Chapter 1

THE RUNAWAY BRIDE OF GREYFALL CITY.

THE WEDDING THAT NEVER HAPPENED.

Teresa ole had always envisioned her wedding day as the happiest occasion of her life. She thought about flowers, white orchids, lilac roses, petals floating under her feet like blessings from the universe. She thought about joy, loud laughter, her mom crying softly into a handkerchief while her dad, trying to appear firm, would show his weak point through trembling hands. She thought about love.

What she didn't imagine was the tightness in her chest, the wedding corset so tight that she could barely breathe in, and that every step closer to the altar felt like a step towards a life not of her choosing.

The Greyfall Cathedral was full. There were guests seated in rows, awaiting a performance, her performance, to be precise.

A performance she could no longer participate in.

The organ started, deep and hollow, echoing off marble floors. The air smelled of incense and old secrets. Her fiancé, Jerry Desmond stood at the altar, handsome, confident, the city's favorite philanthropist. Every woman whispered about him; every man admired him. He was powerful. Influential and Untouchable.

And she was about to marry him.

Teresa heart thudded.

Her hand tightened on the bouquet so that a petal snapped. Sweat slipped down her spine in a slow trail. She took one step down the aisle, then another.

Then she saw it.

A face In the back row.

Watching her.

Not a friend.

Not a relative.

Not someone who belonged.

A man she'd never seen before, Dark eyed, Expression unreadable. He stared at her as if he knew her, truly knew her in a way even she didn’t understand.

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

Something inside her broke.

A warning.

A whisper.

A cry.

Run.

The bouquet fell from her hand.

Gasps rippled across the cathedral.

Before anyone could move, utter a question, or stop her, Teresa lifted her dress, turned around, and ran. Not just out of the aisle. Not just out of the church. Out of her old life. And into one she had no idea waited.

THE CITY THAT HIDES ITS SECRETS

Greyfall was not kind to runaways

Rain lashed down in sheets as Teresa ran across the courtyard, the lace of her gown trailing through puddles. Her veil ripped away, flapping behind her like a ghost trying to flee from her head.

She didn't care.

Her lungs burned.

Her legs quivered.

Her mind was racing faster than her body.

She didn't stop running until she dodged into an alleyway between two old buildings-cracked bricks, graffiti, and a broken lamp flickering like a dying heartbeat.

Her breaths came in painful pulls.

What have I done?

She sank against the wall, grasping at her head.

She had left everything behind: her home, her job, her family, her whole identity.

But she couldn’t stay. Not after what she discovered three nights ago.

A discovery that changed everything.

She closed her eyes, remembering how she found the envelope hidden in Jerry Desmond's study, in a locked drawer which she had opened out of curiosity. or intuition.

Inside was a contract.

A contract with her name, TERESA OLE, written boldly on top.

A contract which in effect sold her.

She did not marry Jerry Desmond for love.

Wasn't even for companionship.

It was a transaction.

Her father owed Desmond's family a big debt: money lost in some kind of failed business deal-money her father couldn't pay back.

So, he gave something else.

Something Desmond wanted.

Her.

She felt sick.

And tonight… she was to sign her life away.

Lightning cracked across the sky.

Footsteps pounded in the distance—many footsteps.

Security guards.

Find her! Check every corner!

Her blood ran cold.

They were already searching for her.

He was looking for her.

She pushed away from the wall, her panic thick in her throat.

A hand caught her wrist.

She almost screamed before a soft voice whispered.

“Don’t. They’ll hear you.”

She looked up.

It was the man from the church.

Her heart stuttered. Who was he? Why was he here? He released her hand slowly. If you want to survive tonight, he said calmly, you have to come with me.