"Who's there?"
Still nothing.
Fear crawled up her spine.
Then a voice spoke behind her.
"I knew you'd come."
Elena froze.
Slowly turning around.
Her heart stopped.
"Sophia?"
Sophia stepped from the shadows.
The moonlight illuminated her face.
But something was different.
Gone was the friendly smile Elena had known for years.
This woman looked like a stranger.
A monster wearing Sophia's face.
"You sent the note?"
Sophia smiled.
"Of course."
Elena took a step backward.
"Why?"
Sophia laughed.
"Because you're becoming a problem."
"What are you talking about?"
"You saw something you shouldn't have seen."
Elena's stomach dropped.
The murder.
Sophia knew.
"You killed that man."
The words came out as a whisper.
Sophia didn't deny it.
Instead, she smiled.
"Smart girl."
Fear exploded through Elena.
"Why?"
"He was threatening me."
Sophia shrugged.
"It wasn't personal."
"You murdered him."
"And now you've become a witness."
The wind howled around them.
Elena backed away again.
"You won't get away with this."
Sophia's eyes darkened.
"Oh, but I already have."
Elena turned.
Ready to run.
But another figure stepped from the darkness.
A man.
Large.
Intimidating.
Blocking her path.
Her breathing became erratic.
"No..."
Sophia sighed dramatically.
"You should have minded your own business."
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
"Why are you doing this?"
The answer came instantly.
"Because Damien belongs to me."
The words hit harder than a slap.
"What?"
Sophia's face twisted with jealousy.
"Do you know how long I've loved him?"
She stepped closer.
"He was supposed to choose me."
Another step.
"Not some poor nobody."
Elena shook her head.
"Damien doesn't love you."
Sophia's expression became murderous.
"No."
She smiled slowly.
"He loves you."
The hatred in her voice was terrifying.
For the first time, Elena realized the truth.
Sophia hated her.
Always had.
Every smile.
Every compliment.
Every act of friendship.
A lie.
A complete lie.
Tears blurred Elena's vision.
"You were my best friend."
Sophia laughed.
"And you were a fool."
The words shattered something inside Elena.
She glanced toward the estate.
The lights seemed miles away.
No one could hear her.
No one could help her.
Sophia moved closer.
"So here's the funny thing."
"What?"
"The police will believe you slipped."
Elena's heart pounded violently.
"What are you saying?"
Sophia's smile widened.
"Goodbye, Elena."
Everything happened in an instant.
Sophia shoved her.
Hard.
Elena lost her balance.
Her heel slipped against loose gravel.
The world tilted.
"No!"
Her scream pierced the darkness.
For a brief moment, she saw Sophia standing at the edge of the cliff.
Watching.
Smiling.
Then gravity claimed her.
The air rushed past her ears.
The ocean below grew closer.
Closer.
Closer.
A single thought flashed through her mind.
Damien.
She would never see him again.
Never learn the truth.
Never know why her life had become a nightmare.
The rocks raced toward her.
And then—
Darkness swallowed Everything.
- Writer
