CHAPTER 1: Where Is The Bride?

Aria’s POV

I've been standing at this door for 10 minutes now knocking, What’s taking her so long? She’s meant to be ready by now.

“Alexa?” I called out. “Are you ready?”

She didn’t answer, that was strange.

Today was her wedding to none other than Nathan Cross, the CEO of Cross Global Enterprise. My whole family has been planning this for months, down to the last detail. Reporters were invited along with celebrities and other rich businessmen. My father basically invited the whole of Manhattan to watch his favorite daughter get married to a hot shot business man.

She should have been rushing, panicking, or asking for help. I saw her this morning but that was all, she insisted on getting ready alone and now that I think about it, it’s kinda weird especially from someone like Alexa who loves being the center of attention.

I knocked again but she still did not answer.

“Alexa, we are already late.”

Still nothing, why is she not responding?

I was getting worried now, why was she not answering?

“I’m coming in now”

I pushed open the door but to my surprise the room was empty.

I stepped inside, confused. Her bed was neatly made and the makeup table was arranged with everything in place.

Her wedding dress was on the bed untouched, this was strange. The wedding is meant to start soon and she’s not even ready yet.

Something was wrong.

“Alexa?” I called out again.

I checked the bathroom and it was empty too. Where could she have gone?

I don’t think she’s meant to be anywhere, I mean her dress is here, makeup and heels too so where could she have gone for fuck sake?

“She’s probably downstairs” I muttered to myself, or maybe she went to see Nathan? But they can’t see each other till the wedding starts right?

Or she just went down early to check the cake or something.

But why would she leave her room like this?

Then my eyes caught something, it was a piece of paper placed on the dresser.

Paper? What is all this? Where is she? I stared at it for a second before opening it.

My heart was beating so loud I could hear it in my ears.

I unfolded the paper and read it, “I can’t do this” That was all it said. What was that supposed to mean?!

Alexa?! What do you mean you can’t do this?

I blinked.

Once.

Twice.

“What?” I whispered, still gripping the paper. I read it again and it said the same thing.

“I can’t do this?,” I said in disbelief.

“What do you mean you can’t do this?” I said panicking.

Just then I heard footsteps rushing towards the room.

“Aria?” my mother’s voice called out, “What’s going on? Where is Alexa?”

She stopped talking when she saw my face.

“Aria?”

I turned slowly and held out the paper.

“She’s gone, she’s not here.”

My mother took the paper from me with shaking hands and read it and then her face changed.

“No, no, no, no.”

“How? Where could she have possibly gone?” My mother panicked searching the bathroom.

“I already checked, she’s not there”

She shook her head quickly. “This is not funny.

Where is she?”

“I don’t know.”

“She can’t just leave,” my mother said. “Today is her wedding.”

I heard more footsteps approaching, this is gonna end badly.

People were gathered outside and they wanted to check why the wedding was being delayed.

“What happened?”

“Is she ready?”

“Why is everyone shouting?”

My mother held the letter tightly and rushed to shut the door quickly, she couldn’t let anyone know Alexa was missing. She only let my close family in and locked the door again.

“She’s just getting ready, you all can leave, she’ll be down soon.” My mother yelled to people outside.

“What do you mean she’s not here?” My cousin asked.

“She left,” I said.

The room exploded, and everyone was panicking. Why would Alexa just leave like that?

“That’s not possible.”

“Check the house or call her phone.”

“Maybe she stepped out to get something?”

Alexa would not leave just like that, I was getting worried at this point. I did not have the closest relationship with my sister while growing up thanks to my parents by the way but she is still my sister.

Where is my sister? How could she leave her wedding? My mind raced as a lot of theories started popping up in my head.

I stood there watching everything fall apart. The wedding we had all spent months planning and everything was about to get ruined.

My mother sat down heavily on the bed holding her head, “How could this happen? Did she not want to get married?”

“This can’t be happening,” she whispered.

Another relative tried calling Alexa but her phone started ringing under the bed covers, damn it she left her phone.

Where could she be?

Guests were already arriving, and I could hear their voices downstairs.

Music had started playing already and people would have started dancing awaiting the bride. Probably a whole crowd of people waiting for the wedding to start. How was a wedding meant to take place with no bride?

Is Nathan aware?

One second everything was fine and the next everything had just gone terribly wrong.

Then the door opened again and this time my father walked in.

The room slowly grew quiet.

He looked around, the people, my mother, and finally his gaze landed on me.

Then he spoke.

“Enough.” He spoke calmly and walked towards the bed where the wedding dress was rubbing the material. He did all this while looking at me.

I really hope he’s not gonna do what I think he’s gonna do.

Everyone stopped talking and stared at him.

“She is gone,” he said. “We cannot waste time.”

My heart dropped, what does that mean?

“We will handle this later,” he continued.

“Handle this?” my mother said, looking up at him. “Our daughter is missing.”

“She made a choice to abandon this wedding at such a time,” he replied coldly.

“Made her choice? She’s missing!” I stared at him.

“No daughter of mine will choose to disgrace me, not like this. Not by running away from her own wedding.” My father rolled his eyes.

“I made a promise to Nathan Father that I will marry off one of my daughters when the time is right for Nathan, you should know that I am a man of my word. I can’t go back on my promise.” He continued.

I stared at him in disbelief, his daughter was missing.

This didn’t feel right, his daughter was missing? How could he be so calm about this?

Guests were downstairs waiting, press and media stations were here to capture the wedding.

The wedding was supposed to start soon and either he had a plan to find and bring Alexa back or he had some kind of backup. I don't think this wedding is happening.

I felt something bad coming, like he was going to do something. Judging by the way he was looking at me I think I know what he wants to do.

My father cleared his throat and he looked at me intensely.

“The wedding must go on.” He said

“What? Alexa is not here”

“You are going to take her place,” My father replied.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, marry

Nathan?! I can’t do that.

I shook my head immediately.

“No, I’m sorry that your other daughter ran away but I can’t take her place. I can’t marry him.”

“You will marry Nathan.”