She Walked Down the Aisle in a Veil—But Was She the Bride? (2 of 3)

Then the music changed. Heads turned. And there she was—Celeste. Dressed in a shimmering gown that floated as she walked, a veil casting a soft blur over her face. But as she stepped forward, something felt off.

She moved too carefully, almost like she was afraid to trip—her shoulders stiff, her steps measured. Her dress didn’t flow right, bunching strangely at the bottom. It wasn’t obvious, just enough to make my stomach tighten.

I leaned toward Daniel’s cousin beside me. “Do you notice anything strange?” I asked.

She smiled politely. “Just wedding day nerves, Adira.”

But I couldn’t shake it. As Celeste made her way down the aisle, the unease bloomed in my chest. It wasn’t nerves. It was instinct. I stood.

Whispers rippled through the crowd as I made my way down the aisle. Celeste stopped, clearly surprised. My hands shook as I reached forward and gently lifted the hem of her dress.

What I saw underneath knocked the breath out of me: men’s dress shoes. And trousers. My heart thudded as I looked up and met the eyes of a stranger—soft brown hair, square jaw, and a smirk that didn’t belong anywhere near a wedding aisle.

Gasps exploded around me. Daniel froze. Marcus’s face changed—his grin now tight, unreadable. I turned to him just in time to catch the slightest nod from the man in the gown. My stomach dropped.

Daniel stepped down, confused. “Where’s Celeste?” he asked, voice trembling.

The imposter grinned. “She left a few days ago. But not before asking us to make sure you understood what betrayal really feels like.”

Betrayal?