Chapter 2 The Wedding of Dreams

The morning sun streamed through the large windows of the bridal suite, bathing the room in a soft, golden glow. Elsa sat before the vanity, her heart fluttering as her friends surrounded her, gushing over her big day.

"Elsa, you're so lucky," Clara said, clasping her hands together. "You're marrying the richest man in the city! Do you even realize what that means?"

Another friend, Mia, chimed in with a giggle. "Not just the richest, Clara. The most handsome too. Liam Forbes is every woman's dream."

Elsa smiled faintly, her fingers brushing the lace of her wedding dress. She barely heard their chatter as her mind wandered back to her younger self, back to the days when she would run long distances just to catch a glimpse of Liam riding his horse. She could still picture him so vividly-the boy with a confident grin, racing through the meadows like he was born to conquer the world.

Her younger self had been full of admiration, her eyes sparkling whenever she saw him. She had idolized him from afar, the boy who seemed larger than life. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that one day she would be marrying Liam Forbes.

The Forbes family had always been a powerful one, their wealth and influence unmatched. Her own family had been close friends with them for generations. It was always whispered among relatives that Elsa and Liam were fated to be together, that their union would be the perfect bond of friendship and power.

He was her best friend, her partner in crime during childhood. But that was before. Before Liam and his family had disappeared fifteen years ago without a word.

Now, he was back. And though he still looked every bit the Liam she had admired as a child, something was different. She couldn't quite put her finger on it-was it his demeanor? His smile? His gaze, which now seemed darker, more guarded?

"Elsa, are you even listening?" Clara waved a hand in front of her face, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Oh, sorry," Elsa said with a sheepish laugh, shaking off the unease creeping into her heart. "I'm just a little nervous, that's all."

"Of course, you are," Mia said, leaning in to fix Elsa's veil. "It's not every day you marry the most eligible bachelor in the city."

"Or the world," Clara added with a playful wink.

Their laughter filled the room, and Elsa tried to let it ease the tension building in her chest. She told herself that everything was fine, that this was the moment she had dreamed of. She was marrying Liam Forbes, the boy who had once been her best friend.

But deep down, that flicker of doubt refused to be silenced.

When the ceremony began, Elsa couldn't help but feel a surge of nostalgia as she walked down the aisle. Liam stood at the altar, looking every bit the man she had always admired. His dark suit hugged his broad shoulders, and his piercing eyes locked onto hers. For a brief moment, she thought she saw the boy she used to know, the one who made her laugh and promised to always protect her.

But as she stepped closer, that warmth in his gaze seemed to flicker out, replaced by something colder, something unreadable.

"You look stunning," Liam whispered when she reached him, his smile perfectly charming. But there was an edge to his voice, one that made her stomach twist.

As the priest began the ceremony, Elsa tried to focus on the vows, the flowers, the soft glow of candles. But her mind kept drifting back to the question that had haunted her since Liam's return.

Was it just her imagination, or was this man no longer the Liam she had once known?