SHADOW

CHAPTER ONE

The veil was heavy. Not just on her head but on her entire existence. Each lace felt like a chain, a shackle tying her to a life that wasn't her's and will never be her's, after all she's just a substitute for her sister.

Her name was Aurora-but that name didn't matter anymore,from now on all she was, was a mere substitute for her sister.

It felt like a dream when her father found out 2 nights ago that her sister had fled just to escape the wedding, he wasn't supposed to know before the wedding -but he did, and suddenly the bride was changed to her. She couldn't even refuse when her father had turned to her,eyes red with fury, pointing to the majestic white dress in the center of the room and said the words that shattered her world-"you'll get married to him in her stead".

She walked down the aisle,her heart so sore,hands interlocked with the man who only called her daughter as a formalty,she never felt that parental love from him and here he was acting like a real father would. She never thought she would be the one getting married to the rumored 'devil' of the mafia system. The infamous Antonio De cante of the De Cante empire. Her steps were slow, eyes darting around the room scanning the room and noted the look on different guests, some looking at her with envy for getting married to the most eligible bachelor of the society,she could only look and snare-as if she wanted to be there, some looked at her with disgust for selling herself just for power and wealth-if only they knew it wasn't even up to her others looked at her with pity-pitying her for ending up with someone that only treat her with a sense of duty.

She looked up as she approached the altar that decides her fate, a place she never saw herself especially not with him-and she saw him. Tall,cold. Dressed in a dark suit that looked like it had been stitched from midnight. He was beautiful-not in a boyish manner,but in the way of a blade-sharp,silent,merciless .His prescence was not loud,but it demanded silence.

He barely glanced up at her while she was taking her place on the altar.

This wasn't love. This wasn't romance. This was just business-pure business.

She kept her head bowed as the priest began. She couldn't help but wonder in her mind if he had noticed the change in bride-or he couldn't just cared less after all this wasn't about emotion or love it was just merely a business transaction.

The vows were brief. She whispered her part like she'd rehearsed it a thousand times. Dante's voice was calm,detached. When it was time to kiss the bride, he didn't even touch her. Just nodded and turned to walk down the aisle.

She followed, steps small and measured-potraying the perfect small girl image ever.

Antonio's POV

Antonio stood at the alter,black suit sharp as a blade, watching her walk towards him in white. Head bowed,veil lowered,fingers locked around a flower she probably didn't choose.

Everything about her screamed obedient-submissive, controlled, weak.

But he didn't care, he wasn't marrying her for love or for her beauty.This was payment.

A deal carved in blood between both families too steeped in violence to back out now.He heard that his original bride-serena-had run off nights before the wedding. coward . But Lucas, desperate to save face ,shoved another daughter into her place like nothing happened.

Aurora

He hadn't even heard her voice ever.

She stopped in front of him,not once looking him in the eyes.

He could feel the weight of the crowd behind them-mafia lieutenants,fake smiles and enemies in tailored suits. Watching and whispering.Wondering if he would reject her.

He almost did.

But then she lifted her chin for the priest to begin and he caught it...a flicker.Just for a second

There beneath the veil,in those calm eyes.

Not fear.Not sorrow

Stillness-cold,controlled. trained

He narrowed his eyes. intertesting

The vows passed by like smoke she repeated them without, stumbling voice soft feminie

But steady- almost practiced

He said his with less emotions than a contract

I do.

And then it was done the crowd applauded.champagne poured

She didn't meet his gaze not once.