THE EXILED WARLORD

Chapter 10: War Beneath the Veil

The morning sun barely warmed the air as a convoy of luxury cars pulled into the marble courtyard of the grand Vale Estate. 

Hundreds of guests flooded in, cameras flashing, paparazzi hanging off trees just to get a glimpse.

 Flowers were being placed at every corner, white and gold laced the entire venue.

Inside, decorators moved like ants, adjusting drapes, perfecting table arrangements, and coordinating every second of the high-profile wedding.

The media called it “The Union of Wealth and Power.” 

But beneath the veil of beauty and celebration, war was quietly threading its way in.

Marcus paced at the front of the estate in a grey three-piece suit, whispering into his Bluetooth headset.

 "Double security. No gaps. No unknown faces. And I want my private men standing closest to the bride. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," the head of security replied, already inspecting every entrance point.

Inside the bride’s chamber, Evelyn sat in front of a large mirror, her makeup half done. 

Her long white gown shimmered under the light, the diamond tiara sitting perfectly on her curled hair.

 But her face was tight. Her smile forced.

She caught her own eyes in the mirror and whispered "You wanted this, remember? Riches, fame, power..."

Behind her, her maid zipped up the gown carefully. "Miss Evelyn, you look stunning."

"Do I?" Evelyn asked, her voice low, distant. 

She looked down at the black envelope that still sat untouched on the table. 

The words on it still burned in her head: "You smile in white, but you’ll bleed in red."

Meanwhile, Damien adjusted his tie in his chamber but his reflection in the mirror did not reassure him. His mind was restless.

"What’s wrong, boss?" his best man asked.

"Nothing. Just... something feels off. Too many signs. Too many secrets," Damien muttered.

"Like?"

"The security breaches... the notes Evelyn’s been receiving... the way she flinches when my hand touches hers. 

And that video she tried to delete yesterday. I saw the man’s face. I swear he looked like the one everyone said died Adrian."

The best man scoffed. 

"That’s impossible. The man was declared dead. Torture camp, remember?"

Damien tightened his jaw. "Yeah but ghosts don’t send warnings."

Outside, beneath the shimmer of chandeliers and fake smiles, Adrian moved like a shadow. 

His black suit was identical to the servers. His cap was tilted slightly forward to hide most of his face.

 But his eyes cold and focused scanned the crowd.

His heart thundered not from fear but memory.

Flashback: He screamed as boiling water poured over his chest.

“Tell us what you planned to do with Evelyn!” a soldier shouted, slapping him.

“I loved her!” Adrian cried, blood dripping from his mouth. “I gave you everything. And you all betrayed me!”

His cellmate in the next cage, a former assassin, had once said, 

“Love gets you killed, boy. Vengeance gets you reborn.”

Now, Adrian was reborn. 

The music began to play. 

Guests took their seats.

 A hush fell across the venue as the bridesmaids began walking slowly down the aisle, dressed in light pink and silver.

 Cameras rolled. The priest cleared his throat.

At the back, Evelyn’s heart beat faster. The whispers in the crowd seemed louder. She took a deep breath as her father offered his arm.

“Come on, my princess. Time to make history” Marcus said.

Evelyn nodded, forcing a smile. “Time to seal my fate.”

The march began. She walked slowly, her dress trailing behind, flashes of cameras lighting her face.

But her mind was not on the altar it was on him.

Is he here? Will he come? Please... don’t.

Damien stood waiting, smiling but his eyes never left hers. He saw it that glimmer of fear.

The priest smiled as the bride arrived. The ceremony began.

"We are gathered here today, under the watchful eyes of heaven, to witness the union of Evelyn Marcus and Damien Vale..."

Adrian stood near the sound booth pretending to adjust the speaker settings. His finger hovered over the mic switch.

The priest continued, “If anyone has a reason why these two should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now ”

Click. Adrian flicked the switch.

“ or forever hold your peace.”

A voice boomed across the entire venue, deep and unforgettable:

“I do”