The cathedral lights were too bright, and I could barely breathe under the veil, my lungs straining against the lace and satin of my dress. Everyone was staring at me, family, friends s, business partners,and half the damnn city. My bouquet felt like dead weight in my hands, roses trembling with my fingers.
And then there was him.
My fiancé stood at the altar, perfect smile, perfect posture. He looked like he'd stepped out of a magazine spread, polished, safe, approved by my parents. Everything about him screamed stability. The kind of man who would never let me down, never embarrass the family and most importantly never ruin their carefully crafted empire.
The man I was supposed to be in lovee with.
"Do you, Aria Whitmore, take this man—"
The priest's voice droned on, but I couldn't hear him. My pulse was too loud, my chest too tight. All I could think was: This is it. This is the end of every stupid daydream I've ever had about freedom, about love, about wanting more.
I was supposed to kiss him now. Seal it, make it real. My fiancé leaned closer, his lips almost touching mine…..
BANG!
The sound split the quite space like lightning.
Screams shattered the cathedral. Someone dropped a violin, the crash echoing through the panic. Guests lunged for the aisles, tripping over each other, dresses ripping, shoes snapping.
My bouquet slipped from my hands. Roses scattered across the marble.
And them gloved hands seized me from behind. I gasped, a sharp sound that never made it out before something rough covered my mouth. I tried to scream but it was muffled. My veil yanked sideways, the world spinning.
"Aria!" my fiancé's voice roared behind me, but it was already too late.
The church doors burst open, sunlight stabbing my eyes. I was dragged across the steps, skirts tearing, heels scraping against stone. A black van waited at the curb.
I kicked, twisted, clawed at the hands gripping me, but it was useless. They shoved me inside, the door slamming with a finality that made my stomach drop.
Darkness swallowed me.
The ropes bit into my wrists before I even realized I was tied. My chest heaved, panic flooding me. When the gag was yanked away, I gulped air so fast I nearly choked.