Moonlit Mountain (Caleb and Sarah)

<<

(Finding Forever After the Betrayal) Chapter 27

Menu

But giving up like this...did it mean their years of devotion, the two decades

of shared history, meant nothing at all? Were they truly outmatched by someone Violet had only known for a few short weeks?

The thought was unacceptable, unbearable. A stubborn fire ignited in both their eyes. "Let's work together," Aiden declared, his voice rough with emotion. Ethan nodded, his jaw set with determination."Agreed. We'll settle the score later, but for now, we have a common goal."

There was an unspoken understanding in their exchange, a shared history that transcended words. They each knew their strengths, their roles in this desperate bid to win Violet back.

Ethan reached out to their mothers, gathering every last childhood photograph he could find. It wasn't much - Violet had burned most of them in a

fit of grief and anger - but the few remaining images, faded Polaroids and dog-eared school portraits, were a tangible link to their shared past. It was better than nothing.

Aiden, meanwhile, focused his efforts on Charles, working tirelessly to

gather information. He planted his sources, whispered promises of wealth and influence, determined to uncover any weakness, any crack in Charles' carefully crafted facade.

712:39

0.0%

<

Menu

Three days. They had three days until the wedding. Three days to convince Violet that their love, tested and flawed as it was, meant something.

I was a bundle of nerves. Though I'd resolved to cut Aiden and Ethan out of my life, their persistence was unnerving. I found myself constantly looking over my shoulder, flinching at shadows, dreading their next unwelcome appearance. I didn't realize I'd been unconsciously twisting Charles's sleeve, my fingers worrying the fabric until he gently pried my hand away.

"Charles," I whispered, my voice tight with anxiety."Isn't there some way to make them stop? I can't live like this, always looking over my shoulder... The idea of reconciling, of rekindling even a shred of friendship, held no appeal. Whatever affection I'd once held for them had been irrevocably tainted. Those childhood memories, once a source of comfort, now felt like shards of glass, sharp and painful.

Charles pulled me close, his embrace a comforting weight against my anxieties."Don't worry," he murmured, his voice a low rumble against my ear."I

have everything under control. After the wedding, they won't have the power to

hurt

you

ever again."

I clung to his words, desperately seeking reassurance in their certainty. But a nagging doubt lingered at the edge of my mind. Could I truly trust anyone, even 26.7%

<

Charles, to shield me from the ghosts of my past?

Menu

The day of the wedding dawned bright and beautiful, the sprawling lawns of

the Foster estate transformed into a fairy tale setting. Swathes of pale pink silk billowed in the breeze, and delicate, hand-crafted flowers, a thoughtful touch given my allergies, adorned every surface. It was a picture of romantic perfection,

so convincing that even I had to remind myself it wasn't real.

Guests arrived in a steady stream of luxury cars and glittering gowns, their faces alight with congratulations and well wishes. Aiden and Ethan, faces carefully composed, stood amongst the crowd, their eyes searching for me, for any sign of doubt or hesitation.

But as the minutes ticked by and the ceremony remained stalled, a flicker of hope ignited in their eyes. Could it be? Was I having second thoughts? Was I about to make a run for it?

And then, the unexpected. Instead of me, a life-sized hologram of myself, every detail captured with breathtaking realism, appeared at the end of the aisle, a vision in white lace and shimmering diamonds. Beside her, another Charles, equally lifelike, waited with a tender smile on his face.

My heart skipped a beat. This wasn't part of the plan, I was sure of it. A wave

of something akin to pride, to exhilaration, surged through me. Charles had

taken control, had crafted the perfect solution to a situation that had threatened to spin out of control.

1:12:40

54.9%

<<

Menu

As the ceremony commenced, the digital versions of ourselves exchanged Vows, their voices echoing across the silent crowd. When the officiant announced, "You may now kiss the bride," and the two figures on the screen leaned into each other, I couldn't help but smile.

It was a brilliant, audacious plan. While Aiden and Ethan waited for me to appear, their hopes rising with each passing moment, Charles had quietly whisked me away to a private airfield, our honeymoon destination a carefully guarded secret.

As the guests showered the holograms with rice and well wishes, their faces

a mixture of confusion and awe, I was already miles away, soaring above the clouds, leaving the ghosts of my past far behind.