Chapter 4
857 Words
The sky was slowly brightening. The sunlight streaming through the window stung Evelyn's eyes.
She couldn't cry anymore. She felt like a puppet whose strings had been cut, staring blankly at her father's lifeless body.
The man who loved her most in this world was gone.
And then, the church bells started ringing. Cheerful, joyful, completely out of place.
Today was her wedding day.
At the church entrance, Luca stood in a crisp black tux, a smile plastered on his face as he chatted with the guests.
Then one of his men rushed over, leaned in, and whispered something urgent in his ear, his voice tense.
Luca's smile froze instantly. He couldn't believe it. "He's actually dead?"
The man nodded, pale as a ghost.
"How the hell did you screw this up?" Luca's voice spiked, then dropped right back down. He gritted his teeth. "I told you—don't actually kill him! What the—where's Evelyn?"
"She... she passed out from crying."
Luca rubbed his temples in frustration.
What's done is done. No point crying over spilled milk.
He pulled himself together, his voice going cold. "Fine. Now that she's got no family left, she can't leave me. Keep an eye on her. Don't let her pull any stunts."
Just then, a stretch limo pulled up slowly.
The door opened and out stepped Adeline.
She was wearing that gorgeous diamond-studded wedding gown that was supposed to be Evelyn's, a shy and smug smile on her face.
Luca wiped away every trace of emotion and put on his loving expression, reaching out his hand to her.
The guests gasped.
"Didn't Evelyn say she was calling off the engagement? Guess she showed up after all!"
"What's the deal with all that online drama anyway?"
"Probably just a lovers' spat. They were messing with all of us on the internet!"
"That Evelyn... Such a spoiled princess. So dramatic!"
"After this wedding, she's gonna get torn apart online."
Inside the church, the pipe organ played solemnly as the priest opened his Bible.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Mr. Luca Moretti and—"
Luca and Adeline gazed into each other's eyes, beaming with happiness.
BAM!
The heavy wooden doors of the church were shoved open from outside.
The organ music screeched to a halt.
Everyone spun around.
Standing in the doorway, backlit by the sun, was a woman.
It was Evelyn.
She was wearing a plain black dress, her face pale as death.
Behind her was a sea of reporters, red recording lights blinking on countless cameras.
Luca's pupils shrank.
A flicker of panic crossed his face.
He immediately let go of Adeline's hand and strode forward, his voice low, seething with warning and rage. "Evelyn, what are you doing here?"
Evelyn looked at him, a cold smile curling at the corner of her mouth.
"Today is our wedding day. Of course I am here."
The guests erupted into chaos.
"Evelyn? That is Evelyn?"
"Then who is the one in the wedding dress?"
People squinted, trying to make out the face under the veil.
Finally, someone recognized her and shrieked, "That is Adeline! Evelyn's best friend!"
"Adeline?"
"What the hell? They swapped the bride at the altar?"
"Oh my god, this is insane... they must have been..."
Dozens of eyes, curious and judgmental, pierced into Adeline like needles. She instinctively took half a step back, biting her lip so hard it nearly bled, her eyes instantly welling up with tears.
Luca's face went pale, then flushed, then pale again. But within seconds, he forced his expression back under control.
He turned to the crowd and announced loudly, "Everyone, please don't get the wrong idea! Evelyn's father just passed away. She is devastated. She could not possibly go through with the ceremony today. So I asked Adeline to help out and go through the motions, just for show!"
Then he turned to Evelyn, his voice shifting to a mix of pain and tenderness. "Evelyn, you said yourself you did not wanna come. Now you are showing up and making a scene. Are you trying to embarrass me in front of everyone? I cannot believe you staged that whole k********g, and now you are pulling this stunt to screw me over?"
Adeline caught on fast. She started crying, tears streaming down her face like a waterfall, her voice all choked up. "Yeah, I was just helping out. Evelyn, please don't get the wrong idea. You will always be the real Mrs. Moretti. I would never try to take your place."
Evelyn just watched them calmly. Then she smiled.
"Cut the act. You really think anyone is gonna buy that?"
She raised her hand and clapped twice.
Instantly, sheets of paper fluttered down from the second floor like snow, scattering into every guest's hands.
They were DNA paternity test reports, clear as day in black and white.
One report landed in Luca's hand. When he read what was on it, his face completely shattered.
At the same time, the big screen at the center of the church flickered to life and started playing a surveillance video.
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