Chapter 3 Storm

"Oh my gosh, Valerie, you're going to be the most stunning bride!" her friends squealed enthusiastically.

Standing on the platform in the private dressing room of "Clementine Bridals", Valerie finally experienced the moment she had long awaited. She gazed at her wedding dress, the chill of the air-conditioning nipping at her arms and sending goosebumps across her skin. Despite that, she feigns excitement , at least that's the feeling she was supposed to feel being a bride, and all that gibberish she pretended to care about.

She beamed at her friends through the full-length mirror. They sat on a luxurious cream sofa, their laughter filling the room. A bouquet of vibrant red roses lay elegantly on the glass table in front of them as they savored their champagne flutes.

If only they knew her true style she sighed. Valerie would never be caught dead in a lacy, off-the-shoulder, beaded gown with an exaggerated A-line. And don't even get her started on the itchiness of lace against her skin. But that was the nature of superficial friendships and extravagant weddings. She grinned, finding the charade surprisingly easy. After all, she had spent her whole life perfecting the art of fake smiles and playing the role of the perfect, innocent girl.

It would all be worth it when she finally married Ethan. For now, she was playing the role of the happy bride who couldn't wait to marry his brother.

Valerie flashed a playful wink at the attendant behind the sheer white curtain. "I don't ever want to take this dress off! It's gorgeous!"

The middle-aged woman beamed. "It's going to be your big day soon! You'll get to wear it all day long!"

"Let's get this off me and have it delivered to my house right away!" Valerie exclaimed, her friends Alexandria and Kate bursting into excited laughter.

"We're so thrilled for you! Marrying Elixir sounds like a dream come true! It's going to be the biggest wedding of the season-you're so lucky, girl!" Kate gushed, her eyes sparkling with joy.

To most people, marrying Elixir might sound like a dream, but to Valerie, it was a nightmare. The wedding was fast approaching, and she needed to figure something out quickly. In the meantime, she kept her other plans in motion. A sinister smile formed on her lips as she toasted with her friends.

Elixir busied himself with a project, sketching an aquarium design for one of his clients. He was so engrossed in his work that he didn't notice his phone buzzing incessantly with missed calls from his friends.

It was a Friday night, and by their standards, it was criminal for him not to be at a party. But with his wedding around the corner, Elixir felt the need to slow down on partying and drinking.

Thinking about his fiancée, he couldn't help but smile. Valerie was beautiful, sexy, and fun to be around, even though they could never seem to connect on a deeper level. He hoped marriage would bring them closer.

Out of nowhere, an electric jolt shot through his body, from his brain to his toes, leaving him numb. The glass cup in his hand shattered, and he collapsed to the ground, convulsing uncontrollably.

---

Waking up disoriented and aching, Elixir struggled to understand how he had ended up in his bedroom. As he tried to piece things together, the door cracked open, and his brother Ethan stepped in.

"Hey, bro. How are you feeling?" Ethan asked, concern evident in his voice.

A wave of embarrassment washed over Elixir. This was the second time in two weeks he had experienced such an episode, and he was starting to worry. He didn't want to be a burden, but now that Ethan had seen him in this state, he knew he had to open up.

Sitting down across from him, Ethan tried his best to mask his worry. "What's going on? Can you tell me why I found you shaking on the floor?"

Elixir sighed, replying honestly. "I don't even understand it myself. I've had two seizures in the past two weeks."

Ethan shook his head slowly, concern deepening in his eyes. "We need to run a brain scan to find out what's happening. We'll figure this out together."

He handed Elixir a glass of water, his voice steady and reassuring. Elixir took a sip, grateful for the support, before settling back down to rest.

---

The next day, the brothers were the first to arrive at the specialist's office. Ethan hated being there, but he would do anything for Elixir. Sitting in the empty lobby while his brother underwent tests, Ethan tried to distract himself by studying the abstract paintings on the walls.He felt an overwhelming need to rush out and never come back but he sat there rooted on his seat. He has avoided at the hospital for five years and now that he was here the memories he had long buried came flooding back with a vengeance.

He stared at the white tiles, muttering under his breath, "I'd do anything to change the past." The sting of unshed tears burned his eyes. It had been five years since that fateful day, yet the pain felt as raw as ever.

"Suzy," he suddenly whispered in shock, raising his head.

She stood before him, smiling, her brown eyes piercing his soul. She wore a flowing white dress cinched at the waist with a gold belt, her light brown wings flecked with gold spread gracefully across the room.

Ethan reached out to touch her, but as he did, the vision faded, leaving him alone once more.

A tap on his shoulder jolted him back to reality.

"Mr. Ethan, come with me let's discuss the results of the tests"the doctor said softly.

*********

Inside the doctor's office, sparsely decorated with a mahogany table and a pair of wooden chairs, Ethan's heart sank as he noticed the somber expression on the specialist's face.

"What's wrong with my brother?" he asked, his voice sharp with impatience.

The doctor sighed. "That's just it. We can't figure it out. There are signs of brain trauma caused by seizures, but we don't know what's triggering them. Everything else appears normal."

Ethan's frustration boiled over. "What do you mean you don't know what's wrong with him? This is the most advanced hospital in the city!"

The doctor remained calm. "Let's monitor him for a few days. Hopefully, we can gather more information and reach an accurate conclusion."