4: Runaway Bride

CIARA

I could hear the murmur behind me, the sound curling around the room, rising and rising as Austin reached for my hand. But before his fingers could brush mine, I drew away, quick and sure.

“Babe, what’s wrong? Why are you acting like this?” His voice wavered, and I could see the panic flickering in his eyes, raw and real, as if he truly didn’t understand.

It was amusing, but I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I averted my gaze, letting it drift past him to where my father and Yuri sat, both of them looking lost, bewildered. 

Austin’s parents wore the same confusion, and even the guests stared, exchanging glances sharp enough for me to wonder, just for a second, if they would all pin this on me—the villainess who ruined a wonderful wedding in front of everyone.

“I’m ending things with you today.” I turned fully to Austin as I spoke, watching the color drain from his face, as if I’d reached inside him and switched something off. His mouth hung open, caught between protest and disbelief, and it was funny how his eyes searched mine, desperate to understand.

Still, something twisted inside me at the way he looked at me, a pain, deep and heavy. Maybe he thought he needed me. Maybe he even believed he could never live without me. But if he’d truly felt that way, he wouldn’t have cheated in the first place.

Did he really think his lies would last forever?

“Thank you for the six years.” My voice barely made it past my lips as I grabbed a fistful of my gown, lifting the skirt in a mad dash to get away. But Austin’s hand clamped around my wrist, his grip desperate, almost trembling.

“Babe, seriously, this isn’t funny. W-why are you suddenly acting like this?” he stammered, his voice sounding shaky and strained as his eyes watered.

With pure effort, I pulled my hand free, ignoring the way my skin tingled. I didn’t even care about the flashes of cameras or the whispers, the way everyone seemed to be recording every second.

All my attention was tunneled down to Austin. Then I leaned in, close enough that my breath touched his ear, and whispered: “Did you have fun screwing with my stepmother?”

I straightened, watching the color drain from his face that it already was. “I can’t believe you have the audacity to ask me when you’ve been cheating on me for two fucking years, with my father’s wife and my half-brother’s mother at that...”

“You fucking disgusting piece of shit.” The words trembled out of me before I turned to leave, but Yuri stepped into my path, grabbing at my arms, trying to keep me there.

“Ciara, what’s going on––”

“Don’t act like you don’t know.” My voice was flat, cold, and low as I slowly looked at my father standing off to the side, frozen, like he didn’t know what to do with himself. It was obvious that he was confused and ashamed, but that was the least of my worries right now. “If you don’t step aside right now, I swear I will announce in front of everyone how you’ve been fucking Austin.”

Yuri froze, her shock so obvious it nearly made me laugh. She then let go of me, and the second she did, I ran, the echo of my heels swallowed by the aisle, leaving behind a mess of stunned faces and scattered whispers.

I didn’t stop running, I didn’t pay attention to the hotel guests and staff that stared at me as I pushed my way outside, still clutching my wedding gown, breathing hard until my lungs burned.

By the time I reached the curb, a black car rolled to a stop right in front of me, as if it had been waiting all along.

I hesitated, frowning for half a second, because who could it possibly be? But then I heard Austin’s voice behind me, closer than I thought, and instinct took over—I yanked the handle and slipped inside, pulling the door shut just as he almost caught up. The car then lurched forward, and I twisted to watch Austin, his figure shrinking as he smacked his forehead.

I pressed my lips together, forcing myself to breathe, and finally turned to look at the front. That’s when I recognized the driver: Luis, Rowan’s secretary, the one he trusted most.

“Did your boss ask you to wait for me?” I asked, though I already knew the answer. After all, Rowan was the only one who knew about my plan to run away from the ceremony.

“Yes, miss,” Luis replied, glancing at me from the rearview mirror. “He also instructed me to take you to his house, since he figured you wouldn’t want to go anywhere his younger brother could find you.”

A chill ran through me; equal parts surprise and something colder. How did Rowan always seem to know everything? It was almost funny, but mostly it was terrifying. Now I understood exactly what Austin meant every time he said his older brother was always two steps ahead.

I bit my lip but didn’t argue because I knew letting the secretary drive me to Rowan’s house was the safest move for now. If I went back to my apartment, Austin would be there waiting. If I ran to my father’s place, I would be forced to tell him everything about Yuri’s affair, and I wasn’t ready for that. Not yet.

What I needed most right now was time, a little more room to breathe, to slow my thoughts, to prepare myself before facing my father’s pain all over again. So, when we finally pulled up in front of Rowan’s mansion, I let Luis lead me inside, my body moving but my mind trailing behind, hesitant and numb.

Austin had mentioned before that his brother lived in a mansion, not an apartment like him, but nothing he said could have prepared me for the sheer scale of this place. It was enormous, the kind of house you only ever see in movies. 

Across the trimmed lawn, a stable stretched out, horses grazing as if they belonged in a painting. This place surely rivaled their father’s estate, a stark contrast to Austin’s penthouse.

Once I was inside, my jaw dropped as I stared around, eyes tracing the soaring ceilings and the furniture that looked like it cost more than the apartments I’d ever lived in.

“We prepared a new set of clothing for you, miss. Do you want to change?” Luis’s voice broke through my thoughts, causing me to turn to him and nod. To think that Rowan had anticipated my needs felt both comforting and strange.

“When will Rowan come home?” I asked, which made Luis glance at me after giving quiet instructions to the maid at his side.

“He should be home in about a minute or so,” he answered, his hazel eyes focused on me. “Alicia will take you upstairs to change. You can tell her if you need anything: water, food, anything at all.”

“All right, thank you.” I nodded.

Alicia then turned to me with a warm smile, gesturing for me to follow as she walked towards the staircase. When we reached the second floor, and she opened the door to the guestroom, my gaze quickly fell on the paper bag from a luxurious brand, resting on the bed.

“Would you like help with your dress, ma’am?” she asked, but I shook my head.

“No, it’s fine. I can manage. Thank you..” I smiled, and she nodded before quietly stepping out of the room.

The moment I was alone, it was as if the gravity in the room doubled. I dropped to the floor, arms folded against the edge of the bed, and pressed my face into them.

All the feelings I had kept inside since last night began pouring out. I couldn’t hold them back anymore; everything, the months of planning, the wedding I had always dreamed of, the six years, and my future with Austin, was slipping through my fingers.

The reality of it all hit me in heavy, crashing waves, and it was too much to process all at once.

“Fuck, it hurts.”

Tears streamed down my face, my mascara bleeding into black rivers along my cheeks, blurring what little I could see. I hated how I felt so weak, almost hollow, as memories of Austin reeled through my mind like a film on fast-forward: the gentle words, the soft touches, the endless talks about someday.

Everything was gone in the blink of an eye, as if none of it had ever been real.

Every sweet moment, every promise, every shared laugh… It all flickered by, too vivid to forget, and too painful to hold.

“You act so strong and confident, now you’re crying pathetically?”

The familiar voice snapped me back. I instantly looked up, blinking through tears, and there was Rowan, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. His necktie was hanging loose and sloppy, his sleeves shoved up, revealing that snake tattoo winding over his forearm.

His whole posture was casual, almost mocking.

I scowled, wiping at my face, only to spot the smeared makeup on the back of my hand. “I know this is your house, but ever heard of knocking?”

He shrugged.

“I did. Not my fault that you were too busy having a meltdown to notice.” He stepped into the room and closed the door with a soft click. Before I could protest, he grabbed my arm and pulled me upright. “Stop crying. It’s getting on my nerves.”

“You think I want to be crying?” I shot back, the words coming out sharp, though I mostly felt ridiculous. For a second, I’d almost been grateful to him for helping me, stupidly forgetting that he only did it because he was getting something out of it. “You could’ve just walked away, but no, you had to barge in and make it worse.”

He snorted, like he found that funny, then reached out and brushed my wet cheeks with his thumb. The touch was unexpectedly gentle. But, with one swift motion, he pushed me backwards, making me land on the bed in a messy heap.

“What are you doing?” My voice shook as he knelt between my legs, towering over me like a predator. His expression didn’t give me any clues as to whether he was serious or just being playful—maybe both.

“I’m going to comfort you,” he said simply, his tone leaving no room for argument. “So, just shut up and let me.”