chapter 4. I DO
1174 Words
"Marry him... and you'll become a widow before sunrise."
The words blurred before my eyes.
A cold shiver crawled down my spine.
My fingers loosened, and the card slipped onto the marble floor.
The chapel fell into complete silence.
James bent down, picked up the card, and read it again.
His expression never changed.
But I noticed the muscle in his jaw tighten.
He folded the card and slipped it into his pocket.
"The ceremony continues."
I stared at him in disbelief.
"What?"
The officiant blinked.
"Mr. Sterling... there's a bomb under the altar."
"The bomb squad is handling it."
"They said someone wants to kill you!"
James turned to face me.
His gray eyes were calm.
"If I let fear make my decisions, Victor wins."
I shook my head.
"This isn't about winning."
"My father is missing."
"Someone is trying to kill you."
"And you still want to get married?"
His gaze softened for the briefest moment.
"I have to."
"Why?"
"Because once you're my legal wife..."
He stepped closer.
"...I can protect you with everything I have."
His words caught me off guard.
"You've barely known me for a day."
"I know."
"Then why risk your life for me?"
James didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked toward the stained-glass windows of the chapel.
"When I make a promise..."
His voice was low.
"...I keep it."
Something inside me shifted.
For the first time, I wasn't looking at the ruthless billionaire everyone feared.
I was looking at a man carrying a burden too heavy for anyone to bear alone.
The bomb squad rushed into the chapel.
One of the officers approached James.
"Sir, we've disarmed the device."
A collective sigh filled the room.
"But..."
The officer hesitated.
"It was only a warning."
James frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"We found another timer hidden inside."
My heart skipped.
"A second bomb?"
The officer nodded.
"It wasn't connected."
"It was counting down to midnight."
James's expression darkened.
"Victor."
The officer looked confused.
"There was another message."
He handed James a small evidence bag.
Inside was a silver ring.
I frowned.
"That's..."
James froze.
His hand tightened around the bag.
"What is it?" I asked.
His voice became almost a whisper.
"It belonged to my mother."
I looked at him in shock.
"How does Victor have it?"
James didn't answer.
Instead, he closed his eyes for a brief second.
When he opened them again...
They were colder than ever.
"He broke into my family's estate."
Before anyone could speak—
James's phone rang.
The caller ID displayed a name.
Victor Sterling.
James answered.
"What do you want?"
Victor laughed.
"I wanted to congratulate you."
"For what?"
"You're finally getting married."
James remained silent.
Victor continued.
"I even bought the bride a wedding gift."
James's grip tightened around the phone.
"If you touch her..."
Victor laughed louder.
"Oh, James."
"I already have."
The line went dead.
A chill raced through my entire body.
I looked at James.
"What did he mean?"
Before James could answer—
My phone vibrated.
I frowned.
"I don't have service..."
The screen lit up anyway.
Unknown Number.
With trembling fingers, I opened the message.
A photograph filled the screen.
It had been taken only seconds ago.
Someone had secretly photographed James and me standing together in the chapel.
Across the bottom of the picture, a single sentence was written in red.
LOOK BEHIND YOU.
My heart stopped.
Slowly...
I turned around.
A man wearing a black mask was standing at the back of the chapel.
He was pointing a gun directly at James.
"James!"
The scream tore from my throat before I could stop it.
Without thinking, I threw myself toward him.
The gunshot exploded through the chapel.
James spun around just in time, wrapping one arm around my waist as we both crashed to the marble floor.
The bullet shattered a stained-glass window behind us.
Colored glass rained through the chapel.
"Get everyone out!" James roared.
His security team rushed forward, drawing their weapons.
The masked gunman fired again before disappearing through the broken window.
"After him!" one of the guards shouted.
James shook his head.
"No."
The guard stopped.
"But, sir—"
"Protect my wife."
The words caught me off guard.
My wife.
For the first time, James hadn't called me Miss Bennett or Rose.
He had claimed me.
His body shielded mine from the flying glass until the chapel finally fell silent.
"Are you hurt?" he asked.
I slowly shook my head.
"No..."
"What about you?"
"I'm fine."
But there was a small cut on his forehead where a piece of glass had struck him.
Without thinking, I reached up and touched it.
"You're bleeding."
James looked surprised by my concern.
"It's nothing."
"No, it's not."
I pulled a handkerchief from my purse and gently pressed it against the cut.
For a moment...
Neither of us spoke.
His gray eyes searched mine.
There was something different in them now.
Something warmer.
Something dangerously close to tenderness.
"Rose..."
My name sounded strangely soft on his lips.
Before he could say anything else, Evelyn hurried toward us.
"Mr. Sterling!"
She held a tablet in her trembling hands.
"The news channels are broadcasting the attack."
James sighed.
"Already?"
She nodded.
"And there's more."
She turned the screen toward us.
A live broadcast filled the display.
The reporter stood outside Sterling Tower, surrounded by flashing police lights.
"We've just received shocking new information. Anonymous sources claim billionaire CEO James Sterling's bride was the real target of today's assassination attempt."
I felt my stomach twist.
"The real target?"
The reporter continued.
"Authorities believe Rose Bennett may have unknowingly become involved in a dangerous family conflict inside the Sterling dynasty."
James turned off the tablet.
"They're spreading panic."
"But why me?" I whispered.
"I've never met Victor."
James didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he reached into his pocket and removed the black envelope found beside the bomb.
"I didn't want to show you this."
He handed me a folded document.
I opened it carefully.
It wasn't another threat.
It was...
A birth certificate.
My hands began to shake.
The name at the top wasn't mine.
It read:
Female Infant... Born July 18...
The parents' names had been torn away.
"What is this?" I asked.
James stared at the paper.
"It was inside the envelope."
I looked at him, confused.
"It has nothing to do with me."
Before James could respond, his phone rang.
He answered immediately.
Victor's voice filled the speaker.
"I see you found my little gift."
James's eyes turned icy.
"What game are you playing?"
Victor laughed.
"The girl standing beside you has been living a lie her entire life."
My heart pounded.
"What do you mean?" I whispered.
Victor ignored me.
Instead, he spoke directly to James.
"Ask your beautiful bride who she really is."
The call disconnected.
The chapel fell silent.
James slowly turned toward me.
His expression was unreadable.
Then he asked the one question I never expected to hear.
"Rose... are you certain Michael Bennett is your biological father?"
- Writer
