Chapter 1 - The Hidden Warning
My hands trembled as I tore open the small white envelope.
The wedding coordinator stood close to me to block Eric's view.
I pulled out a single sheet of venue stationery.
The handwriting was rushed and jagged.
It read that I needed to check the bottom drawer of Eric's office desk immediately.
The note was signed by Sarah.
Sarah was Eric's former fiancée who had supposedly died in a tragic car accident three years ago.
My blood ran completely cold.
I looked up at the wedding coordinator in absolute shock.
She whispered that Sarah was very much alive and hiding in a shelter.
I realized I was about to marry a man who had lied about a woman's death.
Before I could ask any questions, heavy footsteps approached from behind.
Eric snatched the note right out of my trembling fingers.
His charming smile was completely gone.
His eyes looked dark and terrifyingly empty.
He read the note and crumpled it into his fist.
He grabbed my wrist with a bruising force.
I told him to let me go right now.
He leaned in close so only I could hear his whisper.
He said I was not leaving this building until I signed the marriage certificate.
I looked around the room for help.
His mother was already instructing the security guards to lock the main ballroom doors.
The thirty men sitting at the tables suddenly stood up in unison.
They were not chatting and laughing anymore.
They were all staring directly at me with cold calculation.
I realized these men were not his relatives at all.
May you like
I yanked my arm away from Eric and backed up toward the kitchen doors.
Eric commanded the men to grab me.
