You can play this video for music while reading this.

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Scarlett Pov

As I stood outside the church, the sun beating down on my parasol, I felt a flutter of excitement in my chest. My sister Meredith was getting married today, and I couldn't wait to meet her new husband, Darius Kingsley.

I had heard so much about him from Meredith, and my curiosity was piqued. She spoke of him with such passion and devotion, and I couldn't help but wonder what kind of man could inspire such feelings.

I looked out towards the street, a carriage pull up in front of the church. A man stepped out, tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes. He looked around as if searching for someone and then strode confidently towards the entrance of the church. I felt my cheeks flush as he approached, and I couldn't help but stare.

Meredith is certainly lucky.

We waited until the groom's family entered the church and we tailed after them. As we entered the church, I felt a sense of awe wash over me. It was beautiful, with high vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows. I had been to weddings before, but never in such a grand setting. My father led me towards the front, where my sister's groom was to stand with my sister to exchange their vows.

But my attention was drawn to Lord Darius, and something seemed off. He appeared agitated and visibly upset. I couldn't fathom what could have caused such a reaction on his wedding day, and it left me perplexed.

Did he have second thoughts about marrying my sister?

I tried to brush off my concerns and focus on the ceremony ahead. However, before I could dwell on it any longer, the wedding music started, and the ceremony began.

I tried to push aside my thoughts about Lord Darius's odd behavior and focus on the joyous occasion at hand. But deep down, a part of me couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss.

The guests began to arrive, taking their seats in the pews. My father, a small village doctor, and my mother arrived looking proud and happy to see their eldest daughter getting married. My sister's friends, all dressed in their finest gowns, giggled and chattered amongst themselves as they took their seats.

My eyes were drawn to the other side of the church, where Darius's family was seated. I recognized his grandfather, the current Mayor of our town, sitting in the front row with a stern expression.

As I looked around, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the sense of community that surrounded us. Our small town may have been quaint and unassuming, but it was filled with love and support for my sister and her future husband.

I had heard stories about Lord Darius's grandfather, a stern and imposing man who commanded respect from everyone around him. He was said to be a shrewd politician, always plotting his next move, and was grooming Lordx Darius to take his place as Mayor someday.

I had never met him before, but I could feel his blue piercing eyes on me as I stood there, nervous and uncertain.

My eyes welled up with tears as I watched my sister, the bride, walk down the aisle in her beautiful white dress. She looked radiant, and I couldn't help but feel emotional as I thought about how much she meant to me.

As she approached the altar, I noticed Lord Darius's expression change.

Instead of a smile, his face contorted with anger, and my heart sank.

Something was wrong, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that settled in my gut.

And then, in a sudden turn of events, Meredith turned around and ran out of the church, leaving everyone stunned and confused, myself included. I stood there, frozen in shock, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

My heart raced as I watched my sister, Meredith, flee from the church in a panicked state. I could feel the eyes of the guests on me as I stood frozen in confusion and disbelief.

Why would she run away from her wedding?

What could have gone so wrong on what was supposed to be the happiest day of her life?

Despite her impulsive nature, I knew Meredith loved Lord Darius with all her heart.

So what had gone wrong?

I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over me as I wondered what was happening.

As I tried to make sense of the situation, I noticed Darius's expression change once again. From anger and frustration, it turned neutral as he began to speak with my father and his grandfather, who were standing nearby. His voice was low and urgent, but I couldn't hear what he was saying.

I could feel the tension in the air, and I knew that something serious was happening. I wished I could understand what was going on, but I was too caught up in the chaos of the moment. All I could do was wait and hope for some clarity.

I heard my father's worried voice as he nodded in response to whatever Lord Darius had said.

"What can we do?" he asked, clearly concerned.

I felt a pang of fear in my chest, wondering what kind of trouble my sister had gotten herself into. I looked around at the confused and anxious guests, trying to piece together what was happening.

Lord Darius spoke in a hushed tone, his words barely audible. Darius' grandfather, the Mayor of the town, nodded in agreement, his expression grave.

I couldn't help but feel helpless and frustrated. I wanted to know what was going on, to help my sister and find a solution to this unexpected turn of events. But I could only stand there, watching and waiting for some kind of resolution.

As I stood there, feeling helpless and frustrated, my father suddenly looked in my direction and signaled for me to follow him toward the side of the church. I glanced over to where my younger sister and brother were, and I saw them running after Meredith, who had already left the church.

I hurried after my father, my heart racing with worry.

We made our way towards the side of the church, I could see my sister and brother in the distance, running as fast as they could.

My father motioned for me to stay put as I tried to go after Meredith, leaving me wondering what was happening.

Lord Darius's grandfather stepped forward, his countenance became grim and resolute.

"There's only one viable option," he stated. "Scarlett, it is imperative that you marry Darius instead."

I felt my heart sink as I realized what he was saying. I had never even spoken to Lord Darius before, and now I was being asked to marry him on my sister's wedding day.

It was absurd, unthinkable, and preposterous, yet I knew deep down that my father and Lord Darius's grandfather were right. If we didn't do something to fix this, our family would be ruined.

My father's tone was authoritative, and I could tell he had anticipated my sister's departure and had prepared a plan for it.

"We must act swiftly to prevent this situation from worsening," he declared.

"Scarlett, you must marry Darius. It's the sole means of salvaging our reputation and safeguarding the honor of our family."

Never before had I refused my father's requests. After all, I was aware of the struggles he faced while serving the underprivileged in our village.

Lord Darius looked at me with contempt, his eyes cold and distant.

The candles flickered, casting eerie shadows on the old stone walls of the church. The air was thick with incense, making it hard to breathe.

I stood there in the same peach-colored dress, trembling with fear and uncertainty. The rest of the ceremony passed by in a blur of emotions and confusion. I barely remember saying my vows, barely remember the ring being placed on my finger. All I could think about was that I was marrying a man I barely knew, a man who was a complete stranger to me.

As we walked back down the aisle, I could feel the eyes of the guests on us, their whispers and murmurs filling the air. I could feel Lord Darius's grandfather's disapproving stare on my back, his silent judgment weighing heavily on me.

We left the church and got into the waiting carriage, which would take us to the reception. I sat across from Lord Darius, our eyes never meeting.

The ride was silent, tense, and uncomfortable. I felt like a prisoner being taken to her execution.

When we arrived at the reception hall, I was greeted by a sea of unfamiliar faces, all of them staring at me with curiosity and pity. I knew that everyone was talking about what had happened, speculating about why Meredith had run away, and what had led to my sudden marriage to Lord Darius.

I tried to smile and be polite, but I felt like a fraud, a pretender who was just going through the motions.

Lord Darius, meanwhile, was nowhere to be seen.

He had disappeared, leaving me to fend for myself in this strange and hostile environment. I wanted to run, to flee from this life I had chosen, but I knew I couldn't.

The marriage had been arranged by our families, a political alliance meant to strengthen our houses. I was a pawn in their game, and there was no escaping it.

As the night wore on, I found myself growing more and more depressed. This was not the wedding day I had imagined for myself, nor was it the life I had wanted. I was trapped in a loveless marriage, forced to marry a man who seemed to be resenting me, all for the sake of family honor.

But despite my despair, I knew that I had to be strong. I couldn't let myself give in to self-pity or despair. I had to make the best of this situation, for my own sake and for the sake of my family.

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