Chapter 01~ The Runaway

ALVINA

I had two problems, and both could ruin my life.

First, my parents had just agreed to marry me off to a man old enough to be my father. Second, for the past few days, a group of strangers had been stalking me, following me around like criminals waiting for the right moment to strike.

I didn’t know which was worse, being forced into a lifetime with a wrinkled old man who smelled like whiskey and blood, or ending up in the hands of people whose faces I didn’t even recognize.

Either way, my life was over.

At that point, death almost felt like the only choice left. Maybe if I killed myself, I’d save everyone the trouble of destroying me.

But no. I still loved my life.

So I ran.

I didn’t think twice, I didn’t pack a bag. I just grabbed my mother’s old shawl, stuffed a few bills into my pocket, and slipped out of the window before dawn broke. My feet were beginning to hurt from running through muddy paths, my lungs burned as hell I could feel the heat inside me, and the cold night air blew through my thin clothes. But I couldn’t get myself to stop.

Because behind me, I could already hear the footsteps thudding so close to me.

They’d found me.

“Spread out! She couldn’t have gone far!” someone yelled.

I froze behind a tree, clutching my chest to calm my breath. My pulse drummed against my ribs so hard it hurt. My vision blurred from tears and exhaustion, but my mind screamed one thing... keep running.

I darted back into the dark streets, ignoring the burning pain in my legs. Rain started to drizzle, gently at first, then pouring heavily as thunder rolled above. My hair stuck to my face, and my clothes clung to my skin.

That was when I saw a light.

At first, I thought it was a mirage, but as I got closer, I realized it was real. The tall cross above the roof was enough to tell me this was a church, and the sound of soft music echoed faintly from the doors.

I didn’t think. I just ran toward it.

I pushed the heavy doors open and slipped inside, shutting them quietly behind me. Warmth hit me instantly. I could perceive the scent of flowers, candles, and perfume. Then I froze.

Every eye turned toward me.

Dozens of guests sat in rows, dressed in elegant clothes, all staring at the dripping wet girl who had just barged in.

I blinked in confusion. I had walked into a wedding.

“Oh my God,” I whispered, stepping back slowly. My shoes squeaked against the tiled floor, sounding at every corner of the church. “I–I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

The priest paused mid-sentence, looking utterly lost. The bride stood at the altar with her perfect smile faltering. She looked bothered at my interruption, like I had interrupted the most important moment of her life.

Of course, I had.

The man beside her was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in an expensive black suit. The second he turned his gaze to look at me, that was the moment everything changed.

His eyes locked on mine. It felt so deep, cold, and intense, like we've met before or something. I felt something in my stomach twist, like there was more to that gaze than my brain could figure out. Like he'd been waiting for this moment when I'd mysteriously show up.

The silence felt twice awkward than the stares. The once silent hall was now filled with murmurs I didn't know if I should put into consideration.

"Please, shall we continue with the ceremony?" The priest voiced, drawing their attention back to the altar.

Then, suddenly, the groom smiled. A slow, unsettling smile that made the hairs on my neck stand.

Then the priest raised his hands. “We are gathered here today to witness the holy union of Mr. Ethan Kael and Miss Vivienne Hart in the sacred bond of matrimony.”

There was a brief applause that only lasted for a second. Quietly, I left the door, making myself comfortable on an empty seat. I'd look back every two seconds like my stalkers were somewhere behind that door.

The couple turned to face each other.

“Mr. Kael,” the priest said in a calm voice, “you may begin your vows.”

The groom looked at Vivienne with those eyes filled with emotions. His voice was deep, like one that commanded attention, even as his expression gave nothing away.

“Vivienne,” he began, “you are grace in a world that has forgotten how to be gentle. You’ve stood beside me from the very start, believing in me even when I doubted myself. Today, before the world, I promise to be your strength when the days are heavy and your peace when the nights are long. I vow to protect you, to listen, and to love you not as perfection, but as truth.”

A few women in the pews sighed softly. It was the kind of vow that sounded like poetry.

The priest nodded approvingly. “Miss Vivienne, your turn.”

Vivienne smiled, though her hands trembled as she held his.

“Ethan,” she said in that tiny voice that almost sounded unclear, “you walked into my life like a storm and taught me that love can be both fierce and calm. I vow to walk beside you in light and in shadow, to remind you of the man you are when the world forgets, and to love you through every season that time will bring.”

The priest beamed. “Beautiful.”

The guests clapped again. The organist played a soft chord in the background as the priest continued, “Do you, Ethan Kael, take Vivienne Hart as your lawfully wedded wife, to cherish and to hold, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?”

Ethan’s lips parted. “I—”

The door opened, not so obvious to stop the couples moment. As soon as my head turned toward the door, I felt my heart jump to my throat. Every being in me seemed to stop, and I could hear death whispering in my ears.

Their eyes scanned the room, before meeting mine. A cruel smile played on their face as they made their way to my side, settling on the chair behind me.

"You think you can hide, huh?" One of them said, chewing gum in between his words.

I kept a straight face, even though it was obviously clear how terrified I was.

"Mr. Kael?" I heard the priest call for the tenth time. It was then I noticed the groom's eyes were in my direction. "Mr. Kael?"

"I have a confession," he voiced, and everywhere grew dead silence. He looked at her apologetically. "I'm sorry, I should have told you sooner."

"Ethan, what are you talking about?" Vivienne asked under her breath.

"There was someone before you," he said. "Someone I had left in hopes to spend the rest of my life with you."

Vivienne shook her head, blinking to hold back the tears. "Please, don't. Don't do this to me, Ethan. Not here."

"She's here, watching us," he kept saying, leaving the spot he stood, and walking towards the congregation. "I didn't want this either, but I'll have to be frank with us. After all, this is a church, right?"

“Mr. Kael, what are you doing?” the priest asked, confusion crossing his face.

I could see the tears rolling down her eyes, and I could feel her pain even though I had no idea who she was. It made me hate the groom, for being stupid to break an innocent heart just for a girl who he had left a long time ago. I mean, who does that in the 21st century.

The murmur that followed was deafening.

Vivienne’s face went pale. “Ethan!” she gasped, clutching her bouquet. “What is this?”

Ethan turned toward the altar. “I can’t go on with this wedding,” he said firmly. Then, facing the stunned congregation, he raised a hand toward me. “Because this—” his eyes flicked to my trembling figure—“this is my fiancée. And she’s carrying my child.”