Gossip travels fast in California where the sun-kissed streets of Beverly Hills are always abuzz with the latest scoop. The news of marriage between Alex, the second son of the esteemed Patrick family and Emily the daughter of wealthy socialite Regina Worthington, spreads like a wildfire on a dry summer day.
The whispers start at the exclusive country club, where tennis matches and charity galas provide the perfect backdrop for hushed conversations and pointed glances.
'Did the hear about the Patrick boy and the Worthington heiress?' someone asks, eyes wild with excitement.
'A whirlwind romance, they say the wedding is set for next month at the Bel Air Hotel.'
The rumour races through the city's elite circle, leaving a trail of raised eyebrows and murmurs of approval in its wake.
The news hits Lucia like a stormy surge, crashing against the supports of her heart. Kyle hurried into her room in her family home, his eyes bright with worry.
'Lucia have you heard?' Kyle asks with a voice slightly above a whisper.
'Alex is getting married... to Emily Worthington.'
These words left Lucia breathless and reeling. She flashed back to when he saved her life and she fell in love with him but now he is getting married.
The recollection now felt like a cruel taunt, a reminder of what was not possible. She now regretted keeping her feelings for him hidden all these years. Tears swelled up in Lucia's eyes as she struggled to process the news while she thought of what to do to stop this wedding.
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It's been a month since the news of the wedding broke out. The sun shone brightly on the elegant mansion, illuminating the busy plans for Alex's wedding. The lovely smell of budding flowers and the buzz of excitement filled the air.
But in the middle of the happiness and excitement, Lucia Thames's heart full of secrets and desire, stood out as a sharp contrast. Outside the house, Lucia huddled with Kyle Samson, their purpose a sharp contrast to the activities going on inside.
"Are you getting close?" Kyle inquired in an anxious tone, as he bent forward and put his hands together to create a makeshift step.
Lucia fixed her sight on the balcony above.
"Just a little bit more and I'll be there," she answered, slightly above a whisper.
Breathing deeply, she planted her foot in Kyle's grasp, pushing up on him with her weight, while her fingers reached for the ornate ironwork of the balcony. Music and laughter drifted in, a bitter reminder of the enjoyment she was not allowed to experience.
There was a subtle agreement between Lucia and Kyle as their eyes locked; this was Lucia's only opportunity to stop the wedding, to reveal her secret love before it was too late.
She fell on the balcony floor with grace, and the sound of her heavy breathing and rustling skirt filled the air. Lucia looked around the room, her pulse thumping with eagerness. With its snow-white folds gleaming in the gentle light, the bridal dress rested peacefully on the bed.
A reminder that time was running out came from the sound of soft humming and running water coming from the restroom. Lucia quickly and accurately replaced the wedding dress with a copy she had covertly made; the two dresses were the same in terms of style and material, so the transition was seamless.
The new outfit, which was a somewhat darker tone, represented her own unfulfilled love. The bathroom door creaked open as she was finishing, and Lucia's heart skipped a beat. Taking a deep breath, she looked at the room one last time before disappearing, leaving a trail of secrets and a wedding day that would live on in memory.
Lucia's eyes gleamed with victory as she entered her flat, her face lighting up with a happy smile. She had a strong sense of ownership, as though she was the only person deserving of Alex's affection. She slipped into the white dress with a fluttering heart, its delicate fabric fitting her curves like a second skin. Covering her face with the thick white veil and her feet scarcely touching the earth, she hurried to the chapel, her thoughts racing, and the gentle flutter of the gown seemed to mirror her thoughts.
The bride's family surrounded her when she arrived, their features a flurry of interest and perplexity. However, Lucia remained unfazed, her willpower driving her ahead. She followed them to the chapel's entrance, where the thick wooden doors creaked open to show a magnificent space. As she stepped inside, the dimly lighted space seemed to hold its breath, the subtle murmur of guests like a delicate hum.
Alex stood tall at the end of the aisle facing the alter, his broad shoulders and chiselled features highlighted by his elegant black suit.
Lucia experienced an unexplainable sense of comfort, as though those sturdy shoulders could protect her from the outside world, and her pulse missed a beat. The air was filled with the eerie song of the organ, its bridal processional a solemn vow of eternity. Lucia took a deep breath and started walking down the aisle while the guests stared at her with curiosity akin to a sea of eyeballs.
The most prominent members of society were present in the church, as evidenced by their elegant clothes and well-groomed grins. The air was heavy with the aroma of power and luxury, and the invitation-only guest list was a closely-kept secret. Lucia's white veil dripped like a river of snow in this sea of privilege, shielding her face from curious onlookers. As she neared the altar, her palm became clammy and her heart raced with every step.
The groom seemed to fill the room with his broad shoulders and chiselled face, demanding attention just by being there.
Her heart skipped a beat as she got to his side, her head spinning with the prospect of marrying Alex. But Lucia's world fell apart when the groom turned to face her slowly and locked onto hers with a piercing glance.
The man she had planned to wed, Alex, was not this man. She felt a chill run down her spine as the stranger's menacing gaze appeared to pierce her very soul. His taut jawline and intense stare gave off an air of power, his glare disarming her own barriers.His gaze met hers, a moment of bewilderment giving way to dawning awareness.
Lucia's face, locked in place, revealed her inner struggle as her thoughts raced over the implications of her deceit. There was a tangible silence between them as her secrets weighed heavily on both of them like a fragile glass that was about to fall.
Lucia stared at the man in front of her, her eyes darting back and forth between the familiar features and the incorrect name.
Alex's older brother, Daylen Patrick, stood with a gleam in his piercing eyes. The calm murmur of the chapel and the soft hum of the organ faded as Lucia's mind gradually processed the startling truth. Her gaze flitted around the crowded pews, looking for the man she had plotted to wed.
Then she spotted him: Alex, sitting in the crowd with a triumphant smile sweeping across his face. Lucia's voice was hardly audible above a whisper as her frown intensified.
"This isn't correct, today is supposed to be Alex's wedding."
Daylen responded with his deep voice, which had a note of taunting.
"I'll give you a chance; I didn't know you were so eager to become my wife."
The hush in the chapel seemed to grow thicker as she felt the weight of her error bearing down on her. Lucia's gaze met Daylen's, a rebellious spark lighting up within her. Though she hadn't anticipated this, how could she back down now?
Lucia's last hopes were dashed as Daylen's deep voice said,
" Today is my wedding and you are going to be my bride."
His words dropped like a guillotine's blade. Her poise snapped, she sensed the walls of the chapel closing in on her.
"I assumed it was Alex's nuptials," she said, her voice quivering like a leaf in a fall wind.
She became terrified and darted her eyes over the crowded pews, trying to find a way out of this terrible mistake.
But Daylen held her there with his piercing gaze, polished steel glinting in his eyes. Lucia was aware of the tales, which said that he was the real lord of the Patrick family's wealth and that witnessing his fury was terrifying. And she was certain that it wasn't simply hearsay because she had personally seen his callous actions. She would have to deal with his wrath in full if she made one mistake or say something foolish.
With Daylen's eyes narrowing and his jawline hardening into a line, the atmosphere appeared to tremble with anxiety. Lucia's heart raced like a trapped animal.
Daylen stepped closer to Lucia, his cold gaze freezing her in place like a winter's chill. His voice was low, each word dripping with malice.
'Well, since you are here, there is no reason for you to leave.'
Lucia's eyes darted around the chapel, desperately seeking an escape route, but the exits seemed to mock her, their distance stretching farther with each passing moment. Daylen's towering frame loomed closer, his broad shoulders blocking out the light, his piercing eyes boring into her very soul.
"What are you trying to say?" Lucia's heart pounded so loudly that her voice quivered and her words were almost heard.
However, Daylen struck back with a well-timed punch, using his words as if they were a whip.
"Why not carry out your plan now that you've taken my bride's place"
The weight of his words seemed to crush her as the air seemed to thicken. Lucia's mind was racing, anxiety and perplexity entangled in her thoughts.
She merely wanted to claim Alex as her own; she had no intention of hurting Daylen. But now she was stuck, with no way out of the vicious patriarch of the Patrick family's anger.
Lucia's words tumbled out in a desperate bid to reason with the unyielding Daylen.
"I thought the bride was marrying Alex, I swapped the gown by mistake! I don't want to marry you, I want to marry Alex"
But Daylen's expression remained unyielding, his eyes glacial and unforgiving. He raised a hand, and Lucia's pleas were silenced by the cold finality of his gesture.
'Either you stay, or you and your best friend gets arrested,' Daylen's voice was a low, deadly whisper, his eyes flicking to Kyle, who struggled against the grip of Daylen's burly bodyguards.
Lucia's heart raced with terror as she saw the genuine fear in her friend's eyes. She knew Daylen's reputation for ruthlessness, and she had no doubt he would carry out his threat. The weight of her mistake crushed her, and she felt the last vestiges of hope slipping away.
Lucia nodded her approval with a sorrowful heart, feeling as though her own soul had been betrayed by the gesture.
The priest started the ceremony, his words a hollow echo in Lucia's head as he did not realise the drama that was taking place in front of him. The audience were not aware that the bride had been switched, until the vows and rings were exchanged, and the ceremony came to an end. Lucia felt like a piece in a fatal game unable to wake up from her nightmare.