The Wrong Wedding

sbelief. The cold stone beneath her heels pressed up through the soles of her shoes, an

ide of expectations, assumptions, and judgment. Her gaze stayed fixed on the man she was about to marry, Mark. His face loo

They didn't search her face with love or hope. They just stared

beneath layers of silk and lace. Her dress, pristine and flawless, had been designed to mak

e was fall

oul had already escaped, lon

t look worried, she looked watchful, like a hawk ready to strike the moment Tessa stepped out of line. Her father, equally rigid,

h the crowd, and she could feel e

ice rang through the church, echoing off the tall stone walls, but the words felt

t what lov

at forever was

r bones that she couldn

and lie, not with her lip

inally looked at her. Not with love. Not even with concern. Just confusion and under that, so

br

er heel, and the

e stone floor, louder and louder, as she moved down the aisle,

r foot

umbled

loor with a painful thud. For a moment, she stayed there, breath knoc

through the stillness, sharp and a

was t

ing the fabric of her dress as she stood

e

f people who had come to watch

n't loo

loomed ahead, m

nd she burst through them l

behind her like

ike that s

breath she'd taken in weeks. She stopped at the curb, not caring that her dress dragged through puddles an

d was s

eed to. She knew who it was. Her mother, furious. Mark, probably confused, or worse,

ldn't g

ldn't g

it felt like it might burst. She could still hear the whispers. Still feel t

ry storefront, every familiar face, they weren't c

ocean wrapped around her, salty and fresh. Boats bobbed gent

older, with tired eyes and a thick beard. He didn't look surp

d?" she asked, trying t

looked like she just ran out of a chapel. "Private island. P

ing made her

go," she sa

cash?"

emergency envelope she'd hidden there two days ago. S

ns. No judgment. Just a quiet acceptanc

led away, she stood at the back, gripping the rail

Her dress was torn at the h

asn't stu

finally

head was covered in trees, white sand lining th

her skirts as the wind whipped her hair around. The sand gave under her feet,

he ocean humming beside her. The si

e heard

t. Then laug

hout thinking, and walked

er we

everywhere. Guests in designer dresses. Waiters passing ch

here

Pre

Cade. A billionaire with a reputation for keeping people

m looked expensive, from the perfect fit of his black sui

ees. Her heart pounded. She had just escaped on

e saw t

Mar

h, smile tight, eyes full of pride. She was stunning,

ave quietly. But f

t hit a

ed right into a tall flower arrangemen

of head

fr

turne

eyes

harp. Like he was already workin

she whispered, t

rward, his voic

supposed t