A SECOND CHANCE.
1164 Words
Chapter Two
The Wedding
Elena woke up to the sound of someone knocking on her bedroom door.
She opened her eyes slowly.
For a few seconds, she forgot.
Then she saw the black folder sitting on her bedside table.
The marriage contract.
Her stomach twisted.
Today, she was getting married.
Not because she was in love.
Not because she had dreamed of walking down an aisle in a white dress.
But because her family was thirty-seven million dollars in debt.
And because the man she was about to marry hated her father.
“Miss Hayes?”
The knock came again.
Elena sat up.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
A woman in a black suit stepped inside.
“Good morning. My name is Mrs. Carter. Mr. Blackwood sent me.”
Elena frowned.
“Why?”
“You have three hours to get ready.”
“Three hours?”
“Your wedding is at noon.”
Elena stared at her.
“You're joking.”
Mrs. Carter didn't smile.
“No, ma'am.”
Elena threw the blanket aside.
“Where is the dress?”
“Downstairs.”
Of course.
Damien had thought of everything.
She walked into the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror.
Her eyes were swollen from crying the previous night.
She looked nothing like a bride.
She looked like a woman walking toward her own execution.
Her phone rang.
Dad.
Elena stared at the screen before answering.
“Hello?”
There was silence.
Then her father's tired voice came through.
“Elena.”
She swallowed.
“Are you okay?”
He laughed bitterly.
“I should be asking you that.”
“Dad…”
“You don't have to do this.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Yes, I do.”
“I can lose the company.”
“You'll lose everything.”
“Elena, listen to me.”
“I've already decided.”
Her father was silent.
Then he whispered, “I'm sorry.”
That broke her.
A tear slid down her cheek.
“You don't have to apologize.”
“I never wanted you to pay for my mistakes.”
Elena closed her eyes.
Neither did she.
But some debts weren't paid with money.
Sometimes, they were paid with pieces of your life.
“I'll be fine, Dad.”
She ended the call before her voice could break.
Three hours later, Elena stood in front of a mirror wearing a white wedding gown.
It was beautiful.
Simple.
Elegant.
The dress hugged her waist before falling softly to the floor.
Mrs. Carter adjusted the veil.
“You look beautiful.”
Elena forced a smile.
“Thank you.”
The woman hesitated.
“You're nervous.”
“Wouldn't you be?”
Mrs. Carter smiled faintly.
“Perhaps.”
Elena looked at herself again.
“Does Mr. Blackwood seem nervous?”
Mrs. Carter's expression became unreadable.
“Mr. Blackwood doesn't get nervous.”
Of course he didn't.
He was Damien Blackwood.
He probably didn't have a heart.
A few minutes later, Elena was driven to the private estate where the wedding would take place.
The ceremony was small.
No journalists.
No friends.
No family members except her father.
The moment Elena stepped out of the car, she saw him.
Damien.
He stood beneath an arch covered with white flowers.
He wore a black tuxedo.
His expression was as cold as ever.
But when his eyes landed on her, something changed.
Only for a second.
His gaze traveled over her face, her dress, and finally settled on her lips.
Elena suddenly became aware of how close they would be standing.
How strange it was to be marrying a man she barely knew.
She walked toward him.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
When she reached him, Damien extended his hand.
She placed hers in it.
His fingers closed around hers.
“You're late,” he whispered.
Elena's eyes narrowed.
“I'm two minutes early.”
His mouth twitched.
“Good.”
The priest began the ceremony.
Elena barely heard him.
Her eyes remained fixed on the man standing opposite her.
When the vows came, Damien spoke first.
“I do.”
Two words.
Cold.
Certain.
Then it was her turn.
“I do.”
The priest smiled.
“You may kiss the bride.”
Elena's heart jumped.
She looked at Damien.
He looked back.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Damien stepped forward.
His hand settled around her waist.
Elena's breath caught.
He leaned closer.
She expected a quick kiss.
Something meaningless.
Instead, his lips touched hers slowly.
Warm.
Controlled.
Dangerously gentle.
Elena's fingers tightened around his jacket.
She hated that her body reacted before her mind could stop it.
Damien pulled away first.
His eyes were darker than before.
“Mrs. Blackwood,” he murmured.
Elena's cheeks burned.
She looked away.
The ceremony ended.
Just like that, she was married.
Her father approached her.
He hugged her tightly.
“I'm proud of you.”
Elena fought back tears.
“I'll be okay.”
Her father glanced at Damien.
Something passed between the two men.
Hatred.
Pain.
History.
Then her father walked away.
Elena turned toward Damien.
“Why does my father hate you?”
Damien's face hardened.
“Because he knows what I am capable of.”
Before she could respond, his phone rang.
He answered.
“What?”
His expression changed.
Elena watched him carefully.
“Repeat that.”
Silence.
Then Damien's jaw clenched.
“Don't let anyone leave the building.”
He ended the call.
“What happened?”
He looked at her.
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
“I'm your wife now.”
“You've been my wife for less than ten minutes.”
“So?”
“So don't mistake a ring on your finger for trust.”
Elena's eyes narrowed.
“Don't worry. I wasn't planning to.”
Damien stared at her.
Then, unexpectedly, he smiled.
“Good.”
He took her hand.
“Let's go home.”
Elena looked toward the black car waiting outside.
Home.
The word felt strange.
She had no idea what kind of home awaited her.
She didn't know that Damien's mansion held secrets she wasn't prepared to uncover.
And she certainly didn't know that someone had been watching the entire wedding from a distance.
Inside a parked car across the street, a man lowered his binoculars.
He picked up his phone.
“They got married.”
A pause.
Then he smiled.
“She's officially Mrs. Blackwood.”
Another voice came through the phone.
“Good.”
The man's smile disappeared.
“Now we can begin.”
He ended the call.
Across the street, Elena climbed into Damien's car.
Neither of them noticed the black vehicle pulling away.
Neither knew that their marriage had already attracted the attention of someone who wanted them both dead.
And neither knew that before their first night together was over...
Elena would discover that Damien Blackwood had lied to her.
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