Chapter 2 Destined

As I exit the restroom, I notice a distraught little girl in a white dress, crying in the corner. Her big chocolate eyes are brimming with tears, and her face is etched with worry. I approach her, concern etched on my face. "Hey, what's wrong, sweetheart?" I ask gently, crouching beside her. "Why are you crying?"

She sniffs, her voice trembling. "I lost my flowers. If I don't find them, I can't walk down the aisle with my sisters." I examine her appearance - the white dress and flower crown - and deduce she's a flower girl, possibly from the bride's family.

"Don't worry, I'll help you," I reassure her, wiping away a tear. "Where do you think you dropped them?" She shakes her head, tears streaming down her face. "I don't know. I went to some room, but I can't remember. This place is too big. Mommy is trying to find it too, but she hasn't."

I offer a comforting smile. "Let's think this through. Where did you go?" She points down a long hallway to her left. "And where is your Mom?" She gestures to another corridor around the corner. "Okay, listen. Everything will be okay. Go back to your Mom now; she must be looking for you."

"I'll find your flowers, okay?" I reassure the little girl, and she gazes at me with hopeful eyes. I set off in the direction she pointed, searching for any sign of the missing blooms. Unfortunately, my search yields nothing. I enter an empty room, which appears to be a waiting area, but find no flowers. Moving on, I approach another door, slightly ajar, and knock gently. "Hello? Is anyone there?" Silence. I wait a few more seconds, then push the door open, revealing an unoccupied room with a dresser, bed, and sofa. I scan every nook and cranny but find no flowers. Disappointment starts to creep in.

I check the window area, the bed, and even a credence table near a back door leading to a patio and garden. As I step outside, I overhear a heated conversation between a man and the bride, Olivia Stone, in her stunning white wedding gown. Despite the darkness, her beauty shines through, but her expression is far from joyful. The man's tone is laced with anger, his handsome face illuminated by the patio light as he steps closer to her. "Is this what you really want?" he asks, his voice strained.

But the man standing before Olivia isn't Aiden - I saw him earlier in the hall. "Roman, please," Olivia begs, her voice trembling. "It was a mistake." She implores him with her eyes to stop whatever he's doing. Roman's jaw clenches, his voice laced with vulnerability. "You can't do this to us." He fists his hand, controlling his anger. "You can't just go back to him after what happened?" Olivia shakes her head, her voice cracking. "I'm sorry... I love him." Guilt fills her voice. "I love Aiden." Roman scoffs, pain evident in his expression. "No, you don't. If you did, you wouldn't have cheated on him with his best friend." Olivia cries, and my heart breaks for the man waiting at the altar. The world around me freezes. What's happening? Did I just hear them right? Did they betray Aiden? "Roman," Olivia pleads, tears streaming down her face. "I was stressed, alone, and confused. I made a mistake, and so did you. What we did was horrible." Roman's eyes widen in disbelief, his voice frustrated and menacing. "Come on, Olivia. It wasn't just one time. You didn't think about Aiden when you were in my arms, on my bed." My stomach churns with a horrible feeling, and I'm paralyzed with shock. I want to flee but can't move. "You said you love Aiden?" Roman scoffs again. "That's bullshit." Olivia's tears flow hard, and I'm consumed by the weight of what I've just witnessed.

"Please, Roman, don't do this," Olivia begs, her sobs echoing through the air. Her next words confirm my worst fears: "I love Aiden, and I made a mistake. I was at my lowest point, and I wasn't strong enough to accept he wasn't there for me. My heart longs for him; I want to spend my life with him, marry him." Roman's voice shakes with pain. "No, you don't mean that. I chose to study in London because I cared for you. I did what Aiden failed to do. And now, you're saying you used me?" His voice rises, and I feel a jolt of fear.

Olivia and Roman suddenly turn to me, their faces etched with shock and horror. I'm the first to speak, my voice trembling. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to-" Olivia cuts me off, her eyes wide with fear. "How much did you hear?" I swallow hard, unable to answer. "Who are you?" she demands, her voice rising.

I try to calm my racing heart. "I came with Max's family... I was trying to help the flower girl." Olivia's stare is like a dagger. "Max? You mean Luna's fiancé?" I feel a sense of dread wash over me. "Please, just forget this," I plead. "I'll pretend I didn't see or hear anything." But I know they don't believe me. I quickly turn and walk back into the building, aware that I've stumbled into a disaster.

Regardless of my identity or connection to Max and Luna, Olivia is distraught, knowing someone has overheard her conversation with Roman. Her panic is palpable as she frets about the potential consequences. "What if she tells someone? What if Aiden finds out?" she cries, her voice echoing through the air. I hasten my exit, not wanting to exacerbate the situation.

As I step out of the room, the flower girl and her mother approach me, and I force a smile, thanking them for their gratitude. I quicken my pace, eager to escape the unfolding drama. The mother's parting words only add to my unease: "It's time for Olivia to walk down the aisle." I'm desperate to flee and erase the events of the night from my memory. The wedding, once a joyous occasion, now feels like a disaster waiting to happen, and I fear I've played a part in its unraveling.

My mind races with questions: What's happening behind that door now? Is Olivia still conversing with Roman in the garden, or has she returned to the room alone? I push the thoughts aside and focus on escaping the situation as swiftly as possible.

As I return to my seat beside Sienna, she raises an eyebrow. "What took you so long?" I hesitate, fumbling for an excuse. "I got lost," I reply weakly, avoiding eye contact. Sienna chuckles and turns her attention back to the altar. "It's almost time." Luna's excited squeal fills the air, and I steel myself to look up. The sight before me is heartbreaking. Aiden Klein stands at the altar, his eyes fixed on the aisle, his face radiant with joy and anticipation. He's the picture of a man eager to begin his forever with the woman he loves. Sienna whispers, "I can't wait to see the bride. She must be stunning." I remain silent, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios.

Sienna elbows me, concerned. "Nevaeh, what's wrong? You look pale." I force a fake smile, trying to brush off my unease. Minutes tick by, and the atmosphere grows thick with anticipation. Aiden's gaze never wavers from the aisle, his smile slowly fading as the delay stretches on. Confusion etches his face, and the murmurs of the crowd grow louder. I feel a lump form in my throat, and tears prick at the corners of my eyes. I silently plead with Olivia to return, to spare Aiden the pain of being left at the altar. But the minutes continue to tick by, and she never appears.

Aiden's expression crumbles, and my heart shatters alongside his. I'm consumed by despair, praying for Olivia to return, to reconsider, to spare Aiden the agony of being abandoned. But it's too late. The ceremony is abandoned, and Aiden is left standing alone, his dreams of forever shattered.