Arabella's POV

"I want you guys to walk me down the aisle."

"W--What?" Erika mumbled in disbelief and I shook my head vigorously as I intertwined my hands through theirs. "Yeah, you guys are giving me off," I said and they both nodded their heads, a sad smile creeping onto their lips as we slowly trekked towards the top of the stairs.

At the sight of me standing at the top, the traditional wedding song began to play and I tightened my grip onto their hands. "Whatever happens today, Bella. Just know that Tyler loves you, and he always will." Aaron whispered as we began to trek down the aisle.

I ignored the unfamiliar faces that stared at us as we walked down, I ignored the look on my father's face, my mother's piercing gaze and I kept my eyes interlocked with Ryan's who stood at the top of the aisle, a giddy smile on his face.

*play the song, OG TVD fans know this one 😭😪

When we finally reached the end of the aisle Erika and Aaron both planted a kiss onto my cheeks and found their way beside Max and Ace. I turned towards Ryan and he took my hands in his. I didn't return his smile, I didn't listen to any words escaping the officiant's lips all the way through. "Dear friends and family, we are gathered here to witness and celebrate the union of Arabella Smith an--"

The entire time my mind kept drifting away and sometimes I'd catch Ryan's gaze or the way his lips moved as he said I was beautiful but I felt nothing but numbness. I flickered my gaze away from Ryan and let them fall onto Aaron who was currently staring down at his phone.

I didn't even care.

If this was a real wedding I'd kill him but even I was lost.

Suddenly his head swivelled towards me and his eyes widened. He parted his lips to say something but the minister's voice cut through his words and I snapped my head away from him. At this moment I hadn't realized that we had gotten to the vows. I said mine and all the way through Ryan's I was tempted to cry but I held it in.

"At this moment if anyone can see any reason why these two should not be joined in holy matrimony speak now or forever hold your peace."

"I do."

My heartfelt as if it had suddenly begun to flutter in my chest at the sound of his familiar husky voice and I found myself slowly and hesitantly pivoting on my heels to where it came from, hoping to god that there was no way in hell I was hallucinating.

And I was right, stood in the middle of the aisle was Tyler freaking Hart.

He trekked towards me slowly and I flinched as Ryan's hand tightened around mine. Tyler stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes flickered towards our intertwined hands and he licked his lips nervously.

"Baby I'm sorry about everything. I'm sorry I left you, I'm sorry I put you through so much pain, I'm sorry that I made you feel like you had no other choice and I'm sorry that I let you go. I love you, I love you more than life and I can't get through life without you. I Tyler Hart, take you, Arabella Smith, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, to love and to cherish and to give you my whole fucking world and I promise to never ever hurt you as long as you take me."

I ripped my hands from Ryan's own and slowly trekked towards Tyler. In felt as if everything were in slow motion like the world was suddenly revolving only around the two of us and he was the only person I could see.

He was the only person I wanted to be with right now. No one else but him.

His eyes remained interlocked with mine as I closed the space between us. I peered up at him and chuckled softly.

"I do." I whispered softly as I ran my hands up his arms and engulfed him in a hug. He buried his face in my neck and I could feel the tears that trickled down his cheeks soak my dress but I didn't care. "Don't ever leave me again, ever," I whispered softly, afraid to even let go.

"I won't, I promise." He replied before grabbing my face in the palm of his hands and smashing his lips down onto mine.

"YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!" A chuckle escaped my lips as I pulled away from the kiss. Aaron was currently fist-bumping the air whilst Erika tried her headrest to calm him down. I tightened my grip onto Tyler's hand and found my father's gaze.

I couldn't tell what he was thinking but I didn't care. He suddenly rose off his seat and stormed away, my mother shot up from her seat as well, flickered her gaze between my father and I then rushed after him.

I guess she picks him again.

Nothing new.

"No. . .no, no, no, no, no, no. See I knew this would happen." Ryan's venomous voice suddenly sliced through the air and I turned towards him slowly. His face was hard, his eyes narrowed to slits at Tyler and he clenched his fists tightly as he descended the stairs.

"I knew this bullshit would happen! I FUCKING KNEW IT AND--" He suddenly began to chuckle hysterically as he crouched down, lifted up his pants and retrieved something tucked into his shoe. "I knew this would happen and I came prepared because you, my sweet Bella, I knew you would screw this up, you aren't going to drag my family through the mud so the only thing I can do is take you OUT!"

Before I could comprehend what was happening there was the end of a black gun pointed directly at me. The sound of hysterical screams suddenly enveloped my ears and I was shoved behind Tyler quickly, not even being able to comprehend what the hell was happening.

"Ryan, Ryan put down the gun," Tony exclaimed as he slowly rose from his chair.

Ryan shook his head vigorously, his gun pointed directly at Tyler and I. I flickered my gaze towards the guys, Ace was currently clutching onto Erika's hand tightly and Max was trying to restrain Aaron who looked as if he were about to pounce.

Aaron flickered his gaze towards me and shook his head slowly before averting eye contact. Why does the universe try every way possible to keep Tyler and I away from one another. What was so forbidden from this love for us to have to endure the worst all the time?

"Ryan put the gun down, it's okay. We can talk about this if you put the gun down." Tony mumbled as he slowly trekked towards us. Tyler's arms tightened around mine and I stood still, afraid to move an inch away from him.

"Ryan, please. We can all talk about this, I'm sure nothing's gonna happen to the company, okay? Remember she's the one backing out, not you. If you're worried about the company and dad we're fine. We will be fine."

At this moment the only people who were left behind witnessing this were the guys. Everyone else was nowhere to be seen and tightened my hand onto Tyler's hand who was staring back at Ryan blankly, un-phased by the gun pointed directly at his chest.

"We'll be fine?" He mumbled softly, his glossy eyes flickering towards me.

Tony nodded his head and I parted my lips, slowly pushing Tyler out of the way. His eyes widened as he tried restraining me but I shook my head vigorously and fought against his grip before peering up at him. He stared down at me, his eyes hard and firm but when they interlocked with mine they softened and his grip tightened on my hand.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine."

"Arabella, get the fuck away from him." Tyler spat and I could hear the line of fear in his voice as he spoke. I pressed my palm against his cheek and slowly pivoted on my heels to face Ryan.

I hesitantly raised my hand and slowly lowered it down onto the barrel of the gun. Ryan's bloodshot red eyes stayed interlocked with mine as I did so and I nodded my head slowly. "It'll be okay, Ryan. Just put the gun down, please."

He hesitated for a moment, flickered his eyes towards Tony who shook his head vigorously. "Y–You promise that you won't marry Tyler?" He stuttered and I nodded my head once again, my shaky hands never leaving the gun.

"Yes, I promise."

"And we'll be together right?"

How come I've never realized the craze held behind Ryan's eyes. I've seen it before when I brought up that I had a boyfriend when he invited me for lunch. I saw that look in his eyes but I brushed it off, now I know what it is, what it was. It was that same craze.

"I–I promise you. . .we'll be together, okay just trust me." I whispered softly.

His eyes assessed me for a moment and once again he snapped his head towards Tony who nodded in agreement with me. Ryan gulped and flickered his gaze back towards me then hesitantly lowered his gun.

A breath of relief escaped my lips as he did so and I sighed softly as I slowly removed my hands from the gun for a second to properly take it out of his grasp. But that small moment where I did that gave him the upper hand. . .it gave him the opportunity.

And that was my mistake.

"You see, Bella. I don't trust you, so yeah. I have to kill you." He spat.

The world began to move around me in that same slow motion as the sound of the gun going off echoed in my head. A bullet ripped through my skin and for a moment all I could feel was complete numbness and then unbearable pain as my body careered backwards.

As I fell and my body slipped into complete abyss I could hear ear-piercing screams, I could feel frantic hands over my body, fingers through my hair, hands pressed against the place it pained the most and before I was gone, before I let the darkness consume me I heard his voice.

Calling out my name.

THE END

Yes this is the end! There will be an epilogue so don't fear my lovely readers! Anyways I just wanna say thank you to everyone who reads and comments under this book, I know it's not all that big right now but thank you so much (even you silent readers) for making it reach to this point because without you this book would go nowhere! So thank you again! This has been a fun ride 😪❤️