"I'll see you soon." I hear my own voice. Everything around me is dark.

"Okay. I'll meet you at the altar."

I still remember the beautiful smile that formed on her lips as she spoke to me. I want to see it for the rest of my life.

Silence fills the air, but then the darkness starts to change. Lights begin to take over my vision before everything around me turns white.

Distinctly, I hear people chattering around me. They all sound happy. I can feel the excitement in the air, like they're going to celebrate something joyful.

But then, their voices fade out, and only silence is left. I look down and find myself wearing a pair of black leather oxfords.

When my gaze darts on my hand, I notice that I'm wearing a wedding suit. Then I remember that this is the day.

I'm standing here, feeling nothing but joy and excitement. Everything feels so serene. So peaceful. My heart has never been this contented that I can't even explain what I'm feeling.

I can proudly say that I'm the happiest man on earth, because today, I will take my vows with the woman I love at this altar. We will be together forever.

Love. One might ask if I really love her, and the answer is yes.

I love Olivia. I love her with all my heart.

I've learned about love since I was very young. I've seen how my parents love each other. I've watched how a man loves a woman, just like my father loves my mother. That's how I love my woman. Nothing less.

Growing up, I've always known what I want.

I don't want to kiss just any girl. To just touch any skin. Or to just have sex with any woman.

I don't want to.

For me, it's only her. Olivia.

Of all people, I choose her.

First confession.

First fight.

First time.

First girlfriend.

First love.

We've been together for years, and finally, today has come. We'll build a family and spend the rest of our lives together.

A sigh escapes from my lips as I wait for her patiently. I'm holding on to her promise like it's all I need to survive this world. No matter what life throws upon us, we'll get through it. Together.

I wait. The clock is ticking, and time passes by.

I'm still waiting. Patiently.

Yet, I still haven't seen her. She still hasn't come here as she promised to.

The bright surrounding gradually turns darker. A horrible feeling builds up inside me. My heart rate kicks up a notch, but I'm trying to keep sane.

'I will meet you at the altar.' I keep replaying those words again and again. Olivia will come. As she promised.

But then, everything around me becomes even darker until I cannot see anything. It seems impossible that what was once so bright and serene has turned into something so dark.

So hopeless.

My father waited for my mother for seven years. What I'm doing is nothing compared to it. I'll still be standing here. Days or nights don't even matter.

I'll be here until I can't even stand on my feet anymore.

'I will meet you at the altar,' her voice echoes again in my ears, and I squeeze my eyes shut.

I cover my eyes with my hand, my shoulders shaking. Somehow, a part of me knows the truth. She's not coming. She'll never come.

And I'm lost. So very lost that I don't even know what to do.

After what feels like an eternity, I straighten up, determined to find the truth. It's fucking hard to walk out from this spot, our spot. It's the place where we should reunite, but it's also the place where there's no more hope.

Something drops onto the ground, and even though it's dark, I can make out what it is.

A bouquet of flowers.

Why is it here? Who dropped it here?

Slowly, I walk closer to it, noticing that the petals are ripped off from the flowers. They create a trace for me to follow, and my legs move even though my heart is screaming, telling me to stop.

'I will meet you at the altar.'

I still believe what Olivia said to me. She would not lie to me. Something must have happened to her.

"Olivia?" I call, but there's no response.

My legs feel like being nailed to the ground, and I don't even know why. Everything in my body is repelling, trying to warn me. But I don't give a damn about that.

I just want to find her. I just want to see her.

A door comes into sight, and I stop in my track.

I freeze on the spot. There's chaos in my mind. Screaming. Shouting. Telling me to stop.

Slowly, I turn the doorknob, and the first thing I hear is my best friend's voice.

"That's right, baby. Show me how much you want this. Show me how much you want me."

A moan of pleasure echoes from the room. The woman whimpers as he fucks her senseless. "Oh, Roman."

Her voice shatters my heart into pieces because I know whom it belongs to.

"Don't stop," she begs breathlessly. "Please, don't stop."

"Tell me that you're mine, Olivia," Roman hisses without stopping. "Tell me who you belong to."

"I'm yours," she cries, holding him even tighter. "I've always been yours."

My whole world crumbles. Violently.

My heart has never been crushed so hard. I've given her all of it, but now, it's nothing but dust. It hurts too much, I wish that it has never existed.

My eyes are wide in shock as I continue to stare.

At him.

At her.

My best friend and my bride have betrayed me.

I feel like collapsing. My eyes are not lying to me. It's her.

That face.

That hair.

That voice, which used to tell me how much she loved me.

Everything about her is Olivia. My Olivia.

"Wake me up." My voice is shaking uncontrollably as I whisper to no one.

This is all a nightmare. I know it.

"Wake me up," I roar, feeling like being sucked into a hurricane that destroys everything.

My throat hurts from all the shouting, while my chest is about to explode.

Save me. It hurts so much.

Save me.

"Aiden," a loud voice rings in my ears, and I find myself sitting up on the couch.

Nevaeh stares at me with worry skating all over her face.

"It's okay. You-- you woke up." Her lips are trembling due to the sight before her.

I must have been out of control.

My chest is heaving up and down, sweat all over my body. I'm panting hard like I've just been revived from death.

I remember that I was watching the news on TV and reading a book before falling asleep. My eyes drop to the ground, and I find that the book has fallen onto the carpet. There's a jug of water spilled on it too.

Judging by how hard I've been gripping Nevaeh's arm, she might be the one who has dropped the jug of water because of me. Maybe she was on the way to get water when she found me tossing in my sleep.

Ian, Ashton, and my servants rush into the living room, which makes me realize that I've just woken the entire penthouse because of my nightmare.