The Bride I Never Wanted Novels & Stories

Now, at 26 years old, she's about to become the bride to a man she knew absolutely nothing about. “I refuse to become another casualty!” she said, standing in the living room with her parents, who were in total shock at her actions. The kind of marriage she wanted was far from what her parents desired. Bridgette wanted to marry for love, and her parents desired her to marry for status and wealth. They felt love would come later once you're married. Still holding the newspaper in her hand, Bridgette looked up at them in disbelief. “You guys put this in the paper? Without checking with me first?”

This, this chaos, this laughter, this home, it’s everything I never knew I wanted. Once, I bought a bride. Now, I live every day grateful that love can’t be bought, only found, nurtured, and kept alive. And this life, is the only deal I’ll never regret. *** THE END!

His grip was steady, no longer the iron shackle of a husband-by-contract, but the anchor of a partner. "Day one hundred and eighty," I whispered. "Not quite," Damien said, looking at the glowing burner phone in my hand. The screen flickered one last time. A message from an unknown number: *The Architect never builds a house she can't escape. See you in the Caymans, Queen.* I looked at the smoking ruins, then at the man I had married to survive. The Unwanted Bride was dead. The Harrington empire was ash. But the Vane legacy was just beginning.

"Breaking news! Bride loses her mind at billionaire wedding!" "Guess she wasn't meant for the high life. So close to marrying into money, and she snaps." Below the stage, guests in tailored suits crowded together. Some pulled out hidden cameras and started snapping photos nonstop, while others crouched in corners, clutching their heads and whispering prayers. All because, while Malcom Blair and I were exchanging vows just moments ago, I slapped him across the face, then dragged over a filthy man from the entrance who looked like a homeless drifter and kissed him in front of everyone.

I could only force down the discomfort I felt and thank them in stiff tones, even though the only thought running through my mind then was how much I wanted to be standing here with Susanna instead. Elena's father walked her down the aisle, their pace slow and measured. Diamonds adorned the snow-white wedding dress she wore, and the tiara atop her head sparkled brilliantly. I was well aware that I should be stepping forward to accept my "bride", but it was as though my feet had turned to lead, pinning me in place. All the while, my gaze was focused on a spot somewhere in the distance—in the direction of the villa where Susanna and I lived.

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.

"Look into the camera and repeat after me. Tell her you welcome the baby and will step away as my wife. Tell her you wish us happiness." I wanted to look away, but Zachary's hand forced me to look into the camera. His shoes were trampling all over the crown jewel of a gown that had been torn off its hanger. He spent hours and a mountain of effort bidding on that in an auction. "You're the best fit for a gown, no one else," he once said. Now, he was stepping on that very diamond while forcing me to give my place to his mistress. I didn't bother moving.

"That night, it should have been you. I thought you would rage, curse, and wait for me to come back. I never imagined that…" He looked up at Brad. "I'll give Tricia back to you. I'll give everything back. Just give Charlene back to me. Let's redo the bride heist, okay?" I smiled faintly. "Nicholas, the bride heist isn't child's play. In our village, if the wrong bride gets taken, that's fate. Heaven willed me to leave with Brad, so that's what I did." I took a step back and returned to Brad's side.

My fiancee, Natalie Crenshaw, has always had a phenomenal memory. She never forgets a thing. Yet, when I propose, she forgets to hold out her hand for the diamond ring. When we go to get our marriage certificate, she forgets to bring her identification papers. And on our wedding day, she forgets she's supposed to be there altogether. Why? Because she's busy saving her childhood sweetheart's wedding next door—by stepping in as the bride herself. Seeing all this, Mom suffers a heart attack. I beg Natalie to go to the hospital and explain things, but she simply links her arm with Erik Cuoco's mother, sweetly calling her "Mom", and claims that I'm nothing more than a pursuer who doesn't kn

I worked around the clock to put the finishing touches on my latest project and submit it just a week before our wedding. Over dinner, I mentioned to Jane Vance that we were working on a tight timeline and that we should get our wedding photos taken as soon as possible. Jane took a bite of the steak I'd made, looking as if she had just remembered something. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. Lucas and I got married." For a moment, I thought I'd misheard her. But she said it so casually. "I didn't really have a choice. Lucas hasn't been performing well at the lab for the past six months, and he's about to lose his job. If I marry him, Mr. Sterling will recognize Lucas as my spouse and allow him