Chapter 1: The Wedding That Never Happened

Tracy POV:

Today was meant to be the happiest day of my life, but it became the day everything fell apart.

I looked at myself in the full-length mirror. The white wedding dress fit me perfectly, holding my waist before falling gently to the floor.

A light veil covered my dark curls, and for one small moment, I believed this fairytale was finally coming true.

"You look beautiful," my best friend, Mia, said as she wiped away a happy tear.

"Noah won't be able to stop looking at you." I smiled and let out a small laugh. "I just hope I don't start crying before I even reach him."

Mia laughed too. "You're definitely going to cry. And so is he."

Noah Kingston was more than the richest man in the room. To me, he was simply Noah. He was the man who stayed awake all night helping me study for my final exams.

He always remembered I hated mushrooms and picked them off my pizza without me asking.

Whenever I worried too much, he would kiss my forehead and tell me everything would be okay. Last night, he had whispered softly, "Tomorrow, you'll finally become my wife."

Thinking about those words filled my heart with warmth. "I can't believe this is really happening," I said quietly.

Mia smiled at me. "You've waited three years for this day." I nodded. "I know." She squeezed my hand. "You deserve this."

Before I could say another word, three loud knocks echoed through the bridal suite. They didn't sound friendly or careful like the wedding planner's knock.

They were hard and serious. Mia frowned and walked to the door. When she opened it, three security officers stood outside with two police officers behind them. The room became completely silent.

"Miss Tracy Carter?" one officer asked. "Yes?" I answered. "You need to come with us."

I stared at him in shock. "What?" Another officer stepped inside. "We have some questions about a theft connected to Kingston Holdings."

I forced a nervous laugh. "There must be a mistake." He shook his head and held up a sealed evidence bag. Inside it was a silver flash drive.

"We found confidential company files in your bag." My smile faded at once. "I've never seen that before," I said quickly.

Another officer placed several papers on the table. There were bank transfers, company records, my name, my signature, and millions of dollars. Everything looked real, but none of it belonged to me.

"I didn't do this," I whispered. "I swear."

The officers looked at each other before someone else walked into the room, it was Noah. He was still wearing the black tuxedo we had picked together. Just an hour ago, I couldn't wait to marry him.

Now he stood a few steps away, looking at me like he didn't know me. His voice was low as he said, "Tracy, tell me this isn't true."

Relief rushed through me because he was giving me a chance to explain. I hurried to him. "It's not true," I said, reaching for his hands.

"I don't know where those papers came from. I didn't steal anything." But he didn't move.

"They found the files in your bag," he said. "I've never seen them before."

His eyes stayed on me. "The money was sent to an account under your name." I shook my head. "I never opened that account!"

He answered quietly, "No one can explain that except you." My heart pounded. "I didn't even know it existed!"

Whispers filled the room. Wedding guests, staff, and family were all staring at me.

Noah's mother stepped forward with hate written all over her face. "I warned you," she said.

Noah stayed silent. She looked straight at me. "I knew you only came after this family because of our money."

I shook my head. "No!

I love your son." She laughed without kindness. "Clearly not enough."

I turned back to Noah. "You know me. You know I would never do something like this."

For a second, his eyes softened. Then he picked up one of the papers. "Explain this."

I lowered my head. "I can't." He frowned. "Why not?" My voice broke. "Because someone framed me. I don't know who."

The room fell silent. I took one more step towards him. "Noah…" He looked into my eyes. "I trusted you."

Tears filled my eyes. "Then trust me now."

He let out a painful breath. "I did.

I gave you everything." I nodded through my tears. "I know."

He continued, "I was ready to spend the rest of my life with you." "So was I!" I cried.

He held up the papers. "Then why is your name on every piece of evidence?" I shouted back, "I DON'T KNOW!"

My voice echoed through the room before I whispered again, "I don't know..."

Noah slowly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, all the warmth was gone. "If this is true" he began. "It isn't," I said at once.

He looked at me one last time. "Then I never really knew you." My heart broke. "Noah" He shook his head. "I can't marry someone I can't trust."

His words hurt more than anything else. People around us gasped while someone outside started recording with a phone. Mia stepped in front of me. "She's innocent."

One officer only replied, "We'll continue our investigation."

A moment later, cold handcuffs locked around my wrists. I stared at them in shock. "No..."

I looked at Noah one last time. "Please." But he didn't move, He didn't speak, He didn't even reach for me.

The man who had promised to protect me from everything stood there as they led me away. I walked through the grand hallway in my wedding dress while everyone watched.

Some looked sorry for me, but most believed I was guilty. Outside, cameras flashed nonstop as reporters shouted, "Tracy! Did you steal from the Kingston family?"

"Were you only with Noah because of his money?"

"Do you have anything to say?"

I couldn't answer. My voice was gone.

Hours later, after endless questioning, the police let me go because there wasn't enough evidence to charge me. Not yet. I walked alone through the cold streets, holding my shoes in one hand while the pieces of my broken life stayed with me.

My wedding dress was stained, and my makeup had been washed away by my tears. Then my phone buzzed. For one foolish moment, I hoped it was Noah, it wasn't.

The message came from an unknown number. My hands shook as I read it. You were warned. Before I could think, another message appeared. If you tell Noah the truth, you'll both die.

I froze as a cold wind passed by. Someone knew exactly what had happened. Someone had planned everything. And they were not finished with me yet.