chapter 1:the ran away bride

THE WRONG VOW

(Mistakenly Married to a Ruthless Billionaire)

Chapter 1: the ran away bride

"Catch her! Don't let the bride escape!"

The desperate shout echoed through the luxurious bridal boutique, startling every customer inside.

Emily Dawson looked up from the stack of gift boxes she had been arranging behind the counter. Before she could react, the glass door flew open, and a young woman in a breathtaking white wedding gown stumbled inside.

The bride looked terrified.

Her perfectly styled hair was a mess, her makeup streaked with tears, and her hands trembled uncontrollably.

She grabbed Emily's wrist.

"Please..." she whispered, barely able to breathe. "Help me."

Emily blinked in confusion.

"Are you alright?"

"They're after me."

Before Emily could ask another question, the woman quickly removed her sparkling veil and shoved it into Emily's hands.

"If they find me, my life is over."

Emily's heart pounded.

"What happened?"

"I don't have time to explain."

The bride looked toward the entrance in panic.

"Please... just tell them you haven't seen me."

Without waiting for an answer, she disappeared through the back exit of the boutique.

Emily stood frozen.

Seconds later, the front door burst open.

Several men in black suits rushed inside.

One of them flashed a security badge.

"Miss!"

He looked directly at Emily.

"Did you see a bride come in here?"

Emily hesitated.

She glanced toward the back door.

The frightened woman's words echoed in her mind.

"Please... Help me."

Emily had no idea who the woman was.

But she recognized genuine fear when she saw it.

She slowly shook her head.

"No."

The man narrowed his eyes.

"You're sure?"

"Yes."

Another guard searched the dressing rooms.

"She's not here."

The leader cursed under his breath.

"Split up!"

Within seconds, they were gone.

Emily released the breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"What on earth was that about?"

Her manager hurried over.

"Emily, stop daydreaming. Those flowers won't arrange themselves."

Emily nodded quietly.

"I'm sorry."

She returned to work, trying to forget the strange encounter.

She never imagined that one small lie...

Would change her life forever.

Across the city...

Inside Blackwood Estate...

The atmosphere was tense.

More than a thousand guests had gathered for what the media had already called "The Wedding of the Year."

Business tycoons.

Celebrities.

Politicians.

Reporters from every major television station.

Everyone had come to witness billionaire Alexander Blackwood marry Victoria Harrington.

Inside a private lounge, Alexander adjusted the cuff of his black suit.

At twenty-nine, he was already one of the youngest billionaires in the country.

Cold.

Powerful.

Untouchable.

His assistant, Ethan, rushed into the room, his face pale.

"Mr. Blackwood..."

Alexander looked up.

"What is it?"

"We can't find Miss Harrington."

Alexander remained silent.

Ethan swallowed nervously.

"She disappeared from the bridal boutique thirty minutes ago."

The room fell silent.

Alexander's icy gray eyes darkened.

"Search everywhere."

"We already are."

"No hospitals."

"No accidents."

"No ransom calls."

"It's as if she vanished."

Alexander slowly stood.

"Then find her."

"Sir..."

"The ceremony starts in forty-five minutes."

Alexander's expression remained unreadable.

"I don't care how."

"Bring her back."

Meanwhile...

Emily finally finished work and stepped outside.

She sighed with relief.

The cool afternoon breeze brushed against her face.

She checked the time.

She needed to hurry home before her stepmother found another excuse to punish her.

Just as she reached the bus stop...

Three black luxury SUVs stopped in front of her.

The doors opened simultaneously.

Several security guards stepped out.

Emily frowned.

"Can I help you?"

The men exchanged relieved smiles.

"We found her."

Emily looked behind her.

"Found who?"

"Our bride."

Before she realized what was happening, one of the women gently placed the bridal veil over her head.

"W-What are you doing?"

Another opened the limousine door.

"Miss Harrington, everyone is waiting."

Emily quickly removed the veil.

"I think you've mistaken me for someone else."

"No, Miss."

"I'm Emily."

"Not Victoria."

The guards looked at one another.

One compared her face to a photograph on his phone.

"The resemblance is unbelievable."

Another nodded.

"It's definitely her."

Emily stepped backward.

"No!"

"You don't understand!"

"I'm not getting married!"

She turned to run.

Two female bodyguards gently but firmly blocked her path.

"Please cooperate."

"I won't!"

"My family will be worried!"

One guard spoke into his earpiece.

"We've located the bride."

Emily stared in disbelief.

"I'm not your bride!"

Nobody listened.

Within moments...

She was seated inside the limousine.

The doors locked automatically.

Her heart pounded wildly.

"Please let me go."

One of the women smiled apologetically.

"Everything will be fine."

"No, it won't!"

"You've kidnapped the wrong person!"

The convoy sped toward Blackwood Estate.

Emily looked helplessly through the window as the city rushed past.

She had never felt so powerless.

Twenty minutes later...

The limousine stopped before a magnificent mansion.

The gates slowly opened.

Emily gasped.

The estate looked more like a royal palace than a home.

Servants lined both sides of the entrance.

As soon as she stepped out, dozens of people surrounded her.

"Take the bride upstairs!"

"Hurry!"

"We're running out of time!"

Emily struggled to explain.

"I'm not the bride!"

"I'm Emily Dawson!"

An elegant elderly woman approached.

Her sharp eyes carefully examined Emily's face.

For a long moment, she said nothing.

Finally, she smiled.

"She'll do."

Emily frowned.

"What?"

The woman turned to the maids.

"Prepare her."

Emily's heart skipped a beat.

"No!"

"I won't marry anyone!"

The old woman's expression hardened.

"My dear..."

"You no longer have a choice."

One hour later...

Emily stood outside the grand ballroom wearing the most beautiful wedding gown she had ever seen.

Her hands shook violently.

"This is wrong," she whispered.

A maid adjusted her veil.

"I'm sorry."

"The ceremony is about to begin."

The massive doors slowly opened.

The wedding march filled the room.

More than a thousand guests rose to their feet.

Emily could barely breathe.

At the altar stood a tall man dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit.

Alexander Blackwood.

His face was cold.

Emotionless.

Powerful.

Their eyes met for the first time.

Neither of them smiled.

Neither of them wanted this marriage.

Yet fate had already set its trap.

The officiant began the ceremony.

"Do you, Alexander Blackwood, take this woman to be your lawful wife?"

Alexander answered without hesitation.

"I do."

The officiant turned toward Emily.

"And do you..."

Emily's throat tightened.

Every instinct screamed at her to tell the truth.

But before she could speak...

The church doors burst open with a loud bang.

A desperate voice echoed across the silent ballroom.

"STOP THE WEDDING!"

Everyone turned.

A young woman in a torn wedding dress stood at the entrance, tears streaming down her face.

She pointed directly at Emily.

"That's not the bride... I'm the real Victoria Harrington!"

The bouquet slipped from Emily's trembling hands.

The entire ballroom fell into stunned silence.

To Be Continued...