Chapter one

The Wedding Day.

The Grand Regent Hotel buzzed with the kind of frenzied excitement that only came with events so grand they felt unreal. The ballroom was being transformed into a floral paradise, and the anticipation in the air was thick enough to taste. But inside the bridal suite, things felt different—quieter, almost still, as if the world had pulled back for just a moment.

Sophia stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. The woman looking back at her was dressed in a gown worth more than some people’s homes, her hair an intricate twist of curls, her makeup flawless. And yet, she barely recognized herself.

"Pinch me," Sophia whispered, more to herself than anyone else. "This all feels like a dream."

"More like a fairy tale," Susan said, her tone light as she fluffed out the layers of Sophia’s gown. "Come on, you’re about to marry the perfect guy in the wedding of the century. What more could anyone ask for?"

But instead of smiling, Sophia's hands tightened on the edge of the vanity. "I don’t know," she murmured. "I just feel… off."

Susan, always the optimist, waved her hand dismissively. "It’s wedding jitters. Trust me, every bride has them. You’re going to be fine."

Sophia wanted to believe that. She wanted to tell herself that this gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach was just nerves. But it was more than that. It was a sense of unease she couldn’t shake, like something was slipping through her fingers and she didn’t know how to hold on.

"I need to see Ryan," she said abruptly, the words tumbling out before she had time to secondguess them. "Just for a second."

Susan blinked in surprise. "Sophia, you know you’re not supposed to see him before the ceremony. Besides, he’s probably just as nervous as you are."

Sophia stood, pushing back the chair with more force than intended. "I just... I have to."

Susan gave her a long, measured look. “Alright. But don’t take too long. You still have to get into that dress.”

Without another word, Sophia walked out of the suite, her heart beating too fast and her breath quickening. The hallways were alive with staff rushing back and forth, arranging last-minute details, but to Sophia, they felt distant, like she was moving through a fog.

Her footsteps quickened as she neared Ryan’s suite. What was she expecting to find? Reassurance, maybe? A look, a smile that would ease the tension twisting inside her? She wasn’t sure. But she needed something. She reached the door, her hand trembling slightly as she gripped the handle.

Inside, the room was eerily calm. His tux hung by the mirror, perfectly pressed. A bouquet of roses—her favorite—sat on the dresser, waiting to be pinned to his lapel. But no, Ryan.

Sophia frowned, her heart skipping a beat. Where was he?

She stepped deeper into the room, her eyes scanning for some clue. The quiet unnerved her. She could hear her own breathing, too loud in the stillness. She turned toward the adjoining door, the one that led to the private lounge area. Maybe he was there.

As she reached for the handle, she froze. Laughter, soft and low, drifted from behind the door. It was muffled but unmistakable—intimate, close. Her pulse quickened, her hand hovering in midair. A part of her didn’t want to open the door; she didn’t want to know what was on the other side. But she couldn’t stop herself.

She pushed the door open slowly.

Whatever she saw inside was enough to stop her heart. Her breath hitched, her entire body going cold as if the blood had drained from her veins. For a long moment, she just stood there, unable to move, unable to speak.

Then, without a sound, she turned and walked out, her face unreadable, her mind numb.

---

Back in the bridal suite, the noise hit her all at once—the chatter of the bridesmaids, the rustle of fabric, the soft hum of activity as everyone prepared for the wedding. It was a stark contrast to the eerie quiet of the moment before, but Sophia barely registered it. She moved mechanically, her limbs stiff, her mind racing with too many thoughts and none at all.

"Sophia?" Susan’s voice cut through the haze, gentle but insistent. "You okay?"

Sophia blinked, forcing herself to focus. Susan was standing in front of her, eyes filled with concern. "You look pale. Did you talk to him?"

For a moment, Sophia couldn’t speak. She didn’t know what to say. Her throat felt tight, her chest heavy with a weight she didn’t know how to lift.

“I... did,” she said, her voice low, almost detached. “But we need to be quick. The ceremony—there’s something I need to take care of first.”

Susan frowned, clearly sensing something was wrong but unsure how to approach it. "What’s going on? You’re acting weird."

Sophia forced a smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. "It’s nothing. Just… wedding stuff."

But it wasn’t just wedding stuff. Sophia’s mind was racing, trying to process what she had seen. A hundred different emotions fought for dominance—anger, betrayal, confusion, heartbreak. But she didn’t have time to break down, not now. Not with everyone watching.

"I need a moment," she whispered, brushing past Susan and slipping into the adjacent room. Once inside, she closed the door behind her and pressed her back against it, her hands shaking violently.

The image of what she had seen flashed before her eyes, and she squeezed them shut, willing it away. She had no idea how to move forward. She had no plan. All she knew was that she couldn’t go through with this wedding.

Not like this.

But there was still time. She had the power to change everything, and that was exactly what she was going to do.