Sunrise Of Us: Wake Me With Your Love

Sunlight drenched Cloudspire Castle, casting a golden sheen across the stone towers and polished windows.

No detail had been spared on the wedding grounds. A breathtaking scene unfolded along the crystal-clear aisle, where rare blooms lined each side, their fragrance sweetening the breeze. A towering arch built from ivory flowers glittered with embedded gems, stealing the spotlight at the end of the path.

On the sprawling green in front of the castle, an impressive crowd had gathered-every guest someone important, every conversation hushed and curious.

This was everything Melina Fowler had ever pictured for herself, only to watch it slip into the hands of Emilee Fowler, the backcountry woman and the real Fowler daughter she'd always looked down on.

Just three days ago, the Fowler family and Carter family had sealed a marriage agreement, circling today on the calendar.

However, there would be no groom at the altar today. Eric Carter, the man at the center of it all, lay unresponsive in bed, lost to the world after a horrible car accident.

Eric's reputation reached into every corner of the country. He was not just the Carter family's leader but also the driving force behind the powerful Horizon Group. His name also sent shivers through the underworld of the country. His influence ran so deep that even those at the highest levels of government chose their words carefully around him.

Fate had intervened, though. After a crash left Eric comatose, the doctors predicted he had half a year left at most.

Sylvia Carter, Eric's formidable grandmother, refused to let his story end quietly. Before her grandson slipped away for good, she made sure a bride would stand by his side-offering a billion-dollar compensation to whoever would say yes.

Despite the Carter family's standing, not a single lady wanted any part of such a doomed arrangement.

The Fowler family, on the other hand, saw an opportunity. They didn't hesitate to offer up Emilee, trading her future for a life-changing sum, all while shielding Melina, the girl not even related to them, from this misery.

The more Melina thought about it, the less envious she felt and the more triumphant she became. As far as she was concerned, no amount of wedding finery could change the truth. Emilee was nothing more than a means to an end-a way for the Fowlers to get their hands on that billion dollars.

Moreover, for weeks, Melina had been hatching a plan of her own. She'd made up her mind to make sure Emilee never went through with the ceremony, even if Eric was little more than a ghost. Melina was determined to prevent Emilee from taking a single step up the social ladder. She would keep Emilee in her place, no matter what.

Nothing about Emilee belonged in high society, at least in Melina's mind. She was sure that woman ought to remain buried in obscurity and want.

Minutes ticked by, and with each passing moment, the wedding's scheduled hour slipped closer. Strangely enough, Emilee was nowhere to be found. Murmurs swept through the elegant gathering, restless curiosity turning into suspicion.

"Did Emilee really disappear before the ceremony? Could she possibly have the nerve to run away from all this? Someone like her wouldn't dare cross the Carter family, would she?"

"I wouldn't be so sure. There's word she's barely literate, doesn't know her place, and probably sees the Carters as just another well-off family she can fool. If you ask me, who in their right mind would choose to wed a man lying at death's door, unable to even open his eyes?"

"The Carter family never let anyone off easy. The last person who tried ended up ruined. If Emilee truly bailed, she's either reckless or has no sense at all."

The gossip trickled into Melina's ears, every word fueling her delight. Her lips curled upward, satisfaction practically glowing on her face. All signs pointed to one thing-Emilee had vanished. Now was her chance to seize the spotlight.

Saving the Carter family from disgrace was all that mattered. If she played her cards right, her place at the top of Duifsas's social ladder would be untouchable.

With calm poise, Melina strode up to the front. Every head turned to watch her as she moved, her presence demanding attention.

A practiced smile lit up her face. She lowered herself into a graceful bow before addressing the onlookers, her voice ringing out, saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm afraid Emilee isn't feeling well..."

"Who decided that for me?" A sudden voice rang out, clear and unmistakable.

Everyone's gaze snapped toward the entrance. There, Emilee made her entrance, gliding forward in a gown fit for royalty.

Shimmering fabric hugged her frame, while her hair spilled over her shoulders, catching the breeze as she moved. The sweeping train behind her glittered across the crystal aisle like a comet tail, captivating every single guest.

Glittering gemstones crowned Emilee's head, giving her an unmistakable sense of royalty and drawing every eye her way.

The sight of Emilee shattered Melina's composure. Her lips stiffened, and disbelief registered in her wide, startled eyes.

In an instant, the chatter died down. Nobody uttered a word as all attention gravitated toward Emilee's radiant arrival.

Without giving the audience so much as a glance, Emilee strode directly to Melina. A hint of a smirk played on her lips as she regarded Melina and murmured, "Tell me, Melina, what's the story you're feeding everyone today? Or could it be something more?"

With barely a breath between them, Emilee moved in close and let her words fall like ice. "Were you expecting me to disappear before the vows?"

Just thirty minutes before, Emilee had sat by herself in a dressing room perched high on the seventh floor of Cloudspire Castle.

Instead of the expected bridal gown, she had slipped into a set of running clothes, bracing herself to make a break for it.

Only three days ago, her family, the Fowlers, had sealed her fate by arranging her wedding to Eric, who hadn't shown a single sign of consciousness, in return for a billion.

No part of her wanted any of this!

Because the Carter family controlled everything, Emilee felt forced to reach out in secret to Aaron Carter, her secret boyfriend and the younger brother of her would-be husband, hoping he would help her vanish.

Lucky for her, Aaron didn't hesitate. He promised her escape and even proposed they get married instead, leaving Eric-and all the arrangements-behind.

Once she'd grabbed what she needed, and the clock was down to five minutes before the ceremony, she nervously tapped out a message to Aaron.

Aaron replied, "Take the elevator down to minus three. There's a hidden door. I'll be there."

A sense of relief rushed through her, and she started for the exit, but her phone buzzed with a message from an unknown sender. Curiosity took over. She opened the email, which immediately launched a video.

A grainy scene flickered to life. Two naked bodies tangled together, and Emilee's attention snapped to a fiery red birthmark on the man's hand. Recognition slammed into her-Aaron was the only person she knew with that mark.

Then a gentle, unmistakable voice floated through the speakers. "Aaron, who do you love more, me or Emilee?"

All at once, a cold dread gripped her, making her entire body numb. Shock hit her when Emilee realized the woman tangled up with Aaron was Melina.

Aaron let out a breathless scoff, his voice sharp. "She's boring, nothing interesting about her. The only reason I kept her around was to get under Eric's skin. Otherwise, I would've dumped her ages ago."

With a sultry chuckle, Melina teased him, "So, if Emilee runs off to marry you, are we still going to sneak around like this?"

"Absolutely," said Aaron, not missing a beat. "You'll be the mother of my first kid, I promise. Emilee means nothing. The second Eric is out of the picture, I'm throwing her out."

Everything around Emilee seemed to blur, and she couldn't think straight.

Aaron had betrayed her, and she could hardly believe it. Three years of their relationship-all that time, and now he considered her as nothing more than a pawn in his game with Eric.

As her hands shook, she tried to save the damning video, but it vanished right before her eyes.

Almost instantly, another notification flashed across her phone. This time, it was her mother, Alina Fowler.

"I've made Melina your bridesmaid instead. So many powerful families will be there tonight. This could be her big chance to meet the right man."

Each word from her mother felt like a fresh wound, twisting deeper with every line. The Fowler family treated her wedding like a golden opportunity for Melina's future, while her own happiness didn't seem to matter at all. Their affection for Melina was overwhelming, as if she was the only daughter who counted.

Sometimes, Emilee wondered if she would have doubted her own place in the family, had she not confirmed it with a paternity test after all those years apart.

Any warmth in Emilee's eyes had vanished, leaving behind a steely, determined stare.

Too long she had let herself believe in the illusion of family love, only to end up as the Fowlers' pawn, while Melina walked all over her.

That part of her was gone now. Humiliation would not be her story. She was ready to turn the tables and make every single one of them regret ever looking down on her.

Instead of running away, she found herself resolved. She would hold her place as Eric's wife-no matter what.

...

Pulling away from her thoughts and fixing Melina with a sharp, unblinking look, Emilee showed exactly how much she had changed.

A single attempt at speech caught in Melina's throat. No words came out. Confidence radiated from Emilee in a way that caught everyone off guard. The old, timid woman was gone.

A flicker of mockery passed across her face as she noticed Melina's silence. Then, with her head held high, Emilee addressed the crowd, her words strong and clear. "Thank you for waiting. The marriage between the Fowlers and Carters is a promise I intend to keep. How would I ever walk away from that?"

Surveying the grounds, she watched as the whispers died and a few faces grew uneasy at being caught judging her.

Many in attendance were left completely stunned.

"Is that really the woman the Fowler family found after years away? She doesn't act like she grew up in the sticks at all!"

"You'd never guess from looking at her. She has way more presence than Melina-no wonder the Carters picked Emilee for the wedding instead!"

Applause and admiring whispers flowed through the grounds, making their way to Melina where she stood on stage. Tightly gripping the edge of her gown, Melina couldn't help but feel each compliment for Emilee land like a fresh sting.

She had expected Emilee to run away in shame, opening the door for her to shine as the center of attention. Instead, she now stood in Emilee's shadow, barely noticed. Bitterness and envy bubbled up inside her.

Noticing the jealousy radiating from Melina, Emilee's lips twisted into a frosty smirk. Turning her focus to Melina, she spoke in a voice that was cool and commanding. "Melina, my wedding train's so long, it's going to be hard to manage on my own. Why don't you help out and carry it for me?"

Color drained from Melina's face, then quickly returned in a flush of embarrassment. Carrying Emilee's train felt utterly beneath her.

Instead of being celebrated, she now stood in front of everyone, forced to do a job she considered humiliating-a far cry from the role she always imagined for herself as the family's favored daughter.

However, refusing wasn't something Melina could afford. With Emilee about to become part of the powerful Carter family, Melina knew she couldn't risk defying Emilee, no matter how much she wanted to.

Swallowing her pride, Melina pressed her lips together, and managed a shaky, forced smile. "S-sure, Emilee."

Crouching awkwardly, she reached for the heavy fabric of the wedding dress, hands trembling as she prepared to lift it.

Above her, Emilee gazed down, her eyes glinting with thinly veiled scorn. She couldn't help but think back to how she'd once truly believed Melina was superior in every way. Now, it was clear that Melina's sense of importance was built entirely on the family's favoritism.

With a sly laugh, Emilee teased, "You might want to be extra careful, Melina. This dress is one-of-a-kind, made just for me by the Carters. If it gets ruined, I'm not sure if you are brave enough to face the consequences."

A tremor ran through Melina's hands, her anger barely kept in check. Those very words had often come from her own mouth, only now, Emilee used them as a weapon against her.

But she couldn't deny the truth-there was no way she could ever afford to offend the Carter family.

Seeing her rival so humiliated, Emilee felt a weight lift off her shoulders, as if some of her pain had finally been avenged.

Moving forward with the eyes of the entire room upon her, Emilee stepped ahead, while Melina trailed behind, forced to hold up the delicate train, each step a reminder of how quickly fortunes could change.

Every step Melina took felt as if she were balancing on a wire, shame pressing down with every movement. At the same time, Emilee carried herself forward with a calm, dignified stride. It was impossible not to notice the difference-Emilee glowed with confidence, completely outshining Melina.

At last, they arrived at the altar. A quick flick of Emilee's wrist sent Melina away, the motion dismissive and effortless, as though she were brushing off a stray hair.

Fury churned inside Melina, and her hands curled into fists, fingernails biting into her skin as she struggled to keep a neutral face.

In her mind, Melina repeated silent reassurances to keep her anger in check. Emilee might be shining right now, but Melina saw nothing but gloom ahead for Emilee-she felt sure the marriage would end in tragedy, leaving Emilee alone. Once Eric was gone, she pictured Emilee being tossed aside without a second thought.

Meanwhile, she herself had already secured her place with Aaron. She would eventually claim the Carter family's title for herself.

These thoughts brought a sliver of confidence back to her posture.

A hush fell over the grounds as the officiant announced the start of the ceremony, with Emilee standing alone in the spotlight, all eyes on her.

Moments later, the ceremony reached the exchange of rings.

Fearing Emilee might hold a grudge and shut her out from participating, Melina nervously nibbled her lower lip, then glanced up with a wounded look. "Emilee, I know you don't trust me lately, but please let me present the rings. I'd hate for the guests to witness a drama. We're family, after all."

A glint of icy determination flickered in Emilee's gaze. Nothing about Melina's schemes was accidental-Melina had stolen her boyfriend, set her up for failure, and now clung to the pretense of sisterhood to get her way.

Fully aware that Melina craved attention from the city's high society, Emilee decided she'd give her a taste of public disgrace.