Chapter 1
The church bells of Rothenburg rang clear and bright, echoing across the cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses. Inside St. Jakob's church, candles flickered against centuries-old stone as guests settled into their seats, murmuring with anticipation.
Jaelyn stood at the front in her white gown, hands clasped tightly around a small bouquet of wildflowers. She stared at the wooden doors, trying to steady her breathing. From outside came the sound of carriage wheels and laughter-tourists passing by, unaware that inside the church, a quiet storm was building. Her fiancé, Markus, stood proudly beside the altar. He looked calm, certain. Ever yone said he was the perfect match: successful, dependable, kind. A man any family would approve of. But Jaelyn's thoughts drifted elsewhere-across the river, beyond the old town walls, to a memory she had tried to bury with her shaky hands.
The church doors creaked open. First thing almost everyone saw was the luxurious car then in a fraction of second across their eyes,a late guest stepped inside while some sharply suited men waited outside, their powerful aura giving the impression they could control the entire church. He stood still for a moment, as if unsure whether he belonged. Then he looked up. Avgust began walking down. Not hurried, not dramatic-just steady, as though each step carried a weight of its own. When he reached the front, he stopped a respectful distance away.
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Jaelyn's breath caught. She hadn't seen him in three years-not since she had left with the immediate betrayal of his feelings. He'd always been trusting her but, the slightly restless feeling ever crossed him?
Markus turned slightly, confused by the sudden tension, his eyes stared at the unfamiliar man then looking at her and then to him again waiting for their words.
"Why?", was the only word that came from his mouth but it echoed in the church when the music stopped. Jaelyn just couldn't answer not because she couldn't but as she didn't know theanswer too.
Suddenly, the silver haired man takes the bride's wrist pulling her against him before Jaelyn even realized she had been pulled. She pushed him gently, " I don't love you"
Is this true?
He kept quiet for a moment staring at her with his light blue eyes then tightening his hand around her wrist as if considering her words but pulling her and walking through the castle till he reached the massive door. He fastened his pace not caring for anyone as if the people around don't exist in his eyes. The woman's gown flew in the air gracefully despite the circumstances as she tried to pulled away, but it was no use. She had to but to follow where he was going.
The parents 'voices and everyone in need to say their words felt nothing but the sounds of air.
The groom ran across the room but stopped suddenly, turned to everyone then to his father, clenched his fist as he saw and realised he couldn't even do anything as a man pointed gunat him from the outside of the door gaining everyone's tension and the anxiety manifested in the room
Jaelyn's uncle stood in front of him facing the silver haired man," let go of her hand, we can discuss, this is not appropriate".
But did he care?
The sharply men from earlier had surrounded him, one of the men "We need two family members to accompany, kindly come", his voice contrasting the situation. No time the two members were in the vehicle -father and uncle.
While Jaelyn was in the another car along with Avgust.
The silence follows.....
