Chapter 1- The Fire
Edit; Guys, did you know we can now react or comment on your likes or dislikes? Paragraph comments too?
Also, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE LOVE. I appreciate all the adds I have seen so far... I see you guys... ❤️😎
EDIT; Elize, my first review on this book. I love it. Thank you, babes.
Let's gooooo....
POV: EMELIA
Emelia Langston stared at the much taller man, her heart racing beneath the layers of white lace that draped over her. The veil, meant to symbolize purity and new beginnings, felt suffocating as it settled against her skin. She struggled to breathe, her thoughts a chaotic whirlwind.
The mafia, Maximilian Drake, loomed above her, his dark aura radiating power and intimidation. His presence consumed the small chapel, amidst the whispers of their wedding guests.
“Recite your vows, or I can assure you, your traitorous family will pay in full,” he whispered, his voice a low rumble meant only for her ears. Each word dripped with a chilling threat that sent shivers down her spine. So frightened she was that she even forgot about the pain in her upper arm where she had been practically dragged up the aisle by the mafia men.
Marriage? To her sister’s fiancé? Emelia’s mind reeled. This was supposed to clear their debt, he had said to her. But how? And what debt? As far as the girl knew, they, the Langstons, were filthy rich. But the weight of the situation crashed upon her, and she glanced at the guests seated before them- friends, family, and the high-society elite who had gathered to witness the union of Amelia Langston and Maximilian Drake.
But it was not her sister standing at the altar today; it was Emelia. Thrust into the role against her will, her veil concealing her identity from the onlookers.
Nobody batted an eye because they all were under the impression that she was Amelia standing here. Where is her sister anyway? Their parents were seated quietly and comfortably, with huge smiles, not even aware that their other daughter was missing from the seat next to them. The other daughter- meaning herself.
Nobody ever noticed her. So her absence was nothing noticeable.
She, Emelia, had come to this position in front of the pulpit as a pawn in a dangerous game and not a willing bride. A sickening blend of betrayal and desperation swirled within her as she fought to maintain her composure. The soft fabric of her sister’s dress felt foreign against her skin, the intricate details a stark contrast to the turmoil churning in her heart.
Mr. Drake’s brown eyes pierced through her veil, filled with an intensity that left no room for denial. He was the embodiment of old money and dark secrets, a man whose family’s dark ties ran deep into the underbelly of society. As the heir to a legacy steeped in crime, he wielded power like a weapon, and she was merely a tool to further his agenda.
Of course, had it not been for Felix, she would not have known about all this mafia business.
“I-” she began, her voice barely audible, thick with emotion. How could she do this? How could she betray her sister? The thought of her sister Amelia, in peril somewhere, the darkness brewing, by this psycho fiancé, made her stomach churn- never mind it was broad daylight at the moment.
“Say the words, Miss Langston,” the groom urged, his voice softer yet edged with urgency. There was impatience behind them. Danger. “Or I cannot guarantee the safety of your family.”
As much as she disliked her sister, Amelia, sometimes, Emelia would never want her to marry this man here- not now, that she could see the devil he truly is.
His brown eyes held hers, and for a fleeting moment, the weight of her choices pressed down on her shoulders. She had always been the quiet one- the rule follower, the one who stayed in line. But now, she stood at the edge of a decision that could change everything. For as long as she could remember, all Emelia had ever wanted was her parents… and now that she had finally found them, everything felt more complicated than she had imagined.
Opening her mouth to decline, she felt her entire being go through some sort of stunned disbelief at his next words.
“As a bonus, I’ll investigate Colleen.”
Her heterochromatic eyes widened at that- more than they already had. Colleen? How did he know about her?
Maximilian smirked, leaning a bit down, closer to her ear. “Of course, I have your file, say the words and make yourself my wife- legally.”
***
Some Years Back...
The orphanage was nothing like the tragic stories people often imagined. For Emelia, it was the only home she had ever known, and while the walls were old and worn, the spirit inside them was warm. There were no cold, unfeeling caretakers or cruel punishments.
Instead, they had birthday celebrations, small Christmas presents, and laughter. It wasn’t much, but it was home.
At fourteen, Emelia had been allowed to take a part-time job at a small diner down the street, saving every penny for the day she’d be forced to leave the orphanage at eighteen. She spent her afternoons wiping down tables, refilling coffee cups, and listening to the hum of conversations. It was a simple life, but she didn’t mind it. She had her friends, and most of all, she had Colleen.
Colleen had been her best friend for as long as she could remember. They were inseparable, spending long nights whispering secrets in the shared dormitory. Colleen had dreams of becoming a nurse, someone who could help people and make the world a little better. Emelia, on the other hand, didn’t know what her future held, but with Colleen beside her, it didn’t seem so daunting.
They shared everything, from secrets to secondhand clothes. Life was bearable as long as they had each other. They did not have luxury, but Emelia had a sense of belonging, though she secretly craved more. To be in a normal house with her parents, whoever they were. Maybe have a baby brother, and Colleen could be her sister.
At night, lying in the quiet dormitory, Emelia often thought about the future. She wondered what life would be like when she turned eighteen and had to leave the orphanage. It was a thought that filled her with equal parts excitement and fear.
“I’ll be right behind you,” Colleen always reassured her. “We’ll get jobs and find a place to live. Maybe even travel.”
That was their dream- to leave the town behind, explore the world together, and carve out a future on their own terms. As long as they had each other, Emelia believed it was possible. But life has a way of changing in the blink of an eye...
And she lost Colleen.
That night, Emelia woke to the smell of smoke.
For a moment, she thought she was dreaming. The warmth of her blanket and the comforting stillness of the dormitory lulled her into a sense of security. But as her eyes blinked open, the acrid scent grew stronger, clawing at her throat and filling her lungs with panic.
Fear jolted her fully awake. “Colleen?” she whispered, sitting up in the bed, coughing. She reached out instinctively, but Colleen wasn’t beside her. The bed was empty. Normally they don’t bed together, but sometimes they snuck into each other’s beds when the caretakers were asleep.
Emelia swung her legs over the side of the bed and stumbled toward the door, barefoot, calling for the others to get up. When the dormitory began to stir, murmurs of confusion breaking the silence, she shouted out, louder this time, her voice cracking with urgency.
“Get up, something’s wrong!”
The smoke grew thicker as they hurried into the hallway, where chaos was already unfolding. Caregivers rushed down the halls, trying to organize the children and push them toward the exits. The younger ones cried, terrified and clinging to their blankets as they were dragged out of their rooms.
No sighs of Colleen had her panicking and calling out repeatedly and louder each time.
Flames licked the edges of the old wooden walls, spreading faster than Emelia could process. The building creaked under the weight of the fire, groaning as the inferno swallowed everything in its path.
Miss Latia grabbed her arm, dragging her out, but all Emelia could think about was Colleen. She shrugged away, but Miss Latia could not confirm to her that Colleen was outside safely.
Breaking free, Emelia sprinted down the hall, dodging the panicked rush of bodies, her heart pounding in her chest. “Colleen!” she screamed, her voice barely audible above the roar of the flames and the cries of the terrified children. “Where are you?”
Her feet carried her to the back of the orphanage, where the older teens had their own rooms. It was quieter here, eerily so, the flames casting flickering shadows across the walls.
And then she saw it- to her right, the TV room door was ajar, and a motionless figure lying on the couch. At once, she knew it was her friend. Dread settled in the pit of her stomach as she approached, her hands trembling as she pushed the door open.
A dark stain was spread across her friend’s chest, soaking the lemon-colored t-shirt. “Colleen?” she called out with a sickening feeling of dread. But she got no answer. She walked up to her slowly because her legs were heavy, despite the chaos around them. Trembling.
Nudging her leg, she stared at Colleen’s face. Her eyes were open but downcast- as if looking at Emelia’s knees. Emelia’s chest grew heavy, and she shook her again, this time harder, and it was then she felt the lifelessness in her body.
“You’re bleeding,” she spoke anyway, not fully comprehending the situation. “Wake up!”
Cold. Her entire body felt cold on the inside as she understood, yet had to grasp it.
No- she denied it and grabbed Colleen’s hand and pulled hard to shake her awake, but Colleen didn’t open her eyes wider to acknowledge her.
“Colleen, we have to get out of here! The place is burning down!” She tugged at her lifeless hand again. Giving up that and grabbing her shoulders, she shook her harder.
Around her, screams were heard, and someone called to her, not waiting, and running of their heavy footsteps on her mind long after it faded. Heat and the sounds of the flames remained. Sounds of things breaking and falling reached her as she watched Colleen.
Taking Colleen’s hand in hers, her legs collapsed beneath her. A knife lay on the floor beside the couch, glinting in the dim light.
Her breath caught, but her mind refused to follow at first, clinging to denial like a shield. Then reality settled in slowly, unbearably. There was no movement, no return, just the quiet finality of her body that would never answer. Colleen was dead.
Emelia froze, her mind reeling, unable to process what she was seeing. Her best friend, the one who had been with her through everything, was gone.
Her gaze dropped to the knife, still and unforgiving in her line of sight, as the truth sank in piece by piece. It wasn’t just what she was seeing, it was what it meant, and there was no way to unmake it now.
This wasn’t an accident. Colleen had been murdered...
A.N. I have come to realise that when I edit- I lose comments!?!!! wth? NOT editing again.
