The grand cathedral was filled with people.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, casting a golden glow over the luxurious hall. Rows of guests dressed in elegant suits and dazzling gowns whispered among themselves as they waited for the ceremony to begin.
At the front of the aisle stood the groom.
Tall. Handsome. Perfect.
Adrian Whitmore was the dream of countless women. The heir to the powerful Whitmore Corporation, admired for his intelligence and charm. Today, he was supposed to marry the woman he had been engaged to for three years.
But the expression on his face held no warmth.
His eyes were distant, almost impatient.
Behind the grand wooden doors, the bride stood silently.
Elena Hart.
Her hands trembled slightly as she held the bouquet of white roses. The wedding dress she wore was breathtaking—layers of soft lace and silk flowed down to the floor like a cloud.
She should have been happy.
This was the day she had dreamed about for years.
Yet an uneasy feeling twisted in her chest.
"Elena."
Her wedding planner approached nervously.
"It's time."
Elena forced a small smile.
"Alright."
The music began to play.
Slowly, the massive doors opened.
A wave of whispers spread through the crowd as she stepped into the cathedral.
Elena walked down the aisle carefully, her heels clicking softly against the polished marble floor. Hundreds of eyes were fixed on her.
But she only looked at one person.
Adrian.
The man she loved.
The man she was about to marry.
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
But Adrian looked away almost immediately.
Elena's heart skipped painfully.
Something felt wrong.
Still, she continued walking until she reached the altar.
The priest smiled warmly at them.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today—"
Suddenly, the cathedral doors burst open.
Gasps filled the room.
Everyone turned.
A woman stood at the entrance.
She wore a pure white dress—almost like a bride herself.
Her long dark hair flowed over her shoulders, and her eyes shimmered with tears.
"Elena!" the woman cried.
Elena froze.
Her heart dropped to her stomach.
"…Lily?"
It was her younger sister.
Lily Hart ran down the aisle dramatically, tears streaming down her cheeks.
The guests whispered louder.
"What's happening?"
"Why is she crying?"
Lily stopped beside Adrian and grabbed his arm desperately.
"Adrian… please tell them the truth!"
The entire cathedral fell silent.
Elena's fingers tightened around her bouquet.
"What truth?" she asked slowly.
Lily turned toward her with a trembling expression.
"I didn't want to expose you like this… but I can't stay silent anymore."
A strange chill ran down Elena's spine.
"What are you talking about?"
Lily pulled out a small envelope and handed it to the priest.
Inside were photographs.
The priest frowned as he looked through them.
The guests began murmuring again.
Adrian's face darkened.
"Elena Hart," Lily said weakly, "you stole confidential information from Whitmore Corporation and sold it to another company."
The words echoed through the cathedral.
For a moment, Elena thought she had misheard.
"…What?"
"You betrayed Adrian," Lily continued, tears falling down her cheeks. "You used his trust to steal company secrets!"
The crowd erupted into shocked whispers.
"That's impossible."
"Did she really do that?"
"She looks innocent though…"
Elena felt like the ground beneath her feet had disappeared.
"Lily," she said quietly, "what kind of joke is this?"
But Lily only cried harder.
"I wish it were a joke."
She turned to Adrian.
"Tell them, Adrian. You saw the evidence yourself."
All eyes moved to him.
Elena looked at him desperately.
"Adrian…?"
For three years, they had been together.
He knew her better than anyone.
He knew she would never do something like that.
Adrian remained silent for several seconds.
Then he spoke.
"…The company investigation confirmed it."
Elena's heart shattered.
"You… believe this?" she whispered.
Adrian avoided her gaze.
"The evidence is clear."
Her fingers slowly loosened, and the bouquet fell to the floor.
White roses scattered across the marble.
"You're accusing me… of betraying you?"
"Elena," Adrian said coldly, "I never thought you would sink this low."
The whispers in the cathedral grew louder.
"Unbelievable."
"She's a criminal."
"What a disgrace."
Elena felt like she was suffocating.
"No," she said firmly. "I didn't do it."
But no one listened.
Lily wiped her tears dramatically.
"I didn't want to ruin your wedding… but Adrian deserves to know the truth."
The priest cleared his throat awkwardly.
"I… I believe this ceremony cannot continue."
Just like that.
Her wedding ended.
Her reputation destroyed in a matter of minutes.
Elena stared at Adrian.
The man she loved.
"Did you ever trust me?" she asked softly.
Adrian didn't answer.
That silence was worse than any accusation.
Her chest tightened painfully.
Without another word, Elena turned around and walked down the aisle alone.
The same aisle she had walked moments ago as a bride.
Now she left as a disgrace.
---
Hours later.
Rain poured heavily over the empty streets.
Elena ran through the dark alleyways, her wedding dress soaked and dragging through the dirty water.
Her mind spun with confusion and pain.
Why?
Why would Lily accuse her?
Why would Adrian believe it?
Suddenly—
Police sirens echoed nearby.
"Elena Hart!"
Her heart nearly stopped.
"Stop right there!"
She turned back and saw several police officers chasing her.
"She's the suspect!"
"Don't let her escape!"
Panic flooded her chest.
They were really arresting her.
They truly believed she had committed the crime.
Elena ran faster.
Her breath came out in desperate gasps.
Her legs burned.
Eventually she reached the edge of the city.
An abandoned building stood quietly in the darkness.
With nowhere else to go, she rushed inside.
The rain dripped from her hair as she collapsed onto the dusty floor.
Her body trembled uncontrollably.
Everything she had… was gone.
Her love.
Her reputation.
Her future.
Tears finally streamed down her face.
"Why…?"
Her voice echoed weakly in the empty building.
Her hand touched something sharp on the ground.
A broken piece of glass.
As she clenched it unknowingly, the glass sliced into her palm.
Blood dripped onto the floor.
A strange symbol carved into the stone beneath her suddenly began to glow.
Elena didn't notice.
But the air around her grew colder.
The ground trembled slightly.
A deep voice echoed from the darkness.
"…How interesting."
Elena froze.
Her head snapped up.
A tall figure slowly emerged from the shadows.
Black hair.
Crimson eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.
An aura of overwhelming power surrounded him.
The stranger looked down at the glowing blood seal beneath Elena.
Then he smiled slowly.
A terrifying, beautiful smile.
"Well now," he said softly.
"It seems… you've summoned me."
Elena stared at him in shock.
"W-Who are you…?"
The man stepped closer.
His crimson eyes locked onto hers.
"I am the demon bound to your blood."
He leaned down slightly, his voice low and dangerous.
"And for the next year… you belong to me."
Elena's heart pounded violently.
"A… demon?"
The demon chuckled.
"Yes."
His eyes gleamed with amusement.
"And judging by that broken expression on your face…"
He gently lifted her bleeding hand.
"…someone has betrayed you."
His smile widened.
"Tell me their names."
A dark energy filled the room.
"Because I would love to help you destroy them."
And in that moment…
Elena unknowingly made the most dangerous contract of her life.