"Is everything ready?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"The guests?"
"They're all seated."
"And the press?"
"Still outside the gates."
"Good."
The wedding coordinator wiped sweat from her forehead as she turned to the assistant beside her.
"Please tell me the bride is ready."
"She should be finishing her makeup."
"Should be?"
"Well… the stylist said she was calm."
The coordinator frowned.
"Calm is good. Calm brides don't cause problems."
Across the hall, another group of guests whispered.
"This mansion is unbelievable."
"Well, it belongs to the Laurents."
"That explains it."
Jenna Reyes paused near the grand staircase, staring up at the glittering chandelier.
"Wow," she muttered softly.
She had visited the mansion once before to see her mother, but today it looked completely different.
Flowers everywhere.
White roses lined the walls.
Crystal decorations sparkled in the light.
Music floated gently through the air.
"This place looks like a palace," Jenna murmured.
A waiter passing by chuckled.
"It might as well be."
Jenna smiled politely.
"I'm just here to see my mom."
"House staff are all downstairs," the waiter said, gesturing toward a hallway.
"Thanks."
As Jenna turned to walk away, she overheard another conversation nearby.
"Did you see Alexander Laurent?"
"Yes."
"He looks terrifying."
"That's because he's a billionaire."
"Still… he didn't even smile."
"Well, he never smiles."
Jenna glanced toward the ceremony hall doors.
Through the opening she could see a tall figure standing near the altar.
Even from a distance, he looked powerful.
Alexander Laurent.
The groom.
The billionaire CEO everyone in New York City seemed to know.
Jenna had seen his face in newspapers before.
But seeing him in person was different.
He looked colder somehow.
"Jenna!"
She turned quickly.
"Mom!"
Her mother hurried toward her, clearly surprised.
"What are you doing here?" Isabella Reyes asked.
"I came to see you," Jenna said. "I thought we could have lunch."
Her mother looked around nervously.
"Today is not a good day."
"Clearly," Jenna said, glancing around. "This wedding is huge."
"It's the biggest event this house has hosted in years."
"Everyone looks important."
"They are."
Jenna smiled slightly.
"Relax, Mom. I'm not staying long."
Before Isabella could respond, someone shouted from across the room.
"Ten minutes to the ceremony!"
The coordinator clapped her hands loudly.
"Guests please begin moving toward the hall."
People started walking toward the large double doors.
Jenna stepped aside.
A woman in an expensive gown walked past and whispered to her friend.
"I heard the bride's dress cost half a million dollars."
"Of course it did."
"She's Victoria Beaumont."
"That family is practically royalty."
Jenna raised her eyebrows.
"Half a million?"
Her mother sighed.
"Welcome to the world of billionaires."
Suddenly, a man rushed past them toward the staircase.
"Has anyone seen the bride?" he asked urgently.
Another staff member frowned.
"She's in the dressing room."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Because the groom is asking for her."
Jenna watched them hurry away.
"That sounded serious," she said.
Her mother didn't answer.
Instead, she looked worried.
"Mom?"
"Something's wrong."
"What?"
"I don't know yet."
Minutes passed.
More guests gathered.
The music grew louder.
But the tension in the room was growing.
Then someone spoke loudly near the staircase.
"The dressing room is empty."
"What?"
"She's not there."
"That's impossible."
"Did she go to the garden?"
"Someone check!"
Jenna's stomach tightened.
"What's happening?" she whispered.
Her mother shook her head.
"I don't know."
Across the room, several men were talking urgently.
"Did you call her phone?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"No answer."
"Try again."
"Already did."
"Where could she be?"
Jenna looked toward the ceremony hall again.
Alexander Laurent was still standing near the altar.
But now someone had approached him.
They were talking quietly.
Alexander's expression didn't change.
Not even slightly.
Then he spoke.
"Search the house."
The man beside him nodded quickly.
"Yes, sir."
Guests were beginning to notice something was wrong.
"Why hasn't the ceremony started?"
"It's supposed to start now."
"Maybe the bride is nervous."
"Nervous brides don't disappear."
Jenna folded her arms.
"This is getting weird."
Her mother nodded.
"Stay close to me."
Another staff member rushed into the room.
"Check the driveway!"
"Why?"
"Victoria's car is missing."
The room went silent.
"What do you mean missing?"
"It's gone."
"Gone?"
"Yes."
"Did she leave?"
The whisper spread instantly.
"She left?"
"No way."
"She wouldn't run away."
"Would she?"
Jenna looked at her mother.
"Mom…"
But Isabella looked just as shocked.
At that moment, the staircase doors opened.
Everyone turned.
Alexander Laurent walked down slowly.
The entire room seemed to freeze.
His voice was calm but sharp.
"Explain."
One of the assistants spoke nervously.
"We can't find her."
Alexander stared at him.
"You checked the dressing room?"
"Yes."
"The garden?"
"Yes."
"The parking lot?"
"Yes."
"And?"
The assistant swallowed.
"Her car is gone."
A ripple of gasps spread across the room.
Alexander said nothing.
For a long moment, the silence was suffocating.
Then he spoke again.
"Close the gates."
"What?"
"Now."
Staff immediately rushed toward the entrance.
Guests began whispering nervously.
"Why are they closing the gates?"
"Are we locked in?"
"What's happening?"
Jenna felt her heart beating faster.
Something about this felt bigger than a missing bride.
Then another voice spoke from the staircase.
Cold.
Commanding.
"Alexander."
An older woman stepped forward.
Elegant.
Powerful.
The room instantly fell silent again.
Evelyn Laurent.
Alexander's grandmother.
She looked around slowly.
"What is this chaos?"
Alexander answered calmly.
"The bride is missing."
Evelyn's expression didn't change.
"Missing?"
"Yes."
"Find her."
"We're trying."
She looked at him sharply.
"The ceremony begins in five minutes."
"That won't happen."
"Why not?"
Alexander said the words without emotion.
"Because Victoria Beaumont is gone."
The room erupted with whispers.
"She ran away."
"Oh my God."
"This is a scandal."
Evelyn's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Are you certain?"
Alexander nodded once.
Silence followed.
Then Evelyn spoke again.
Very quietly.
"Call her."
"She's not answering."
"Search again."
"We already have."
Another pause.
Then someone near the entrance shouted suddenly.
"Wait!"
Everyone turned.
A security guard rushed inside.
"I just checked the cameras."
Alexander looked at him.
"And?"
The guard hesitated.
"She didn't just leave the house."
"What do you mean?"
The guard swallowed nervously.
"The footage shows her running out the side gate…"
He hesitated again.
Then finished the sentence.
"Alone. In her wedding dress."