Chapter 3 Episode 3

Darla walked down the aisle, her white dress flowing around her like a ghost of the wedding she was never meant to have. It wasn't a bridal gown-not exactly-but it was close enough to make a statement. A statement she intended to make.

She could feel Roy's glare, burning into her, filled with a rage barely contained beneath him. A part of her-a quieter, more rational part-warned that this was reckless, that she was walking straight into the lion's den.

But she had already lost too much and she would not let Roy stand at that altar, smiling over the evil he had caused her.

As she moved closer, her gaze moved to Ethan, standing just behind Roy. His face was indifferent, his posture stiff.Staring at him gave her confidence, his eyes held support for her in a way she couldn't understand.

Then there was her.

Mrs. Claus.

The woman's glare could melt through steel. Her pearl necklace sat primly around her neck, her hair was pristine, not a single strand was out of place, but none of it softened the fury in her face.

She looked like she wanted to tear Darla apart.

Darla met her gaze head-on. Daring her to speak, to intervene. She wasn't going to back down without a fight, not after she had lost everything.

This was what Roy deserved. Every second of humiliation that was about to unfold-she would make sure he felt it.

"Is that Darla?"

"She's wearing white. The audacity."

"What is she doing here?" she could hear them murmur. Half of the guests knew her to be Roy's fiance yet they accepted this foolishness of a wedding.

Still, Darla kept walking, her gaze shifting between the altar and Ethan. He remained motionless, watching her as she walked towards them. He wasn't stopping her.

She finally shifted her eyes back to Roy, the way his jaw tightened, anger creeping up his neck. The bride at his side gave his sleeve a soft tug, whispering something urgently, but Roy didn't acknowledge her.

His focus was entirely on Darla.

When she reached the bottom of the stairs, his voice rang out like a bell.

"What the hell are you doing, Darla?"

Darla tilted her head, a smile formed on her lips. The kind of smile she knew would drive him insane.

"Oh, don't mind me," she said shrugging her shoulders. "I just wanted to congratulate the happy couple."

Roy took a sharp step forward, his hand grabbing her wrist before she could move any closer. His grip was tight, fingers digging into her skin.

"How did you even get in here?" he seethed. Darla yanked her hand free, stepping back. She turned her attention to her-the woman in the strapless dress standing at the altar, the one wearing her ring, the one stealing the future she had once been promised.

The bride's lips curled into a smug, satisfied smile. As if Darla was nothing. As if nothing she said or did could shake her perfect little world and that only made Darla angrier.

She turned toward the guests, making sure het voice was clear enough for them to hear.

"Did you think you could knock me up and then marry another bitch?"

"Lord have mercy" a woman yelled from the middle. Her words circulated like wildfire among the guests. The hall exploded into frenzy.

Roy's entire body went rigid.

"Darla," he hissed, stepping closer. "You are testing my patience. Leave. Now. Or I'll have my men throw you out."

Darla leaned her head, unbothered. "Throw me out?" she scoffed. "You've already thrown me out of your life, Roy. What's one more shove?"

"Enough!" he snapped, his eyes flickering toward his family who were already insulted by what was going on.

Darla smiled.

"Does she know?" she asked, "Does she know what you've done, Roy? Or were you planning to keep this little secret buried? Just like you did me?"

"Stop," Roy demanded.

"I'll stop when everyone here knows the truth." She stated, her eyes never leaving his. "So, what's it gonna be? Do you want to tell them, or should I?"

Roy clenched his jaw, his eyes darting toward Ethan. "Get her out of here." He commanded but Ethan didn't move. He only stood there, arms crossed, watching in silence. No one dares order him around, much less Roy.

Darla froze thinking that she would get kicked out by Ethan but when she saw he didn't move she continued.

Her eyes locked onto Roy's,. "What's wrong, Roy?" she taunted. "Cat got your tongue? Or is it guilt?"

His face twisted in fury. "You don't belong here." Her lips curled in disgust. "And you don't deserve to stand up here, pretending to be some kind of noble groom."

She slowly turned her attention to the bride,

"And you," she said coldly. "I treated you like a sister. I trusted you. But you were nothing more than a snake."

Roy immediately stood in front of her, covering his bride, something he had never done for her. It was hurtful to see him act that way, to treat another woman much better than he treated her.

"I swear to you, Darla," he growled, reaching for her arm again. "If you don't leave, I will do something bad to you."

She took a step back before he could touch her, then she let out a laugh.

"Something bad?" she echoed. "You've already done your worst. Or have you forgotten? 'Please, Darla,'" she mocked, mimicking his desperate voice. "'I'll give you everything. Just once, Darla. Please, prove your love to me.'"

Roy's face burned red,he was humiliated in his own wedding. It was true that he had pleaded with her to sleep with him, despite her several rejection, he finally got her to agree with him.

"Enough!"

A voice roared from the crowd, causing them to pause.

It was Mrs. Claus.

She stormed forward, ready to pounce on Darla. For a second, it seemed like she would rip Darla apart right there in the middle of the ceremony but stopped. Instantly froze in her tracks like she had seen a ghost.

Darla had prepared herself for the worst the moment she spoke but she was so confused when she returned to her seat without uttering another world.

Like a defeated dog.

Darla smirked before turning back to Roy.

"Do you think you'll be happy in this marriage?" she asked. "You'll only know hell. I curse you, Roy Claus. You will never find happiness, not in this life, not in the next. Not even with this woman."

She swore.

Pissed off by her words, Roy had no intentions to let her go freely without saying his mind.

"What about you?" he sneered. "You threw yourself at me the same way you throw yourself at every other man. No one wants you, Darla. No one would be dumb enough to want a woman like you. You'll never get married. You'll never walk down the aisle like a real bride. You have no family-you're just a petty little orphan now. Used and discarded."

"Roy, please," the bride grabbed his hand, all she wanted was for Darla to leave but Roy was adding more injury to the fire and ruining their special day.

Instead Roy shoved her aside without a glance. Ethan pulled back making sure he had no part in that.

She stumbled, crashing into the priest. He barely caught her, his expression one of pure disbelief. Her white dress crumpled in the fall.

Yet Roy didn't even look at her.

His glare stayed fixed on Darla.

"You're wasted, Darla," he continued coldly. "Nobody wants trash like you."

The words hit her, caused her to freeze, maybe he was right, maybe no one wanted her and that was why she settled for trash like him. She thought to herself.

Six years of her life was dedicated to a complete and total bastard.

Still,

She straightened her spine and lifted her chin.

"No one wants me?" she repeated, her tone daring. Sweeping her eyes across the crowd.

"I bet you-right here, right now-that there are men in this room who would marry me in a heartbeat."

"Does any one want to marry me?" she asked facing the crowd.

The guests shifted uneasily. No one moved. No one spoke.

No one wanted to go against the Claus family, it meant doom for whoever that was.

Roy laughed, basking in his victory.

"See?" he sneered. "I told you. No one wants-"

"I will."

A voice said.

Every head turned.

Darla's own chest tightened as she turned toward the voice.

And there-stepping forward, stood Ethan.

All eyes landed on him but Ethan wasn't looking at them.

He was looking at her.

Darla's pulse pounded in her ears as he stopped in front of her, his gaze locked onto hers. Then, slowly, he extended his hand.

"What about you, Darla?" His voice was steady. "Are you willing to marry me?"

His words shocked her.

But all Darla could hear was her own heartbeat.

She searched his face, waiting for hesitation, for doubt-for any sign that this was a mistake yet there was none.

Ethan didn't look uncertain. He didn't look like he had just made a rash, impulsive decision. He looked sure.

His fingers wrapped around her waist, firm, warm, pulling her closer. Steadying her.

Her breathing spiked.

Had the room always been this hot?

Or was it just her?

Or was it the way his touch sent a shiver down her spine?

He spoke again, louder this time. Loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Do you accept to marry me, Darla Hitva?" He said her full name to show how serious he was.

Her breath caught in her throat.

The world began spinning. She tried blinking to make sure it wasn't a dream. Her lips parted but no words came out.

Every eye in the room was on her, waiting for her, waiting for her answer.