THE BRIDE WHO NEVER COME BACK

“You don’t have to keep smiling like that, you know that your cheeks are shaking,” her mother said, as she tugged lightly at the edge of Arabella’s veil. “It’s your wedding, not a photo shoot.”Arabella didn’t answer as her eyes were fixed on the mirror in front of her.Everything looked perfect.The lace gown clung to her like a second skin.The pearls on her neck caught the light, and her lipstick was a soft red.The exact shade Roman had once said made her look beautiful.But inside, her stomach felt tight.It was supposed to be the most joyful day of her life."I'm just… nervous," she said finally.Her mother laughed, "Every bride is nervous, that's why you have bridesmaids and champagne”.Arabella looked at the glass on the dresser where she had almost picked it up before, but her hands were too shaky"You look gorgeous, darling," her mother said as she took a step back and smoothed Arabella's gown's bodice.She managed to say, "Thank you," in a hardly audible voice.In reality,

Just as the sun started to peek through the heavy clouds over New York City, the private plane landed.When the wheels hit the runway, Arabella didn't flinch. Besides her sat Sophie, now four, wearing a navy blue coat and holding a stuffed fox. Her curious eyes were wide."Did you once reside here?" Peeking through the window, Sophie asked.Arabella gave a small smile. “Yes, Long ago”Like a wise child who knows more than she should, Sophie nodded in agreement.Silent as they disembarked ,No cameras, Not a crowd. Elle Laurent was an unknown name. Nobody was aware that the woman exiting the aircraft was the fugitive bride who had been featured in gossip columns.A man wearing a grey coat, wire-frame glasses, and an iPad was standing at the bottom of the stairs.He said, "Miss Laurent." Greetings from New York. The car is set up by me and the security detail is already in place, and your apartment has been prepared.Arabella gave a nod. "Philip, thank you."He gave Sophie a soft smile.

The office was quiet except for the soft click of a keyboard. Arabella sat behind her desk wearing a navy dress that fit her well, and her hair was pulled back in a neat bun. Her eyes stayed on the spreadsheet in front of her as she was already working on a financial analysis for a new acquisition, even though the morning had barely started.Once, her phone vibrated."Roman Vale has filed for paternity rights" is an unknown number.She gazed at the text, and her fingers stopped on the keyboard for a moment.Then, without a word, she pushed back from her desk and stood.Her voice was calm as she called out."Philip."Her assistant entered right away with a pile of documents. "Yes?"She handed him the phone.Without saying a word. She just passed it over.When he read it, His face shifted, and his jaw was clenched; his eyes flicked up to hers."Already?" He whispered, with a thick voice full of disbelief. "He wasted no time."She opened the filing cabinet behind her without looking at