SHADOWS OF THE PAST

Lila and Ryan's love had triumphed, and their wedding preparations were in full swing. The prestigious halls of Lekki buzzed with excitement as their families planned a celebration that would be the talk of the town. A grand ballroom had been booked, adorned with cascading chandeliers and floral arrangements fit for royalty.

Lila, now a radiant bride-to-be, had never felt happier. As she tried on her wedding dress, the lace caressing her skin, she imagined a future filled with love and laughter. Ryan, on the other hand, spent his days finalizing details with the event planners, ensuring that everything was perfect for his queen.

But happiness often attracts shadows.

Unbeknownst to them, a dark figure lurked in the background—someone who had never let go of the past.

Ryan's old friend, Ethan, had returned, and his presence was anything but welcoming. While others congratulated Ryan on his upcoming marriage, Ethan wore a smirk of hidden intentions.

Lila had caught his gaze more than once, an eerie chill running down her spine each time. Something about the way he looked at her unsettled her. She mentioned it to Ryan, but he brushed it off with a laugh.

"Ethan? No, he's just messing around. He's always been that way."

But Lila's instincts screamed otherwise.

As the wedding day drew closer, strange things began happening. Lila received an anonymous message on her phone—Are you sure you really know the man you're marrying?

Ryan started noticing things too. He would find Ethan at odd places—outside his office, near his house—always watching, always waiting.

The past was creeping into their present, threatening to shatter their perfect love story.

And as the wedding bells neared, the shadows only grew darker.

As the days counted down to the wedding, an unease settled over Lila. The mysterious messages continued, each one more unsettling than the last.

"You can still walk away."

"Some secrets are better left buried."

"Does Ryan know everything about you? Do you know everything about him?"

She tried to ignore them, convincing herself they were just pranks—perhaps a jealous ex or a bitter acquaintance. But deep down, she knew something wasn't right.

Ryan, too, had begun to feel the weight of something unseen. Ethan's presence became more than just a coincidence. At first, he thought his old friend had returned simply to celebrate with him, but the way Ethan watched Lila, the knowing smirk on his lips, sent a chill down Ryan's spine.

One evening, after a long day of finalizing wedding details, Ryan invited Ethan for a drink.

"You've been around a lot lately," Ryan said, his tone casual but firm.

Ethan chuckled, swirling his glass of whiskey. "Just excited for my best friend's big day."

Ryan studied him carefully. "Is that all?"

Ethan leaned in, lowering his voice. "You know, marriage is a big commitment. Are you sure you want to go through with it?"

Ryan clenched his jaw. "What exactly are you implying?"

Ethan smirked. "Secrets, Ryan. They have a way of coming out, especially in a marriage."

Ryan felt his chest tighten. He had nothing to hide—did he? But the look in Ethan's eyes held something deeper, something almost sinister.

Meanwhile, Lila confided in Samantha about the messages.

"I don't know who's sending them, but it's starting to feel personal."

"Have you told Ryan?" Samantha asked.

"Not yet. I don't want to stress him before the wedding."

"Lila, you need to tell him. This isn't normal."

That night, as Lila scrolled through the messages again, her phone rang—an unknown number. Hesitantly, she answered.

"Who is this?" she demanded.

A low chuckle echoed on the line.

"Enjoy your wedding, Lila. It might be the last time you feel safe."

The call ended.

Her hands trembled as she gripped the phone. The shadows of the past weren't just lurking.

They were coming for her.

The wedding day arrived in a whirlwind of luxury, elegance, and anticipation. The grand venue in Lekki was adorned with cascading white roses, shimmering chandeliers, and a breathtaking aisle lined with candles. Lila, dressed in a custom-made gown with intricate lace and a diamond-studded veil, looked like a dream. Ryan, in a tailored black tuxedo, stood at the altar, his heart pounding as he watched her approach.

For a moment, everything felt perfect.

But beneath the beauty of the day, unease lingered. Lila couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. Every time she turned, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure—Ethan. His smirk sent shivers down her spine, but she forced herself to focus on Ryan. This was their moment.

"Do you, Ryan, take Lila to be your lawfully wedded wife?" the officiant asked.

"I do," Ryan said, his voice steady and full of emotion.

"And do you, Lila, take Ryan—"

The sudden commotion at the back of the hall cut him off. A loud gasp rippled through the guests.

Lila turned sharply. Her breath hitched. Standing at the entrance was a woman—tall, elegant, and visibly furious. Her piercing gaze was locked onto Ryan.

"You're really going to marry her, Ryan?" the woman's voice rang through the silent hall.

A murmur spread through the crowd. Lila's heart pounded. Who was she?

Ryan's face went pale. His hands clenched at his sides.

"Ava?" His voice was barely above a whisper.

Lila's stomach twisted. Who was Ava? And why did she look at Ryan with such betrayal?

Ethan, standing off to the side, chuckled under his breath. He leaned against a pillar, enjoying the chaos he had clearly been expecting.

"You never told her, did you, Ryan?" Ava continued, stepping forward.

Lila looked at Ryan, eyes demanding answers. "Ryan, what is she talking about?"

Ryan exhaled sharply, his grip on Lila tightening as if afraid to lose her.

"Lila… I was going to tell you. But I didn't know how."

Ava scoffed. "Oh, so you thought it would be better if I did it for you?" She turned to Lila. "Your fiancé? He was engaged to me first."

A shocked gasp escaped Lila's lips.

"That's a lie," Ryan said quickly, his jaw tightening. "Ava, stop this."

"Is it? Or do you just not want her to know what happened between us?"

Tessa, standing in the crowd, smirked to herself. This was better than she could have planned.

The perfect wedding day had turned into a nightmare. And for Lila, the shadows of Ryan's past were no longer just whispers.

They had come for her in the flesh.

A suffocating silence blanketed the hall. Guests exchanged nervous glances, unsure of what to believe. Lila felt the ground beneath her shift. She turned to Ryan, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Ryan, is this true?" her voice trembled, barely above a whisper.

Ryan clenched his jaw, his hands tightening into fists. He looked at Ava, his face clouded with frustration and regret.

"Lila, I swear, it's not what you think. Yes, Ava and I were engaged—"

Gasps erupted through the hall. Lila's breath hitched.

"So it's true," she whispered, taking a step back.

Ryan reached for her, desperation in his eyes. "Please, let me explain—"

Ava crossed her arms, smirking. "Oh, now you want to explain? You didn't seem so eager when you disappeared from my life, Ryan. You promised me forever, and then you left without a word!"

Lila's stomach twisted painfully. She couldn't bear to hear this.

"Left?" she repeated, staring at Ryan in disbelief. "You abandoned her?"

Ryan's face hardened. "It wasn't like that! Ava and I were together years ago. It ended before I ever met you, Lila!"

Ava let out a bitter laugh. "Did it? Because from where I'm standing, I never got any closure. I loved you, Ryan. I waited for you!"

Lila felt a lump form in her throat. The love of her life had a past he had never shared with her. And now, on their wedding day, it had come crashing down.

Ethan, watching from the sidelines, smirked. This was playing out perfectly.

Tessa, standing among the guests, folded her arms. Good. Let her feel the heartbreak I did.

Lila took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Ryan, why didn't you ever tell me about her?"

"Because it didn't matter," Ryan said, his voice desperate. "You are the only one that matters, Lila. I didn't think she would come back. I didn't want to hurt you with something that was over!"

Ava scoffed. "Over? Ryan, did you ever love me? Or was I just someone you used and discarded?"

Lila's eyes burned. Is that what I'll become one day? Another forgotten love in his past?

The officiant awkwardly cleared his throat, glancing between them. The wedding had been completely derailed.

Lila turned to Ryan, her eyes filled with pain. "I need time," she said, stepping back.

Ryan's heart clenched. "Lila, please—"

She shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"I can't do this right now."

With that, she turned and walked out of the hall, leaving Ryan standing alone at the altar.

And just like that, the wedding was ruined.

Lila rushed out of the wedding hall, her heart pounding, her vision blurred with unshed tears. The whispers of the guests followed her, each murmur like a dagger piercing her chest. She couldn't breathe. How could Ryan keep something so important from her?

Ryan ran after her, his voice pleading. "Lila, please, just listen to me!"

But she didn't stop. She needed to get away, to think, to escape the storm of emotions crashing through her.

Samantha, her best friend, caught up with her outside. "Lila, take a deep breath. You need to calm down."

Lila shook her head furiously. "How can I? How can I trust him now? He kept such a huge part of his past from me! What else is he hiding?"

Inside the hall, Ryan clenched his fists. His mother, Mrs. Williams, walked up to him, her face tight with worry. "Ryan, what is going on? Who is this woman?"

Ava smirked, folding her arms. "Oh, Mrs. Williams, your son never told you about me? That's surprising, considering we were once engaged."

Gasps echoed through the crowd. Mr. and Mrs. Michael exchanged glances, their excitement about the wedding now replaced with concern.

Ryan turned to Ava, his patience snapping. "Enough, Ava! You had no right to come here and ruin my wedding!"

"No right?" Ava's eyes darkened. "Ryan, you left me without a word! I searched for you! And then I find out you're marrying someone else? What was I supposed to do?!"

Tessa, who had been watching from the corner with Oliver, smirked. Her plan was working. Lila and Ryan were falling apart.

Meanwhile, outside, Samantha held Lila's trembling hands. "Lila, I know this hurts. But before you make any decision, talk to Ryan. Don't let Ava win."

Lila's eyes snapped up. "What do you mean?"

"Think about it. Why would she show up now? On your wedding day? Doesn't it seem planned?"

Lila swallowed. It did. But that didn't erase the pain of Ryan's secret.

Inside, Ryan turned to Ava, his voice filled with anger. "I did love you, Ava. But we were over a long time ago. You showing up now doesn't change that!"

Ava's eyes shone with unshed tears. "Then why didn't you tell Lila about me?"

Ryan froze. He had no answer to that.

Lila stepped back into the hall, her head held high. Everyone turned to look at her.

"Ryan," she said, her voice steady. "I need the truth. All of it. Right now."

Ryan looked into her eyes and knew—this was the moment that would decide their future.

Would their love survive this storm? Or would the shadows of his past destroy everything they had built?

Whispers of Deception

Silence filled the wedding hall as Ryan took a deep breath. His hands trembled slightly as he reached for Lila's.

"Lila, I should have told you about Ava. We were together years ago, but it ended. I didn't think she'd ever come back into my life, and I never wanted anything to do with her again."

Lila studied his face, searching for any sign of deceit. "Then why did she come here today, Ryan? Why did she act like you abandoned her?"

Ava smirked, arms crossed. "Because he did abandon me. Without a word."

Ryan clenched his jaw. "I left because you betrayed me, Ava. You cheated, and you know it!"

Gasps echoed through the hall. Ava's confident expression faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered.

"That was a misunderstanding, Ryan. I was young and stupid." She turned to Lila, eyes pleading. "But don't you wonder why he never told you about me? What else is he hiding?"

Lila swallowed hard. Doubt crept into her mind.

Ryan gripped her hand tighter. "I never told you about Ava because she meant nothing to me anymore. You are my future, Lila. And if you can't trust me, then I don't know what else to say."

Ava took a step forward. "Then let me make it easier for her. Lila, I still love Ryan. And if you walk away now, maybe we can fix what was broken."

Lila's heart clenched. She turned to Ryan, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you still have feelings for her?"

Ryan looked directly into her eyes. "Not even a little bit."

Ava's face darkened. "We'll see about that." And with that, she stormed out.

But the damage was done. Lila pulled her hand away. "I need time, Ryan. I need to think."

Ryan watched helplessly as she walked away, her white gown trailing behind her like a ghost of what could have been.