The Wedding

The Wedding
Ivy’s POV

I woke up to the sound of music echoing in my room, classical music— the kind Cassian liked to play when he wanted to make a moment feel holy. 

The notes drifted through the hall, echoing against the marble floors, as they mingled with the faint murmur and whispers of servants walking past my room.

For a second I almost wanted to ask what the hell was going on, then it hit me. Today was my wedding day.

I lay there staring at the ceiling, as the sunlight cast shadows through the gauzy curtains. My pulse pounded louder than that of a drum the moment I saw my dress lying at the edge of the sofa.

It was a mixed design of silk and lace and around it, the gown looked like a dream built for someone else. As if that wasn’t enough the diamond earrings lay open in a velvet box, everything perfect and wrong at the same time.

I sat up slowly as my head throbbed where that man had struck me. The memory came back in flashes— Adrain being shot, the blood. “Not today, Ivy,” I whispered to myself more than anyone.

I stopped myself.
Not now. 

The sound of the door opening drifted me off my thoughts. Damian stepped in, dressed in a suit that fit him like a second skin, his expression that of something carved in stone. But his eyes— those cold, watchful eyes searched my face like he could hear what I was thinking.

“You’re up early,” he said quietly.

“I couldn’t sleep,” I answered.

He studied me with his arms folded, then parted his lips to speak, “You look calm. Too calm. Is anything wrong?”

I met his gaze in the mirror. “Isn’t that what you wanted?”For me to stop fighting my fate and finally accept what you and Cassian decided for me?”

“Don’t try to twist this, Ivy,” he shot back, nothing funny about the tone of his voice. I stood, brushing invisible dust off the wedding gown, and turned to face him.

“You should be happy, Father….I mean you’re finally getting what you wanted. So why do you look so… afraid?”

He didn’t answer, and the silence between us stretched long and thick. I could tell — part of him didn’t trust me, maybe he saw the way my hands were shaking. If I knew my father too well he was too smart to be fooled so easily.

Before he could part his lips to speak again, another voice cut through. “Is everything alright in here?” Cassian’s voice echoed as he stepped inside like he owned the air. 

Wearing a black suit and black tie, the small cut still healing on his lip — the one Adrian gave him as his eyes swept over me in a slow and possessive way. As if he was enjoying every moment of this.

Damian glanced at him, then back at me before muttering, “I’ll leave you two to it.” Then he walked out and the door closed behind him.

“You look so beautiful,” Cassian hissed, a dangerous smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he spoke, “I knew you would be.”

I kept my voice steady. “Thank you,” before I could say another word, he moved closer and eliminated any inch of space between us. I could smell his cologne now—something dark and expensive.

He reached out and touched my cheek with the back of his hand. “After today,” he murmured, “there’s no more running because you’ll wear my name from now on. And my ring too.”

His thumb traced my jaw and I flinched. I let my lips part into a smile I didn’t feel, “I can’t wait to become yours forever,” Then I leaned in and kissed him in a way that felt both soft and perfectly false at the same time.

Every time Cassian’s lips touched mine, I imagined the feel of Adrian’s lips instead— warm, desperate, real. When he pulled away, his eyes gleamed with satisfaction. 

“Good girl,” he murmured, and then walked out to prepare for the ceremony. The moment he was gone, I let out the breath I’d been holding back for too long as my reflection stared back at me.
    
The mansion’s grand hall shimmered like a church cathedral, its chandeliers glittering above me, casting a warm glow onto the marble floors that reflected the faces of everyone seated there.

Guests filled the rows, men dressed in perfectly tailored suits while the women were decorated in expensive jewels. They all looked like the kind of people who toasted with blood instead of champagne.

Damian stood near the altar, his hands clasped together while he was watching everything with that sly smirk at the corner of his lips. 

Meanwhile, Cassian stood at the front of the altar, tall and poised, like he’d been born for this. The music started and the crowd turned to face me.

The doors opened and as I walked down the aisle, every step echoed like a soft tap against the polished marble floor. They all watched me — their perfect bride. 

My pulse thundered, but I kept my face calm as I focused on the aisle ahead. My throat burned with everything I couldn’t say the moment Cassian’s eyes locked on me as I approached. 

When I reached him, he took my hand. His fingers were cold, possessive as the priest began to speak. “…to have and to hold, from this day forward…”

I barely heard anything else as my gaze flicked to the windows and back to Cassian. Hoping that somewhere out there, maybe, Adrian was still alive.

“…Cassian Wolfe, do you take Ivy Sinclair to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

Cassian’s voice was smooth, almost too confident as he replied back, “Yes, I do.” Applauses rippled softly through the crowd as the priest turned to me.

“Ivy Damien, do you take Cassian Wolfe to be your lawfully wedded husband?”My lips parted to speak but nothing came out, every sound in the hall faded behind me—the music, the whispers. It was like time itself held its breath.

Cassian looked at me, confusion flickering in his eyes at first. Then something darker— suspicion, anger, “Ivy,” he said under his breath.

I stared at him as my chest tightened, my heartbeat roaring in my ears as I could still
Adrian’s hand pulling me through the forest. The priest repeated the question, gentle but firm, “Do you take this man—?”

Cassian’s grip on my hand tightened again, his voice dripping to a low whisper, sharp as a blade. “Say it.”