I was struggling to accept my fate. A wedding? At 23? I wasn’t ready for this. I still had so much of my bachelor life to live, so much to explore, and here I was, being shoved into a life I didn’t choose.
The worst part? No one seemed to understand—not my fiancé, not my family. In fact, they were all adamant that this wedding needed to happen as soon as possible. I couldn’t take it. There was no way I’d make it through the ceremony tomorrow. Nope, not happening. Nada. I was going to run away with Jack before the wedding. That was it. The decision was made.
But why was it so hard to make one single important decision for myself? Why couldn’t my brain just work for once? I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard someone come in.
"Alice, can you please just leave me alone for once in your goddamn life?" I snapped without turning around. "I don’t want to talk to anyone. Go away."
"Oh, come on, sissy," Alice chimed, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. "Don’t be like that. You need to get out of your room at some point. Mom sent me in with very specific instructions. I’m supposed to stay with you the whole time until Father gives you away tomorrow to your charming better half. Also, to make sure you don’t get any stupid ideas, like running away from your lovely fiancé and causing trouble."
She really knew how to get under my skin. I stood up, furious. "What kind of sister are you, sending your own flesh and blood into the lion’s den?!"
Alice shrugged with an infuriatingly calm composure. "Oh, don’t twist it. I did warn you about him, didn’t I? I told you to be careful about whose company you keep, but did you listen? Nope. So, here we are."
"Wait. When the hell did you warn me? All you said was to be careful of who I called a friend. That’s not a warning, Alice!"
Our argument was heating up when Jack slipped into the room unnoticed. He sat on the edge of my bed, clearly amused by the spectacle we were making.
Alice, as always, looked picture-perfect in a body-hugging dress that showed off every curve. Her blonde hair was styled into perfect curls, cascading down her shoulders. She was the quintessential queen bee, intimidating and flawless at 5’7” in heels.
And Jack? He was his usual god-like self, standing at 6’1” with broad shoulders that his T-shirt barely contained. His dark hair and chiseled features made him look like he belonged in a Greek myth. Jack had been my partner in crime since I was nine, despite being three years older. He knew me better than anyone.
“Bells,” Jack said casually, using his nickname for me, “are you sure you don’t want to run? We could be off the grid for a few months, easy.”
Alice snorted. “Make it a few years. Your ‘devil’ of a fiancé is so obsessed with you, I wouldn’t be surprised if he tore the world apart looking for you. He’s got guards stationed all over the mansion, you know. You’re practically under house arrest.”
I groaned. “And you think I should marry a monster who’ll make my life a living hell? A man who’ll hurt me, use me, and take away every ounce of freedom I have? The worst part is, I don’t even know when I’ll see you two again if I go through with this.”
I feigned a sniffle, forcing a single tear to slide down my cheek. My voice turned soft and pleading. It worked. Alice’s icy exterior melted as she pulled me into a hug.
After a brief moment of solidarity, the three of us sat down to strategize. An hour later, after much shouting and finger-pointing, we had a plan. Alice would figure out the best escape route. Jack would arrange a getaway car to take us to the airport. My job was to pack for both Jack and me. The Bahamas seemed like the perfect hideout—no one would suspect me there, especially since I hated beaches.
At 1 a.m., we regrouped. Alice led us through the garden, distracting the guards while Jack and I climbed the fence. My heart raced as I was certain one of the guards had spotted us, but no one followed. We slipped into the car, and I finally let myself relax. I fell asleep almost instantly.
I jolted awake when the car screeched to a halt. Jack cursed under his breath, and before I could fully register what was happening, two massive bodyguards yanked him out of the car. Another one opened my door and gestured for me to step out.
“Mr. Black requests your presence,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. I hesitated but complied, dread pooling in my stomach. They led me to a sleek black car. Everything about it screamed power and intimidation—black exterior, black leather seats, black everything. It was suffocating.
And there he was. Adam Black. My fiancé.
He looked up from his phone, his cold greenish-gray eyes locking onto mine. With a flick of his hand, the driver and the other bodyguard exited the car, leaving me alone with him. I wanted to join them. Anything to escape the dark glint in his eyes.
“So, princess,” he began, his voice low and mocking, “you thought you could leave me for some stupid guy? Oh, sorry—your bodyguard.”
His words made my blood boil. Who did he think he was to talk about Jack like that? My anger flared, but my subconscious warned me: Remember who he is. He could humiliate the president in public and still get respect from him.
He continued as if savoring my discomfort. “We’re going to Paris for our honeymoon. Pack something elegant. There’ll be parties. Oh, and as punishment for tonight’s stunt, you’ll have a new bodyguard—your personal nanny, if you will. She’ll keep you in line.”
My temper snapped. “Are you kidding me? You think I’m just going to accept this? You’re out of your mind if you think I’ll marry someone so self-centered and controlling. You’re nothing but a—”
The slap came out of nowhere, the force of it whipping my head to the side. My cheek burned, but before I could react, his hand closed around my throat.
His voice was ice. “Listen carefully, princess. You will never speak to me like that again. You’ll do as I say, or you’ll face the consequences. From now on, you don’t have a mind of your own. You belong to me.”
He loosened his grip slightly, his thumb brushing over the bruises on my cheek as if inspecting his handiwork. “Cover these up if you like. Or don’t. I don’t care if people see.”
He leaned back, satisfied, and signaled his men. “Make sure Jack learns his place,” he instructed coldly. “Bring him to me when you’re done.”
It took me a moment to process his words. Jack. They were going to hurt him. I opened my mouth to plead, but before I could, Adam shoved me out of the car and drove away, leaving me with my hired nanny—a woman who looked just as annoyed as I felt.
And just like that, my escape plan crumbled to dust.
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