1 Chapter One

" Em, he's nowhere to be found. Neither is he picking his calls or responding to texts."

Emily stood frozen at the altar. Her beautiful smile faded and her face turned pale. She looked lost in her white,satin ball dress, accessorized with a lot of glitter and shimmer. It had a twenty feet long cape that draped from her waist. The embellished dress suddenly felt heavy, and so did her heart.

" But he won't do that to me today! Right Sarah?"

She asked her best friend, who was just as terrified as she was. Sarah, trying to calm her own nervousness, gave Emily a soft smile.

" I hoped so too, but the security said they saw him take off his coat and zoom off. They said he looked disturbed and destabilized. Did you both have a fight, a quarrel? Anything that would've shifted his mood? "

" None that I can remember Sarah. I mean, we were good this morning. He was giddy and excited. I can't wrap my head around this right now ".

Emily responded. It was obvious that she could burst into tears any time soon. She could hear the chatter coming from the audience and it broke her.

" But why would a beautiful lady like her settle for a man like Giovanni? "

" I heard the groom is missing. Blogs won't hesitate to carry this! What will Steve Stanford do? That man would rather break an arm than break his ego "

Seeing the distress in Emily's eyes, Sarah placed her hand on her friend's shoulders in a comforting way and took her out of the hall, stopping at a corridor.

" Is there anyone we can get answers from? His friends? Family? There must be a way to solve this."

"No. Not at all. You forget this wedding was my father's decision not mine. I don't even know if the man I'm supposed to marry has a pet or family. "

Emily shrugged.

" So, what do we do? Your father is fuming with rage. The audience is talking. The paparazzi are making a bait off this delay. "

Sarah sounded even more worried now. A missing groom? How do you explain it?

Giovanni was a smart, cunning man. He could not be predicted.

Emily picked at her nails. Her face was flushed and the soft melody coming from the orchestra didn't make her feel any better. She felt pitiful. It was getting dark too. The world was probably against her. Her wedding had become a dark day, just like all other days. Her voice cracked.

" Dad isn't here to fix the mess he's put me in. Everyone will talk about how I failed Sarah. I'd tell the audience the wedding has been cancelled. "

" No you won't Em "

Mr Stanford interrupts the conversation between the two girls.

Emily looked up at him.

His broad chest boasted of command. So did the strides he took.

" What do you mean father? There's no groom! The man you sold me off to left me waiting on that aisle. I'm a pathetic lady! "

" You better watch how you talk to me Emily. I'm not your friend nor your age! "

Steve yelled at Emily. It would be the 5th time since the beginning of this day. Emily wished for nothing more but for the day to end already.

" I'm sorry father. But, what do we do? Everyone's waiting and their mouths aren't shut either "

Steve let out a sigh and smiled at Emily. She knew that smile. The sinister look in his eyes and how he placed his hands in his pocket.

" I got you another groom. I think you'd prefer him to Giovanni. By the time you walk back into the hall, he'd be waiting for you at the altar. Sarah, fix her up. I want her to be perfect."

" Of course "

Sarah fake smiled at him. Then gave her friend a small, convincing smile.

Emily could feel the anger rising in her. She'd been nothing but a toy to this man. She crossed her arms over her chest.

" No! I'm not getting married to some random man Father. I'm not a toy you just toss around. I have dreams and aspirations and getting married at twenty isn't part of them. "

Steve laughed softly,nodding his head from side to side like he expected her to say that, then spoke in a deep, authoritative voice.

" But you will marry him. And yes at twenty. You're young and vibrant. Not to worry, in a year it'll be over. Then you can chase your dreams. But now, you have to save the family reputation baby. Now puff up that face and walk graciously down the aisle. The guests have waited too long. "

Saying that, Steve walked out of the corridor to the entrance of the hall. There, Alex stood at the altar, carrying a powerful aura and domineering the entire space. All mouths were shut and eyes were focused at the entrance door in anticipation of the bride.

A tear escaped Emily's eyes. She hurriedly wiped it out with the back of her hand.

" He'll never change Sarah."

She looked at her best friend with intense eyes and exhaled quite harshly.

Sarah took out a makeup brush from her bag and dabbed it on Emily's face. She applied a little more gloss to her lips and adjusted her hair.

" All will be fine baby. It could be good. You'd never know. But, before your father comes back here breaking objects and bones, we need to hit that aisle okay? I promise you, it'll all be fine."

Sarah was struggling to keep her cool but she knew her friend needed calmness and reassurance which only she could give at the moment.

" I don't have a choice do I? "

Emily sniffed.

Sarah gave her a small hug and smiled, pulling away from her and pulling her by the hand.

" I doubt that."