Chapter 2

Kylan

I was not excited to know that a lady I had stooped low enough to consider as my wife decided to embarrass me.

Not just on any other day, but on this day that I had managed to pull top businessmen and presidents from all over the world.

Adjusting my glasses that sat on the bridge of my nose, I tried to hide my shame. Whispers had already begun to fill the hall, as the priest’s voice came again.

Facing some girl who had rushed in with the news panicking, he asked, “What did you say?”

“The bride has gone missing. I can’t find her in her room.” She stuttered.

The whisperings increased even more and it pricked my skin. I did not want to be there anymore.

At that point, I knew it was time to leave and just as I made to stand, my right-hand man held me back.

With a low voice, he said, “It won’t be good if you leave right now, Sir. The word will spread even further and it might cause issues for you.”

“It would be even more stupid if I stayed." I held myself from raising my voice.

I had already analyzed everything and knew how terrible it was to my reputation. My chances of becoming the chairman of the family company had gone even slimmer than it was just because of the embarrassment that the Richards had caused me.

I was certainly going to deal with them, but right now, I needed to be anywhere but here.

“Take care of the whole mess, especially the media. They will not like me if I see news flying about today.”

“Noted, Sir.”

I left just after, the whisperings, though reduced to the barest minimum making me want to disappear into thin air.

Hearing people talk was not the problem. All my life, my actions always had people talking.

The difference this time was that I was the one getting embarrassed when it had always been the reverse. I did not like the taste of my own medicine, not at all.

I jerked the engine of my Mercedes to life the moment I stepped in, and in the next minute, I zoomed out of the churchyard.

‘Katarina Richards will regret this day all the days of her life’ that, I was sure of.

Few of my men had already gone looking for her, while I wandered about the city, trying to calm my angry nerves.

Who the hell did she think she was running away from me like I was the undesirable one, like her family didn't practically beg for my hand in marriage?!

This had to be the most ridiculous shit in the world.

A bitter and guttural laugh escaped my lips as the thought of being left at the alter hammered in.

I was going to kill her for making me look like a fucking fool. I was going to teach every single one of her family members a lesson that would haunt them for generations.

I took off my sunglasses as my eyes zoomed in on a woman on the side of the road waving at a car in front of me.

The driver zoomed past her and so did several others in front of me.

As I got closer, I could hear her crying for help.

“Please help me, help me please!” the woman yelled, waving furiously at the cars coming towards her.

She was wearing a wedding gown, the exact style I had chosen from the Italian most renowned designer, Milano Gomez.

The corner of my lips curved into a smirk as I halted, winding my glasses to meet her diamond-shaped face.

She sure looked finer than she did in pictures, it just amazed me that such an innocent face dared to run away from me.

Smiling ar her, “Need a ride? Hop in!” Like a Saviour, I said.

She blinked at me before rounding the car and entering the passenger seat.

I had the urge to strangle her and make her confess her reason for even daring to emberrass me but I thought against it. Letting my anger take over me was something I didn't want to take a chance with in the middle of the highway.

But what on earth was I going to do with her now?

Take her back to the wedding?

The deed had been done, and forcing things was only going to make things worse.

Snapping her head off? The thought lingered on my mind and I was so close to doing it.

She escaped after all, it would not hurt to kill her and dump her body in some lake. She would be found eventually and the police would probably think she was killed by a rival of mine. But death felt too easy. It was almost like letting her off the hook.

I wanted to punish her, play with her mind, make her believe she was going crazy and then make her take her own life with her own hands.

I reawakened the engine and continued driving. I had not made up my mind yet on what to do with her but I was definitely not taking her back to the church.

She had blown her chance to be with me already. All I wanted to do now was to make her pay for her crimes.

“Thank you so much.” Her breath was heavy as she spoke, “Please do you mind driving me to the outskirts of the town?” she asked, her voice soft and polite.

“The outskirts of town?" I frowned as I glanced at her. "Is there a problem?” I looked her up and down, taking in her beauty. She was beautiful, I would admit but even that couldn't save her from my wrath.

“No, no. I just need to be away from here. My head is messed up, and I’d appreciate it if you don’t ask me any questions.”

"I see…can I at least know your name?”

She turned to me, the uneasiness on her face evident. “My name is K… my name is Lisa.” She forced a smile.

I could see through her fake smile, and I wanted to play along.

Good thing, I never sent a picture to her family. Also, I was glad that I had blocked every agency that tried putting pictures of me on the internet.

“Nice to meet you Lisa." Her name on my tongue came out a little accusatory.

Thankfully, she didn't quite notice.

"Likewise Mr…"

"Not necessary." I said, I didn't want to have to come up with a fake name like she did. I didn't want to be like my cowardice enemy.

"Oh."

Look, I want to help you but you have to give me something. What exactly happened? Why are you trying to skip town wearing a wedding dress?" I asked, my eyes hard with anger.

Her eyes veered to look at me, scanning my face as if trying figure out whether or not I was trustworthy before proceeding.

“It’s supposed to be my wedding day. I ran away because the man that is to be my husband is a tyrant, a beast even and I couldn't do it.

I couldn't marry someone I didn't love that also happened to be a monster, I'll never forgive myself if I did."

At her remark, I gulped.

“Luckily for me, I managed to escape, and I’m trying to leave this city. I know he has influence here, and his men will be looking for me soon.”

‘Luckily?’ I murmured, "you my dear are the furthest thing from lucky."

“Did you say something?” she asked, her eyes peering into mine.

With a nod, I replied, my eyes still on the steering wheel. “Yeah, I don’t think running away from here is the best thing to do right now.”

“But there’s no other choice,” she retorted.

“That is why I’m here to help you.

I don’t know you or your situation, Lisa but I have a strong feeling that I was meant to find you and help you. Considering the influence you said the “beast of your husband-to-be has,” it can only put me at risk, but I’m ditching that fact because I want to help you.”

“Thank you,” I heard her murmur and I nodded with a smile. She was definitely guilible.

“You know running away still wearing your wedding gown will only make it easier for you to be found, right? and what if this beast has already sent his men to the train stations and airport, how will you be able to escape? You didn't think this through, did you?"

“You are right” She answered with a shaky voice, turning towards me in haste. “What do you think I should do?”

She asked, her doe eyes peering up at me.

A smirk appeared on my lips.

"How about I take you to my place, you get dressed and tomorrow when everything must have settled, I sneak you out of the state?"