Chapter 14: A Wedding Like No Other  

The sun shone brightly on the morning of Ethan Hayes and Sophie Clarke's wedding, illuminating the expansive vineyard with its well-kept rows of grapevines and rolling hills. The media had been speculating about the wedding for weeks, and now the day had finally come. 

The estate that was selected for the wedding was nothing short of a masterpiece, owned by one of Ethan's close friends, and featured an extravagant villa with Tuscan-inspired architecture, surrounded by lush gardens, and endless views of the valley. The ceremony was to be held in a clearing among the vines, followed by a lavish reception in the villa's ballroom. 

A Bride to Remember 

Sophie's suite was a hive of activity. Hairdressers, makeup artists, and various assistants rushed around to get the bride ready for the big event of the day. Hanging in the corner was a vision of elegance: a beautiful silk-and-French-lace wedding gown designed by a famous designer. It had a fitted bodice embellished with delicate embroidery, which floated down into a flowing train. 

As Sophie stepped into her gown, an audible gasp came from her maid of honor and one of her oldest friends from way back in Sophie's life. 

"You look like something out of a fairy tale," said the friend, amazed. 

Sophie gazed at herself in the mirror. For a moment, she was transported to an image of the old girl long before life began hardening for her. But then she realized that this time there was something new; it stemmed from the quiet confidence of knowing that she had faced her demons and emerged out of them pure and strong. 

Downstairs, the guests were now arriving. The guest list had read like a veritable who is who of the business world, celebrities, and movers and shakers. The estate buzzed with chatter as attendees excitedly admired the grand affair. 

Ethan's Grand Entrance 

Ethan stood by the altar looking impossibly handsome in a tailored navy-blue suit. His best man, a childhood friend, slapped him on the shoulder. 

"You ready for this?" the friend asked.

Ethan smiled. "I've been ready since the day I met her." 

His heart raced now as music announced the commencement of the wedding ceremony. He turned to see Sophie walking down the aisle with her uncle, radiant. The gown shimmered in the sunlight, her beauty both ethereal and grounded. 

Guests rose from their seats, a collective gasp escaping them as though all the air had been sucked out of the room, taking in the breathtaking beauty of the bride. Ethan's gaze remained focused on hers; in that moment, the world disappeared into a buzz. 

The Vows 

The ceremony embraced tradition and modernity. The officiant used the occasion to speak on love, partnership, and the odyssey of two souls coming together for a better tomorrow. When the time for the exchange of vows came, Ethan took Sophie's hands and steadied himself as much as the emotions allowed him. 

"Sophie, you've changed my life in ways I never thought possible. You've challenged me, supported me, and made me a better man. Today, I want the world to know that you're not just my wife but my equal. In love, in life, and in business. From this day forward, everything I have is yours." 

The guests murmured in admiration at this outpouring of emotion from Ethan. Sophie's eyes glimmered with tears. 

"Ethan, you saw me at my best and my worst, and you chose to stand by me. You've given me a love I never thought I deserved, and for that, I am forever grateful. I promise to walk beside you, to support you, and to love you unconditionally for the rest of our lives." 

As soon as the officiant declared them husband and wife, Ethan enveloped her in a kiss that sent the crowd into cheers and loud applause. 

A Reception to Remember 

The reception took place at the villa's grand ballroom, now a sight of elegance. Crystal chandeliers poured warm light over tables graced by floral centerpieces and fine china. Soft jazz flowed from the live band while guests chatted and congratulated the newlyweds. 

Ethan and Sophie made their grand entrance as husband and wife under a standing ovation. The evening proceeded to heartfelt speeches, including one by Ethan's mother, who flew in from London. 

"Ethan," she declared, raising her glass, "I have never seen you happier and more fulfilled than with Sophie. And Sophie, welcome to the family. You have brought out the best in my son, and for that, I thank you." 

The first dance was a showstopper. Underneath a canopy of twinkling lights, Ethan and Sophie danced together, a union of perfect rhythm and chemistry that drew sweeping admiration from the guests. 

"Have you ever seen a couple more in love?" one guest murmured. 

An Annunciation of Equality 

Later that evening, Ethan made a big announcement. He stood beside Sophie and addressed the room. 

"Well, I know many of you know Sophie has, and will keep, a place in my life and in my business. Today I wanted to formalize that. Sophie is now, to me, a partner in all ventures. Together, we'll keep building something great." 

The room burst into applause, and although taken by surprise, Sophie smiled back. Ethan had always been magnanimous, but this was public acknowledgment of her role in his life and his business, indicating how much he valued it. 

The Night Closes 

As the evening wound down, Ethan and Sophie managed to sneak a few moments alone from the crowd on the balcony of the villa. All was serene, with stars glittering above and the cool night air rife with the scent of lavender from the nearby fields. 

"Did it fulfill every fantasy you had?" Ethan asked, wrapping his arms around her.

"It was more," Sophie said, leaning into him. "Thank you for treating me like the most loved woman in the world."

"You are," Ethan whispered. "And I will spend every day proving this to you throughout my life."

The two looked at the stars in preparation for their first journey as husband and wife. 

Shadows Beneath the Celebration

Laughter and music filled the vast, valuable villa whose premises became a festive area to celebrate nuptial joy deep into the night. Various people danced under the beautiful, glimmering chandeliers of the ballroom, while others roam around the gardens, bathed in the moonlight. Sophie, still looking as beautiful as a bride, gracefully moves from one end of the crowd to the other, taking congratulations and basking in those adoring glances at her. 

Beneath that polished exterior lay the whirlpool of Sophie's conflicting emotions. 

The Mask of Happiness 

Sophie smiled while greeting some business associates of Ethan. She listened as they sang her praises and marveled at how astute and surefooted she was. 

"She's a real force," one man said, raising his glass in toast. 

Sophie graciously nodded, her practiced smile intact all through. Inside her, however, a pang of guilt wrenched her. They all viewed her as the ideal complement to Ethan, a woman who had matched into his glittery world. They did not see yet the truth-that she still burned with resentment and unhealed anger towards the man they all admired. 

Easier to say than done, but Sophie had found herself drawn to the fringes of this social happening where the thrum of crowds had faded away. She stood by a window looking out over the vineyard drowned in moonlight. A truly stunning sight but not one to quite quell the storm that raged within. 

The Weight of Secrets 

Sophie was now reminiscing on the bygone days when she had spent her time concocting a painful revenge on Ethan. She just wanted him to realize the agony her father had to go through-humiliation, loss, and powerlessness. But now that she is actually here as his wife, a part of her feels heavier than ever before from the deceptions she has had to bear. 

Day after day, Ethan had been nothing but kind, generous, and devoted to him. He has given her a way into his life, his business, and now, his heart. But could she bear to forgive him for his part in bringing down her father? And more so, could she forgive herself for wanting to see him hurt, despite all the efforts he had made to change? It seemed that something on this occasion had entered and possessed her. 

"Sophie?"

Turning, she spotted Ethan coming closer, his face warm with love. He slipped an arm around her waist, tugging her closer.

"You've been very quiet," he said, lowering his voice. "Feeling okay?" 

Sophie faked a smile. "Fine. Just letting it all sink in. A lot to take in," 

Ethan kissed her temple. "I know it is overwhelming, but I promise I will make it worthwhile every day. You will never have to run into anything alone again." 

His words were presumably meant to ease her worries, but actually, they sent waves of abnormal turbulence inside her. 

A Private Moment  

Then with guests all gone and the villa silenced, Sophie took her remedial treatment to the bridal suite-a place where they had bathed her with silk covers, fresh flowers dissipating lovely scents, and a nice chilled bottle of vintage champagne. But there she stood in front of the trashy-looking mirror concernedly marred in a wedding gown, without an ounce of the revelry it had promised her. 

She gazed at her image in the reflection, tracing with her fingers the rich medieval embroidery of the bodice. In fact, the woman that stood before the glass looked every bit the most decorated bride. But Sophie could tell better. 

"Will you love him?" She asked the woman in the mirror. 

The question remained unanswered and hanging in midair. Did she still submit to the pursuit of justice that brought her to Ethan in the first place, or did she love him for the man he became? How about Alex? She had promised to disprove him. What about her spouse, who underwent a transformation as a result of his love for her? Could she afford to let him eat the buffets of disappointment and shame for having faith in her? She was aware that she loved Ethan with every strand and fiber of her femininity. However, she was also well aware that this marriage would fail unless the demon that had just taken possession of her was exorcised. Only then would she be capable of making things good. 

She was reminded of the promises he had made earlier. He had pledged his love, his trust, and his empire to her. In every way, he had made her his equal and granted her authority. Was the past sufficiently erased, though? 

The Brewing storm  

Dark thought seemed to envelop Sophie's mind as she contemplated the next move. She had come so far, fallen so deep into an entangling scheme that to abandon it would amount to treachery against everything her father had suffered. But then, the price of executing that plan was insurmountable. Could she learn to live with herself if, in the end, the cost was Ethan, the man who had shown her a kind of love-the kind of love she really never thought she would find? 

A soft knock on the door cut through her thoughts. Ethan came in, tie loosened, and a glass of champagne in his hand. 

"There you are," he said, voice soft. "I was just starting to miss you." 

Sophie turned and threw the mask up. "I just needed a moment by myself. It's been such a big day." 

Ethan crossed the room, taking her hands in his. "It's been the best day of my life," he said, his eyes filled with sincerity, "and it's only the beginning." 

Sophie smiled, leaning into his embrace. For an instant, she allowed herself to believe in the happiness he promised. But as they stood wrapped in each other's arms, the voice in the back of her mind whispered a chilling reminder: her story with Ethan was far from being finished.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place 

As the night deepened, Ethan drifted off to sleep. But Sophie remained awake. She sat by the window, staring out at the moonlit vineyard. The wedding ring on her finger caught the light, casting shadows and signals against the vow she had taken.

Tight fist, mind moving at racing pace with scenarios ahead of it-would she ever fit with Ethan, or would he have to pay for her justice. 

Returning to her image, Sophie suddenly stared back at herself in the mirror as though looking at a stranger.

"Who are you, Sophie Clarke?" she whispered. "A wife? A partner? Or perhaps something entirely different?" 

The tension in her voice clings in the air as the scene fades to black, setting itself for the storm that was sure to come.