Chapter 77 Chapter Seventy-seven

Chapter 77 Chapter Seventy-seven
CHAPTER 77

New York looked beautiful in the middle of October. A cool autumn wind blew through the old trees around St. Jude’s, a small stone church on the edge of Manhattan. Red and yellow leaves fell across the stone paths.

A mile away, private security guards kept reporters and photographers outside the gates of the big house where the party would happen later. But inside the quiet church, the ceremony was completely private.

Inside the bridal room smelled like flowers. Lucy stood by the window, trying hard not to cry into her handkerchief.

"You haven't even walked down the aisle yet," Aria said with a smile. She carefully helped fasten one of Lucy’s earrings.

"I’m just practicing," Lucy laughed through her tears.

"You’ve been practicing for an hour. If you keep crying during the wedding, Damian will have security take you out."

Lucy laughed properly, and the nervous feeling in the room went away. She stepped back to look at Aria, and her smile turned into total surprise.

"You look..." Lucy paused, feeling a lump in her throat. "...like you were born for today, Aria."

Aria looked at herself in the mirror. For a second, she looked nervous. She held onto the table. "I suddenly feel like running away."

Lucy folded her arms. "If you try to run, I will drag you down that aisle myself."

A knock on the door stopped them. Ms. Fletcher walked in, carrying a bunch of white roses.

"My beautiful girl," the older woman said softly. She hugged Aria carefully so she wouldn't mess up the dress, then put the flowers in Aria's hands. "For good luck."

"Thank you," Aria whispered.

Another knock followed. Evelyn Cross stepped into the room, and everyone stopped talking. Lucy stood up straight, feeling protective. Evelyn looked at Aria for a long time.

"It's time," Evelyn said.

Her voice sounded different today. It did not have the sharp, mean tone it usually had. Instead, she sounded very sincere. She walked up to Aria and gently fixed her wedding veil.

"You look beautiful, Aria," Evelyn said quietly.

Aria was surprised. "Thank you, Evelyn."

Evelyn nodded once. "My son has been waiting at the altar for twenty minutes. If you wait any longer, he might pass out from stress."

Lucy laughed. "Damian is nervous? I didn't think he got nervous."

"Neither did I," Evelyn admitted, with a small, real smile. "But today is different."

The heavy church doors opened, and all the guests stood up.

Damian stood at the front of the church. The sun shone through the colored glass window behind him. He wore a nice black tuxedo and stood very straight. But the moment he saw Aria, the rest of the room disappeared.

Aria walked slowly down the aisle. Her hands shook a little bit as she held her roses, but she could not stop smiling. Damian smiled back at her.

When she reached him, Damian took her hands. His hands were warm and steady.

"You look amazing," he whispered.

"So do you," she whispered back.

The priest smiled at them and began to speak. "We are gathered here today..."

The ceremony went by quickly. Their wedding promises were simple, honest, and sweet. Soon, there was not a dry eye in the church. Damian slid the wedding ring onto Aria's finger.

"I choose you," he said clearly. "Today, tomorrow, and every day after."

Aria had tears in her eyes as she put a ring on his finger. "And I choose you. No matter where life takes us, I will always find my way back to you."

The priest smiled. "You may kiss your bride."

The guests clapped loudly. For a few perfect moments, nothing else in the world mattered.

The wedding party was held in a grand room overlooking the Hudson River. Candles lit up the space. Music played, guests laughed, and people drank champagne.

But then, an uninvited guest arrived.

Selene walked in quietly. Damian had not invited her, but an older businessman named Mr. Voss had sent her an invitation. He believed that leaving her out would cause too much bad gossip. Selene wore a dark green dress and stayed near the edge of the room, avoiding Damian. The other guests whispered and stared at her.

Aria saw her from across the room. She felt uncomfortable, but she did not want any problems on her wedding day.

"I'll be right back," Aria told Lucy.

Lucy frowned. "Where are you going? Don't go over there."

"I'm just going to say hello," Aria said. "I want today to be peaceful."

Aria walked across the room until she stood near Selene.

Selene turned around. "I didn't think you would talk to me today."

Aria smiled politely. "I didn't want today to be awkward."

Selene looked around the room. "I think it already is."

For a moment, neither woman spoke. Then, Aria noticed something shiny on Selene’s neck.

It was a necklace. The small silver pendant looked like half of a lily flower.

Aria froze. Her heart started beating very fast, and she could breathe. The necklace was not just similar to hers, it looked exactly the same. It looked like a piece that had been broken off from another half.

Without thinking, Aria reached into the top of her wedding dress. She pulled out the silver chain she had worn since she was a little girl, the necklace her mother gave her before she died.

"Never lose it," her mother had told her. "It is all I have left from my past."

Aria pulled her necklace out so Selene could see it.

Selene’s eyes went wide with shock. The noise of the party seemed to disappear. Selene looked at Aria’s necklace, then touched her own.

"Where..." Selene’s voice shook. "...where did you get that?"

Aria held her necklace tightly. "My mother gave it to me."

Selene looked terrified. "My mother gave me mine, too."

It was completely quiet between them. It felt impossible.

Nearby, Mr. Voss was holding a glass of champagne. He looked over at the two women. The moment he saw the two silver necklaces side by side, his face went completely white.

His fingers slipped, and his champagne glass fell.

It crashed loudly against the floor and broke into pieces.

The music stopped instantly. The guests turned around in surprise. Damian saw what happened and walked over to Aria quickly. He put his hand on her back.

"What happened?" Damian asked, looking at Selene. "Did she say something to you?"

Before anyone could answer, Mr. Voss walked forward. He was shaking violently.

"...No..." he whispered. Only the people standing right there could hear him. "It can't be."

Aria looked at Mr. Voss and then at Selene. Neither of them cared about the broken glass. They were staring at the necklaces as if they were looking at ghosts.

Damian frowned. "Voss? What is going on?"

Mr. Voss looked up at Aria and Selene. For the first time ever, the powerful old man looked completely terrified. He swallowed hard and whispered words that shocked everyone.

"...Those necklaces..." Mr. Voss said, pointing at the silver lilies. "...there were only two ever made. One for each twin sister."