001

Aurora

It was a day before my wedding, and instead of being excited, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to go horribly wrong.

I’d been trying to ignore it for days.

Every bride got nervous before her wedding, right?

That was what I kept telling myself whenever the unease crept in. But the closer tomorrow got, the harder it became to convince myself it was only nerves.

There was this feeling sitting in my chest, heavy and persistent, whispering that something would go wrong.

And lately, every little problem seemed determined to prove it right.

Which was exactly why I was standing in the middle of a designer wedding dress store, trying not to panic over the word “tear.”

“I thought it didn’t need adjustments anymore?” I asked the designer, Laura, glancing back at her.

She was crouched down behind me, a pin in her mouth as she held parts of the dress together.

She took it out before responding. “It doesn’t. There’s just a little tear, not noticeable, but I’ll get it fixed in no time.”

My heart thudded.

The last thing I needed was another problem, no matter how small.

I was about to ask why there was even a tear in the first place when the doors opened and Sierra walked in.

“Jesus, babe,” she breathed as she took me in. “You look breathtaking.”

My face flushed and I turned to her, grinning. “You think?”

“I think?” she asked incredulously. “I know, babe. Asher’s not gonna be able to take his eyes off you tomorrow.”

“That’s kinda what I’m aiming for. We don’t want him marrying the wrong woman,” I replied with a laugh, but something like unease swirled in my stomach.

She laughed alongside and was about to say something when Laura cut in. “You can take off the dress now.”

I promptly took it off with her assistance and handed it back to her before slipping back into the light blue sundress I’d worn there.

“Can you get it fixed before we leave?”

“Yeah. It won’t take much time,” she said, already moving toward the back, “make yourselves comfortable while I get to work.”

Sierra and I moved toward one of the sofas in the corner, and I pulled out a fashion magazine from a basket on the way.

The moment my butt made contact with the soft cushions, a satisfied sigh left me.

The last time I’d sat down was probably on the way here two hours ago, and legs were sore as hell.

“Did we really need a wedding? We could’ve just run off to Vegas and gotten married there instead.”

Sierra side-eyed me. “If you’re this tired already, just imagine what tomorrow’s going to look like.”

I groaned.

“Don’t remind me. I—”

I paused as movement on the television screen before us caught my eye.

A news channel was being broadcast, and something about the scene on the television snagged my attention.

A man was surrounded by reporters, and from the angle, I couldn’t see his face, but judging by the activity around him, he had to be important.

Something landed on my lap, and I looked down to see a remote.

“Since you’re suddenly so interested in what’s happening, you might as well hear it.”

I flashed her an appreciative smile as I took the remote and turned up the volume.

“—caught in yet another scandal as his most recent girlfriend was found drugged and naked outside a hotel room registered under his name.”

I hadn’t heard the beginning, but obviously it was something big.

Drugged in his room?

I didn’t know him, but that was a very sick thing to do.

“Mr. Wolfe,” another reporter’s voice stood out. “Do you have anything to say regarding the allegations?”

The surname rang a bell, but I pushed it aside, leaning forward to see more.

The camera finally panned to the man’s face, and I felt the air being knocked out of my lungs.

Because staring at the camera like he could see me from where he was…

was my fiancé.