Abandoned at the Altar, Chosen by the Billionaire

CHAPTER 1

YANA

My husband-to-be is still missing. 

We are both missing at home, but currently, he's nowhere to be found. And it's our wedding day.

It's been over an hour, and I still hold on to the hope that he's probably stuck somewhere. There's no way Spencer will abandon me on our wedding day. We both eloped here just so we can get married in peace. 

I still remember how he grinned at me last night, how he kissed and promised to be there for me forever. We couldn't see each other this morning because it's considered bad luck for the groom and bride to meet before their wedding.

"Pick your call, Spencer. Please pick," I mutter to my phone while pacing around the soft sand. 

"How is it?" The priest asks. I take a glance at him, trying so hard to form a smile, but I just couldn't. I couldn't force a smile. Not when my heart is heavy. 

I'm afraid I'm being stood up. I don't want to believe Spencer will do something like this to me. We've been together for three years. We planned this whole thing together. We decided it was best to start our lives in this place, at the expense of our family. 

"He's on his way," I croak out, my throat closing up. I can feel the tears threatening to fall, but I'm not going to give in yet. I'm not going to smudge my makeup. I'll carry it for our wedding. I have faith in Spencer. He can't just bail out on me like that. 

"But he's not picking up his calls," the old bald man points out. I shoot him a glare this time, but that doesn't stop him from poking at my sensitive skin. "And no one is even here, you're the only one."

I swallow hard. It wasn't meant to be a big wedding. I can't invite my family since they were never in support of our relationship. They wanted me to get married to someone else; it was one of the reasons Spencer and I decided to elope. The only person I could invite is Valeria, my best friend, the one who told us to come down here. Since she's familiar with Los Angeles after moving here a year ago, she helped get our new house and even our wedding location.

But Valeria isn't here, either.

She sent a message a while ago telling me she had a sudden emergency to deal with. She promised to show up before the ceremony ends.

And for Spencer, he doesn't have any family, and he told me one of his friends would fly down here.

No one has shown up yet. 

"They'll show up," I reply in an assuring tone. I'm not even convinced, what more him?

"When?"

I don't have any answers to that.

I lick my lips and drop Spencer another message before dialling Valeria's number, but it keeps going to voicemail.

At this point, it feels like I'm going crazy. But I'm not going to give up. 

Even after the priest leaves two hours later, I don't give up. 

The night falls, and I'm still glued to the chair, hoping Spencer shows up. I've checked all the news and blog outlets just in case he got into an accident or something, but there was nothing like that. 

Different thoughts race through my head, and as much as I try to act strong? I couldn't help it anymore when the rain starts drizzling, and then I burst into tears. 

I leave the beach with slumped shoulders and heavy eyes. When the cab pulls over in front of the house, I hold a tiny hope that I'll meet Spencer waiting for me on our couch, but instead, I walk into an empty house. Even his things are missing. 

Did he run away during the day? Did he realize he couldn't get married to me? Or did my parents bribe him with some money? It isn't the first time they'll be trying to do that. I've always heard about it in the other way, but it happened to me. 

Slipping to the ground, the tears rolled down my cheeks again. I don't know how long I cried in my wedding dress, but when evil thoughts start taking over my mind, I change out of the wedding dress.

I go into the bathroom and remain under the shower for as long as tears can't come down anymore, then I decide to go to Valeria.

There's no way I'll sleep in my house alone. I'll definitely cry myself to sleep and maybe remain unconscious till someone finds my lifeless body. I need someone to talk to, to pour my heart out to and to tell me I'm not as undesirable as I thought and Valeria is the best thing for that. 

I also need answers to her emergency and why she never showed up at the beach. 

When I hail the cab, I look back at the empty house. I should have come home with my husband that night. It shouldn't have been empty. We should have started preparing for our honeymoon. Everything was meant to be sweet as ever, not this bitter.

When I arrive at Valeria's place, the house felt deserted at first. I didn't see any workers. But I can't turn back. I have to see Valeria, so I continue walking into the house.

As I climb the stairs, I start hearing voices, and that calms my heart. At least, Valeria is at home. I know she's the only one who stays in the house with her late husband. But since he died last month, she has been the only one living here.

Which means she has a company. And that laughter is that of a man. 

My brows furrow as I continue ascending the stairs. As the voices get closer, I'm able to differentiate them. That voice isn't just that of an ordinary man.

It's my husband to be.

Spencer. And Valeria.

Not just laughing....but moaning.