Listen to Symphony by Zara Larson

We got to the wedding early enough, so we snuck in and sat quietly near the back. The last seat behind us was occupied by two old ladies who looked like twins; they wore similar clothes and had the same chin-length hairstyle. I gave them a soft smile after taking a seat next to Grey.

Interlocking my fingers with Grey's and resting my head on his strong shoulder, I admired the exquisite decorations, giving the church a fresh and magical aura. It was a big church, decorated with white roses, large garlands, and gold embellishments that reminded me of fairy-tale weddings. Each pew was adorned with silky white and teal ribbons.

The groom was already at the altar. His black tux fitted his tall frame and solid arms. I could only imagine the taut muscles beneath his clothing. He looked uncomfortable as he stared straight ahead at the door, not sparing anyone a glance. Maybe he nervous.

The church was full. Dark teal and gold dominated the other colors in the building. I must admit, the color scheme was beautiful. Good thing I had a little bit of gold here and there on my dress.

"We are just in time," Grey whispered when the violinists started playing.

The sweet melody from the violins made everyone look alive as they sat up with wide smiles. A few people swayed to the smooth flow of the spectacular cadence, the rich sound uplifting their mood. I felt so excited; the anticipation gave me butterflies. The last time I had attended a wedding, I was six. I could only remember crying and asking the bride to give me her tiara.

Everyone looked back when the large church doors opened. I couldn't help but admire the wedding dress. It was a gorgeous, otherworldly spectacle. It was made with lace and silk, hugging her small build. The deep V-line on the dress almost reached her belly button, but I loved the extra details, like the sparkles that caught every eye. The big crown on her head looked like it was made with real gold, turquoise, sapphires, and diamonds. Her lace veil was so long that her maid of honor—my sister—had to stay five feet away to avoid stepping on it.

Sofia smiled as she took slow steps with an old man, who I assumed was her father. They marched down the aisle, decorated with white petals. She was Chinese American; she'd been here her whole life, but Ciara had told me she could speak Mandarin, and she was teaching her. Her dad was a multimillionaire and a member of the United States Senate.

My sister trailed behind, looking stunning in her gold haute couture dress and sleek, neat bun. I still felt awful about what had happened this morning.

"Ciara is killing it in that dress," Grey whispered with a whistle.

"Hey, she is my sister." I glared at him, jealousy getting the best of me.

"Sorry, I didn't mean anything—"

"Shh," one of the grandmas behind us cut him off.

"Sorry," I apologized to the lady, but she ignored me.

We sat in silence for the remainder of the procession. The bride joined her groom at the altar. Her dad beamed at everyone, walking to the seat his beautiful wife had reserved for him.

The groom didn't even turn to look at the bride's face, not even a glance.

"That's cold," I whispered to Grey.

"What?" he asked, barely paying attention.

"The groom didn't spare his bride a look."

"He is going to be seeing more of her."

"Have you noticed how still he is?" I whispered, staring at the groom, who hadn't smiled since his bride had joined him.

"He is probably nervous. I would be, too, if it were me. He is tying his soul to one woman."

I tried not to be offended by his last comment. We'd only been together for five months, and I didn't know if I should be bothered by his words.

"Is anything wrong with that?" I asked, raising my eyebrows at him.

"No, of course not." He sealed his words with a thin smile.

I studied his expression for a while before returning my gaze to the altar.

The ceremony started smoothly. Grey and I whispered to each other whenever we noticed anything interesting. Like the old man who almost hit his head on the seat while sleeping. And the lady who kept touching her makeup and blowing kisses to her mirror. Why was she even here?

It was time for the vows. Grey was already bored and kept himself busy with his phone. I found it disrespectful, but I guessed this wasn't his type of scene. I must have dragged him away from his annoying frat friends, but relationships involved sacrifices and compromise.

Sofia was pretty, her pale skin looking so smooth from here. Her stylist had done a good job with her dark hair. Her makeup was glamorous. I could see the different shades of eye shadow and glitter from here.

She said her vows with so much joy, but the groom kept staring at her with a blank expression. He looked like he wanted this to be over.

Is this an arranged marriage? I brushed my thought away and focused on the altar.

When it got to the groom's turn to say his vows, silence consumed him.

I nudged Grey and pointed at the altar with my chin. "He is tongue-tied," I whispered.

"Now, this is getting interesting." Grey sat up straight and put his phone away.

Sofia seemed scared; she called his name, but he looked void like nothing mattered to him. The priest repeated the vow, but the groom didn't answer.

I wondered how the groom's stoic expression managed to make him look like a model posing for a photo. I mentally slapped myself for the thought in my head.

Sofia smiled at the congregation, like she wanted to tell us everything was okay, no need to panic. She tried to suppress the fear surging through her as she stepped closer to her groom. Her hands shook, gripping one of his hand. She stared at his face. She appeared so tiny next to him. I watched with keen interest as she spoke to him softly but with clenched teeth.

A lady stood up and walked to the altar. I assumed it was the groom's mother from the resemblance. She whispered a few things to him and returned to her seat with a nervous grin.

The priest repeated the vow, but the groom was still mute. People began to murmur.

"Should I record this? It would hit a million views on YouTube," Grey asked, picking up his phone.

"Don't even think about it. She is Ciara's best friend and a human," I warned him.

He frowned at my comment and sat back in his seat.

Sofia was trying to get her groom to say something, but his expression said he'd rather be anywhere but here.

"I'm sorry, Sofia. I can't do this," the groom said aloud, making everyone go quiet.

"What are you talking about?" Sofia asked with a frightened voice.

"I don't want to hurt you, but we can't carry on with the wedding."

Everyone gasped. I didn't though, but laughter overwhelmed Grey.

"You find this funny?" I asked Grey, giving him an incredulous look.

"Yes, it's like a comedy show. I should have brought some popcorn."

I shook my head at his lack of empathy and stared at the couple.

"Why?" Sofia asked, already crying. "Why?! What did I do, Tristan?" she screamed.

"Do you think this is all part of the wedding? It could be an act. People always want to go extra these days," I asked Grey.

"No, I don't think so. The bridesmaids look shocked, and the dude sounds darn serious," Grey pointed out.

"You didn't do anything. I'm sorry ... I just can't." He stepped back, removing the ring she'd just given him.

The congregation started murmuring again, this time louder.

"Tristan, what are you doing?" the beautiful lady I assumed was his mother shouted from her seat.

The girl beside her, looking sixteen, tried to calm her.

"I'm in love with someone else, and we have been seeing each other for six months now," the groom admitted.

Another gasp from the congregation.

Sofia crumpled onto the marble floor; Ciara tried to help her up, but she wouldn't let her.

"While you were dating my daughter?" Sofia's mom stood up with tears in her eyes.She looked so fragile.

Her husband held her back when she wanted to go to the altar. I wished he'd let her go, so she could slap the devil out of Tristan for ruining her daughter's life.

"I'm sorry, but I can't leave her, not when she is carrying my baby."

The church was in an uproar after the groom's confession.

Sofia was crying her eyes out, smudging her mascara and eyeliner. She could have taken precautions and used waterproof make-up. I mean, one was bound to cry on their wedding day. I wasn't implying that something like this always happened, but something always made the bride or groom tear up. I felt so sorry for her.

"Wow," I mumbled, staring at the asshole, who still looked relaxed, like he hadn't just caused havoc in front of God. At least he was confessing, right?

"Who is she? What does she have that I don't?!" Sofia screamed, hitting his long legs with the bouquet in her hand—poor flowers.

Tristan Sanchester, as written on the wedding invitation card, appeared emotionless as he watched her cry—as if he never wanted to get married in the first place.

He looked familiar, but I couldn't pinpoint where I had seen his face. It was probably on a magazine. With that face, definitely a magazine.

"She is everything I ever wanted; she is here." The groom smiled immediately after finishing his sentence.

He must really love her.

There was a sudden silence in the building, a silence that could detect the slightest sound. Sofia stopped and looked at the whole congregation. Everyone started looking around, even me. I was curious too. I mean, how could his lover attend the wedding? Had they planned this?

"I'm so glad you invited me to this wedding," Grey said, amused.

My sister seemed confused and shocked as she stared at her best friend, not sure of how to help her.

"Stand up, you slut! Show your ugly and shameless face!" Sofia yelled. "How dare you show up at my wedding!"

To be honest, Sofia looked crazy, but who wouldn't lose their sanity after hearing that from the man you were about to tie the knot with?

"Where is she?!" she screamed at his face.

Tristan looked at the congregation, and everyone followed the movement of his eyes. I did too.

Is his lover really here? Who can it be?

He left the altar and took steady steps down the aisle. The silence in the church made his footsteps loud. All eyes were on his every move, like he was a magnet for curious eyes.

"She is really here," Grey said close to my ear, almost freaking me out.

Tristan kept walking to the back, and I was starting to think he wanted to run out of the church. Or was his lover one of the grannies behind us?

Our eyes met, and he didn't look away. There was just this weird chill I felt when our eyes collided. I couldn't explain it, and it scared me. I quickly turned my gaze away from him before people thought I was the one.

"He is coming here, and he is looking at you," Grey whispered, and my eyes whipped toward Tristan.

He smiled at me as he got closer to where we were sitting.

"What is he doing?" I turned to Grey, but he was giving me a weird look, as if he was trying to figure out who I was. I opened my mouth to say something, but I wasn't sure what I wanted to say as I tried to fathom what was happening.

I hoped Grey wasn't suspecting anything about me being the groom's pregnant lover. How was that even possible? I didn't know him. I looked behind me to check for any person besides the two grandmas who were already staring at me with disgust.

I returned my gaze to Tristan, and he was standing next to me with a charming smile I wanted to scratch off his beautiful face. It couldn't possibly be me.

"Hi, my love," he said with his hand extended toward me.

"What the hell?"