Chapter 1

ADALYN

A bride wasn’t supposed to run away five minutes before saying, “I do.”

But Adalyn Hart was running.

Her bare feet slapped against the marble floor as she ran through the hotel. Her wedding dress billowed behind her like a parachute. Mascara streaked down her cheeks mixed with tears.

She heard someone behind her shout her name.

“Miss Hart!”

Another voice followed.

“The ceremony is about to start!”

She ignored them. All she wanted was to get away from here as fast as possible.

The words kept replaying in her head.

“It was never about romance.”

She’d stepped out of her room a few minutes ago, her gown dragging behind her, headed toward the balcony as she needed a moment to herself before walking down the aisle. 

Walking along the quiet hallway, she passed the groomsmen’s suite when she heard his voice.

Theo Cross. Her soon to be husband.

It came from behind a half-closed door, low and familiar, mixed with the deeper voices of men she recognized as Theo’s board members. She smiled, wondering if he was as nervous as she was. 

She moved closer to the door, wanting to hear his voice before the wedding started.

Then, the next sentence cut through the air, stopping her cold.

“Marrying Adalyn secures everything we need. The merger goes through and Hart Shipping becomes part of Cross Global. The board finally gets what it wants.”

Adalyn’s smile died on her face. Her ears began to ring…drowning out the laughter of the board members. She pressed her hand against the walls for support.

“It was never about romance.” Theo continued.

The words didn’t just hurt, they literally took air from her lungs. 

Inside the room, one of the men chuckled. “And Adalyn? Does she actually think this is real romance?”

The room fell silent.

She couldn’t breathe, the hallway suddenly felt too small. 

The ringing in her ears got louder. Adalyn stepped away from the door…stepping on her gown. Panic replaced the numbness she felt. 

She turned, gathered her gown and began to run, almost running into a man in a dark suit standing in a corner. 

Tears blurred her vision as she rushed through the hotel doors. The rain hit her hard, soaking her dress within seconds…but she barely noticed. 

Guests turned to stare…some of them pulled out their phones and started recording.

Nothing mattered anymore. They could record her, she didn’t care.

She couldn’t risk staying behind another minute and becoming Mrs. Theo Cross.

She would spend the rest of her life wondering if he ever wanted her or what she could offer.

She didn’t know where she was going but she couldn’t stop. She turned towards the path leading to the beach.

“Adalyn?”

She froze.

Her father’s voice. She turned to face him.

Richard Hart stood under a black umbrella, his face filled with confusion and worry.

“What are you doing out here? The ceremony starts in ten minutes.”

She couldn’t answer. He noticed her tears.

“What happened?”

She swallowed hard.

“I can’t marry him.”

His expression changed immediately. The worry vanished from his eyes, replaced by a stern look.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I heard him. He doesn’t love or care about me.”

For just a moment, something in her father’s face flickered. 

Guilt maybe.

She waited for him to say something. To choose her for once.

“Feelings grow after marriage,” he said instead, quieter but not less firm. “This benefits both families — you knew that.”

Adalyn stared at him in disbelief. He cared more about the company than her happiness.

“I know” her voice broke. “But I thought somewhere along the line it wasn’t just about that anymore. I thought we had become more… more than that”

Silence.

“You can’t do this, Adalyn.” His voice became firm again. “You’re embarrassing this family.”

“I’m the one embarrassing us?”

She laughed bitterly.

“I’m not marrying a man who sees me as another contract.”

Richard stepped closer.

“You are being unreasonable”

“No.” Her voice shook. “I am finally seeing the truth.”

“You’re going back inside with me,” He ordered.

“No, dad.” Adalyn said firmly, fighting back tears.

Without saying another word, she turned and ran towards the beach.

Her father called after her. “Adalyn!”

She ignored him and ran without looking back. She ran until she got to the edge of the sea.

She couldn’t hold it in any longer…the hurt, the betrayal, and the disappointment all hit her at once. She fell to her knees and cried.

Not small tears.

Not quiet tears.

The kind of tears that’ll leave your chest hurting afterwards. She’d cried until there were no tears left to cry. 

The rain had stopped by now. Adalyn remained seated on the sand, her gown gathered around her… staring out at the sea, but seeing nothing.

She looked at the engagement ring on her finger. She'd stared at it so many times and imagined a happy future.

Her fingers trembled as she pulled it off. She looked at it for some time, then threw it into the sea.

It disappeared with the waves.

“So this is how it ends…” A tear slipped down her cheek.

Footsteps crunched on the sand behind her. She assumed it was her father and didn’t turn back.

It drew closer.

“Adalyn?”

She froze.

Theo.

She didn’t turn.

He stopped beside her… black hair soaked, water dripping down his face while his black tuxedo was drenched by the rain.

Neither of them spoke. The only sound between them was the waves.

Finally, Theo broke the silence.

“I knew I’d find you here. You disappeared before our wedding.”

His voice was calm. Too calm. It was the same voice he used to close million-dollar deals.

Adalyn laughed bitterly.

“You should be relieved.”

His jaw tightened.

“I don’t understand. I came because I wanted an explanation. 

“Really?” Adalyn stood up and took a step toward him.“You don’t know why I left?”

A flicker of confusion crossed Theo’s face.

“What are you talking about?” He took a step forward.

 “I heard everything.” She whispered. She stepped even closer, close enough to take in his scent of sandalwood mixed with pine. “I was outside your suite, I heard everything you said”

Theo froze. His calm expression was gone. The silence that followed was suffocating.

“Adalyn, let me explain—“ he reached out, his long fingers circling her wrist. 

“Don’t touch me!” She pulled away violently, releasing her wrist from his hold. “Explain what? 

“It’s not what you think. You only heard half a sentence. If you had just stayed—“

“I don’t want your explanations” Adalyn screamed, the pain tearing from her chest. “I won’t let you lie to me again”

“You heard me talking about the merger, but you didn’t hear why—“

BOOM!

A loud explosion shook the atmosphere.