Corrine Holland stood moments away from marrying Bruce Ashton, her dream finally within reach.
The wedding march echoed through the hall as she glided down the red carpet in her immaculate white gown, moving toward Bruce who awaited her at the altar.
Bathed in streams of golden light, his white suit seemed to shimmer, highlighting the refined features that had first captured her heart years ago.
Their relationship had weathered countless storms over three years, and now, despite her family's refusal to bless their union, her cherished dream approached reality.
As Bruce stepped forward to present her bouquet, tears of joy threatened to spill from her eyes.
The priest's kind eyes settled on the couple as he spoke. "Do you, Bruce Ashton, take this woman to be your wife? Will you love her, honor her, respect her, and accept her, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?"
Corrine's heart fluttered as she turned expectantly toward Bruce, awaiting his answer.
Instead of joy, however, his features twisted with uncertainty, an unsettling hesitation clouding his expression.
Suddenly, the doors burst open. Rita Ashton, Bruce's younger sister, stumbled in with tears streaming down her face. "Bruce, it's bad!" she cried, looking lost and desperate. "Leah... she... she..."
A cold wave of dread washed over Corrine. Her grip tightened around Bruce's hand as her heart hammered against her ribs.
The name awakened painful memories-Leah Burgess, the unreachable star in Bruce's firmament.
When the Ashton family had fallen from grace years ago, Leah had chosen opportunity abroad over love, prompting Bruce to sever ties and turn to Corrine.
Yet just a month ago, Leah had mysteriously reappeared.
Bruce's face drained of color. "What happened to Leah?" he demanded, panic threading through his voice.
"Leah's bleeding won't stop," Rita sobbed. "The doctor says she might not make it!"
Without hesitation, Bruce wrenched his hand from Corrine's and bolted toward the door.
Corrine lunged forward, catching his arm. "You can't leave!"
Her body trembled as she met his gaze, pleading. "Bruce, this is our wedding ceremony. Would you really abandon it?"
Whispers rippled through the gathered crowd, their mocking glances piercing her like daggers.
Tears threatened as she beseeched him, "Bruce, couldn't we at least complete the ceremony?"
"Leah was struck by a car while saving me. I can't abandon her now!" Bruce struggled against her grip, his expression hardening into something foreign and cold.
"Corrine, you know this marriage is merely a transaction. Your role is to be Mrs. Ashton in name-nothing more. Don't interfere in my personal matters."
A transaction.
The word echoed in the hollow chamber of Corrine's heart as she stared at his unyielding face.
Shock slowly transformed into bitter understanding, twisting her lips into a mockery of a smile. "So that's all our marriage meant to you?" she whispered, her voice heavy with realization. "Just a business deal?"
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