STIGMA

Corrine Holland stood moments away from marrying Bruce Ashton, her dream finally within reach.

The wedding march echoed through the hall as she glided down the red carpet in her immaculate white gown, moving toward Bruce who awaited her at the altar.

Bathed in streams of golden light, his white suit seemed to shimmer, highlighting the refined features that had first captured her heart years ago.

Their relationship had weathered countless storms over three years, and now, despite her family's refusal to bless their union, her cherished dream approached reality.

As Bruce stepped forward to present her bouquet, tears of joy threatened to spill from her eyes.

The priest's kind eyes settled on the couple as he spoke. "Do you, Bruce Ashton, take this woman to be your wife? Will you love her, honor her, respect her, and accept her, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?"

Corrine's heart fluttered as she turned expectantly toward Bruce, awaiting his answer.

Instead of joy, however, his features twisted with uncertainty, an unsettling hesitation clouding his expression.

Suddenly, the doors burst open. Rita Ashton, Bruce's younger sister, stumbled in with tears streaming down her face. "Bruce, it's bad!" she cried, looking lost and desperate. "Leah... she... she..."

A cold wave of dread washed over Corrine. Her grip tightened around Bruce's hand as her heart hammered against her ribs.

The name awakened painful memories—Leah Burgess, the unreachable star in Bruce's firmament.

When the Ashton family had fallen from grace years ago, Leah had chosen opportunity abroad over love, prompting Bruce to sever ties and turn to Corrine.

Yet just a month ago, Leah had mysteriously reappeared.