Chapter 69: 69
The grand hall shimmered with elegance, the air thick mixed with the scent of roses and lavender. Delicate golden drapes hung from the ceiling, catching the soft afternoon light. A string quartet played a sweet, melodic tune calm, graceful, perfect. Guests, adorned in their finest, sipped champagne and exchanged hushed words of admiration for the seemingly flawless event.
The bride, a vision in white lace, sat before a towering mirror in the bridal suite. Her dress clung to her frame like a second skin, intricate beading glimmering with every small movement. Her veil cascaded over her shoulders, pooling softly around her feet. Makeup artists and hairstylists buzzed around her, adding finishing touches, but she barely noticed them. Her lips, painted a soft crimson, curled into a smile not of joy, nor of nervous anticipation. It was something else entirely.
Her bridesmaids laughed and complimented her, mistaking the smile for happiness. But beneath the surface of her calm expression, a storm brewed. Her chest rose and fell a little too quickly. Her fingers, clutching the bouquet of ivory roses, trembled ever so slightly.
A knock at the door.
"Five minutes, miss," called the wedding coordinator.
The bride’s smile widened even more as a flash of teeth against her delicate features appeared. But her eyes was contracting, they held no warmth. Only a cold, simmering satisfaction.
And then, she saw it.
In the mirror, standing just behind her shoulder a figure.
Tall. Stern. Familiar.
The scientist who she referred to as her so-called father.
His reflection seemed untouched by time. Although dressed in a tuxedo for the occasion, she envisioned him in the same worn suit she remembered her own father being buried in. His gaze was as hard as she recalled the same piercing look that cut through her like a blade the first time they met when she was a child.
Her smile deepened into something wild, untamed. Yet she didn’t flinch; instead, she welcomed his presence.
"Father," she whispered softly, her voice like a blade sliding across silk.
The room, once alive with laughter and idle chatter, was now as quiet as a graveyard every individual trying their best to remain invisible, afraid of losing their heads. As if waiting for her signal before they took to their heels they began existing the moment she gave a little nod to them.
Realizing that they were alone "Don’t call me that. Where is the antidote?" The scientist suddenly spoke but his question only received a cold throaty chuckle from her
"Antidote?" She scoffed. "Don’t tell me you came to your daughter’s wedding just because you needed some silly antidote? Aren’t you a scientist? Why didn’t you come up with one yourself then.." she looked at him with wildeyes before laughing sadically "what if you were never actually posioned by me then?.."
"Carmela..dont..you..dare..test..my...patient" restrainment was visible in his voice and Ella could only let out a devilish laugh
Could having a man like him truly classify as having a father? Well that she doubt but at least both her and the person she was made to substitute were in the same boat to her reliy.
"Let’s end this..you know what, never mind." She smiled, pulling down her veil. "Walk me down the aisle, and after that, you’ll get the antidote."
She took a step closer to him, noticing his hesitation to take her hand. Yet, eventually, he did his grip firm but reluctant as he led the way toward the wedding hall. With every step, a flood of thoughts swirled in his mind.
Although he wore a mask of composure, a gnawing sense of worry spread through him. Insecurity crept into his every nerve, but he pushed it aside, blaming it on his emotions.
"Once I get the antidote, I’ll lead this country for good," he reminded himself, the fear of Carmela’s growing in power gnawing at him and it sincerely scared the guts out of him
The moment they arrived at the wedding hall, a sudden chill seemed to sweep through the air the temperature dropping with each passing second. Ella looked up, finding Damian grinning from ear to ear. She offered him a small smile, sending a flutter of butterflies through his stomach.
What an idiot she wondered to herself..who was going to tell him that karma had finally caught up to him? That the devil didn’t send an agent this time but was here to personally take him to hell with him? And that the bliss he believes to be his heaven has turned out to be his lake of flames?
"There has to be more to all of this... I’ve surely been here before," she whispered to herself, her gaze drifting over the crowd.
Her eyes landed on Nix, his legs crossed, seated among the guests. Beside him sat a woman whose hat obscured most of her face, dark shades masking whatever emotions hid behind them. She smiled faintly at Ella. Zamiel, also seated in the crowd, had a blank expression as if everything that was about to unfold was less of his problem and he was being bothered which she didn’t really care about.
"We’re finally going to be one," Damian whispered, gently pulling her hand away from the scientist.
"Your thoughts are like abstract art.." she responded with a face straight, not faking any emotion,her expression blank and cold leaving Damian a bit confused but he smiled tucking the strands of hair that was lying on her face behind her ear as he forced on a smile pushing aside her words
"Priest..." He called with eager eyes but an uneager Ella couldn’t resist the urge to roll her eyes "Hold on." She said removing her hand from Damian’s, as she forced on a smile giving him that assuring look that everything was finally falling into place before turning to face the guest still maintaining her smile.
"I’d love to appreciate everyone who took the time to attend my wedding, even the press, who showed up despite me calling them only a few hours ago." She pointed to the side of the hall, where a group of media personnel scrambled with their cameras as they tried to take a picture of the latest couple on the net, just a few months ago news about the lost Dalton daughter being finally brought to light to the world and now she’s getting married to one of the sons of the top family on the wealth chain
Life of the wealthy some of them thought to themselves.
"Before I take my first step into my new life, I’d love to say a few words to my dearest partner." She flashed a smile at Damian and noticed the subtle way he stumbled back, biting his lower lip nervously while keeping eye contact with her. Well if only he knew the special gift he had prepared for him..no if only they all knew the special gifts she had prepared for all of them, her eyes swept across the hall then maybe none of them would agree to this plan.
If hell was waiting for her, then she wouldn’t go alone.. No.. she’d make room for the one who turned her life into a quiet kind of torment, smiled in her face while twisting the knife. The one she laughed with while bleeding beneath her breath. Yes... Some debts were too deep to leave unpaid. She thought to herself as her eyes trailed from the scientist and then finally landed on the lady seated beside Nix
She clicked her fingers...and suddenly, the hall went pitch black the only light in the hall came from the flashes of the photographers’ cameras.
A screen lit up, displaying a slideshow of pre-wedding photos of her and Damian.
"Most of you must be aware of my family background and childhood though some of you may not be..."
The spotlight shifted onto the scientist.
"That’s my father, Mr. Delton who had been responsible for everything I’ve become. But don’t worry, we’ll talk about him another time. For now, let’s focus on my dearest life partner."
The spotlight moved to Damian, who quickly adjusted his suit and stood up straighter.
"The man I’m about to marry... I don’t know his surname.. Never asked. Never needed to.. It won’t matter when he’s just another ghost at my table after all, tombstones rarely hold the full story..." she said with no emotion, just calm finality,the entire room suddenly went quiet that even the dramatic fall of a pin could be heard but this silence was ruined by a chuckle echoing from the dark hall but the owner of the voice could not be traced
"The key to happiness..." she whispered, eyes fixed on the screen. "I spent so long searching for it..chasing shadows, trusting smiles."
The slideshow flicked through more photos, each image more intimate, more unsettling than the last.
"And all this time... it was right in front of me. Hiding in plain sight."
Her voice dropped, barely a breath.
"But no one ever warns you, do they? That some keys open doors... and others?"
She tilted her head slightly, eyes gleaming with something unreadable.
"Others are already broken...Rusted...Sharp enough to bleed you if you hold them too tightly."
Then the slideshow cut. The screen froze a paused video of Damian and the scientist. She smiled. Not with joy. But with knowing.
And there he is," she murmured. "