Vincent's gaze switched from one woman to the other, but he also stared at Leone.

The little boy blinked, oh-la-la, Black Beard do you want to go in there and play too? Why are you looking at me like I know something? because even if I do, I can't tell you because you don't understand, the boy thought.

Vincent returned his focus to Jade, "I just wanted to see Sierra. Wait, why are you guys outside?" The man asked and took a step towards the door only to have Dima step in front to block his path.

"What are you doing?"

The woman feigned a smile; the stress heated her skin and made her freckles blossom crescendo, "you can't see the bride before the wedding. It brings bad luck."

Dima improvised but wasn't convincing.

"I don't believe in that," Vincent motioned to pass her.

"Vincent, please, you can't."

The man turned to face Jade, "what are you girls hiding?"

"Sierra is with someone," Dima admitted earning her a guuuurl-huh-huh glare of disapproval from Jade.

"With who, who is with Sierra?"

The two women looked at each other before Jade answered, "Jonas."

There was use hiding it. If they lied, the man would barge through, and the situation would be even worse.

Vincent had an unexpected reaction; he stepped away from the door. He hoped Jonas would stay in Stockholm and let them wed. He was too naive.

All is fair in love and war.

Now all Vincent could do was wait to see if Sierra would walk down the aisle.

On the other side of the door, the room blazed. Time stopped as minds went blank, and the woman's hands slowly lifted in protest as she regained her composure. Sierra pushed Jonas with no willpower, yet the man stopped.

"How could you, Jonas?" Sierra gasped as she placed a hand on her exploding heart.

Had she developed asthma, or had she put on weight?

Why was her dress so tight?

She couldn't breathe. She needed oxygen.

"Why are you doing this to me? It's my wedding day, for Christ's sake."

"Sierra, I."

"No, no, I don't want to hear it, you walked out on us," Sierra began to regulate traffic with her hands as she explained the core of her thoughts, "you left, and now you come back expecting me to welcome you with open arms, expecting me to love you," she said. At the same time, she shook her head and effectively opened her arms. "Don't you find yourself a little bit greedy? You can't just walk into someone's life, turn it upside down and leave only to come back and shamble everything again," Sierra finished doing roll-it movements.

"Sierra."

"No, I'm not having it. Not today, Jade, Dima," the baffled woman yelled.

Sierra didn't need to repeat herself as the women split inside the room, almost tumbling to the floor.

"How many minutes do I have left?"

"Five."

"Okay, please, Dima, can you touch up my face again."

"Sierra, your lips they're," Jade began before Dima nudged and gave a read-the-room glare making her friend put a padlock on the legit but embarrassing inquiry.

Left without answers and ignored by Sierra, Jonas left the room while Leone began to sob, "Dona."

Jade threw Jonas an apologetic stare when the man turned back while thinking she would already be running away under the sunset with him if she were Sierra. Then she was slapped by a second of guilt where Vincent popped up.

Jonas hurried out of the building. One could not feel like more of a fool as the man did as he ran down the chapel's stairs to find his accomplice, "so how did it go?"

Jonas sighed, "as it always has. She rejected my declaration."

May rolled her eyes, "gosh, she dense. Jonas, did you really do everything you could."

"I kissed her, May."

"Holy shit, I didn't know you had it in you. Awww, it's so romantic," the woman said while she had her fangirl moment.

Jonas facepalmed, "arghhh, it's a nightmare."

May shook her head in a no motion and lifted her hands to place them on the side of Jonas's shoulders as she could not reach higher, "go back in there and stop the wedding. Step in and say you're against it. It's the only solution. If you don't, I'll do it. This wedding is wrong. We all know it."

In the chapel, everyone sat and chatted. On one side of the front row seats, there was the very colorfully dressed Patel family, and on the other side, the few relatives, friends, colleagues. All faces were radiant with smiles while the groom's expression found itself obscured by worry.

"Is everything okay," Jacob asked.

"Yeah, I'm just nervous."

Solina called, and Vincent won over temptation. He hoped Sierra would pass her trial and join him.

"It's normal, bro," said Saad, who was the best man for the occasion.

The organ in the loft began to play, and Sierra made her entrance. Everyone turned to stare at the beautiful bride who gracefully walked down the aisle with decisive steps.

Vincent's face unwinded as the woman joined him at the altar.

Sierra's loyalty never faltered. It was one of the traits Vincent adored. There she proved once more she held all her promises.

Jacob closed his eyes and mustered all the strength he had. The wedding seemed to be the plan after all, and it was time to pursue God's design, "Dearly beloved we are gathered here todayㅡ."

While Jacob spoke, Vincent's eyes remained on his fiancée. He sought signs and indications, but there was no guilty twitch to note. The woman smiled as usual.

"Vincent Vivaan Patel, do you take Sierra Ajani Lennox to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death does you part.

"I do"

Jacob fixed his sister, hoping she would chicken out, and repeated the vows only to get another:

"I do."

Vincent's heart raced. He couldn't believe it. Their marriage became a reality with every word they pronounced, and then came the fateful moment.

"If there's anyone who believes Sierra and Vincent should not wed, speak now or forever hold your peace," Jacob's gaze swept the room again, hoping for a miracle like a Viking ready to fight for his damsel. Unable to see, he repeated, I said, is there, anyㅡone.ㅡSomeoneㅡsomething, anyone, nobodyㅡ."

"I."

All the gazes, including Sierra's, turned to Vincent," I'm sorry, Sierra, I can't marry someone whose heart belongs to someone else."

The whole room was in shock, but no one felt more confused than Sierra, "Vincentㅡ."

Vincent turned to face the guests, "I'm sorry, but I need to talk to Sierra for a few minutes. Jacob, is there somewhere we can go?"

Jacob pointed to a small door near the stage. Vincent grabbed Sierra's hand and dragged the woman to the room.

"Well, I guess I can take my heels off. Thank goodness I have a thirty-day refund for the gift," Jade said.

Dima shook her head in disapproval, "Jade, I just can't. You're just, pff, I can't."

"Vincent, why?" Sierra exclaimed once the door was closed.

"Sierra, do you love me?"

"What is it with all of you?"

"All, who are you talking about?"

Sierra's eyes darted. Vincent continued, " I know Sierra. I know how Jonas feels about you and why he came all this way."

"Vincent, please, don't do this."

The man came and grabbed both her hands, "let me finish. I love you, Sierra, and I thought I could handle this, but I can't go for being second best. I love you too much to make you go through with this. That man is in love with you, Sierra. And I believe you have feelings for him too."

Sierra heaved; she expected everything except Vincent's objection.

"Thank you, Sierra, for walking down that aisle and avoiding me, probably the most awkward and embarrassing moment of my entire life, but tell me, do you love me?"

Dear friends,

Can I call you friends?

You've been with Sierra&co from the beginning so let's officialize this relationship :)

I hope this chapter stirred those emotions.

You've just read the second half of the first chapter I wrote of this story two years ago (it's still a little messy, sorry); it's my favorite chapter.

I've always dreamt of causing a drama gate on someone's wedding day like this. I've been looking for a victim in my stories for years.

I write backward; I usually go from the end or a cliffhanger and write everything around that one chapter. This was the starting point.

So place your bets.

What will happen next?

Who dares wins

See you on Saturday, eh, it might be tomorrow. It depends on what pace I can finish these faux locs on my head.

Take care

P.S I couldn't come up with a title for the chapter. If you have one, please don't hesitate to suggest one; thank you.