The bride he never choose

LEFT AT THE ALTAR The church doors were already open. The music had started. "Angela," the wedding coordinator whispered with a smile. "It's time." My fingers tightened around my bouquet. This was it. The day I had dreamed about since I was a little girl. The day I would become Mrs. Ethan Cole. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to ignore the butterflies dancing wildly in my stomach. "How do I look?" I asked my father. His eyes glistened as he smiled. "Like your mother on our wedding day." A lump formed in my throat. "If Mom were here..." "She'd be the proudest woman in the room." I nodded quickly before the tears could ruin my makeup. Not today. Today was supposed to be perfect. The music swelled. The guests stood. The massive wooden doors slowly opened. Hundreds of faces turned toward me. I smiled. One step. Then another. My heels clicked softly against the polished floor as my father walked beside me. I searched for only one face. Ethan's. But... He w

The Contract The sound wasn't a gunshot. It was a camera flash. Another one followed. Then another. I turned toward the window and my heart dropped. Reporters. At least twenty of them had surrounded the car, microphones raised, cameras flashing nonstop. "Miss Angela!" "Is it true your fiancé left because you were having an affair?" "Were you pregnant with another man's child?" "Who is the man you're hiding with now?" My chest tightened. How did they find me so quickly? The car windows were tinted. They shouldn't have been able to see me. Unless... Someone had told them exactly where I was. Damian remained completely still. He didn't even glance at the reporters. Instead, he spoke to the driver. "Drive." "But, sir, they're blocking the road." "They'll move." The driver pressed the horn once. No one moved. Damian sighed. He lowered his window halfway. The reporters rushed forward. "Mr. Kingsley!" "Are you dating the abandoned bride?" "Did you know she was

His First ChoiceI couldn't breathe.My eyes stayed locked on Damian.He didn't deny it.Not once.Not even with a simple, "She's lying."A strange ache settled in my chest.Why did it hurt?I had known this man for barely two hours.He didn't owe me anything.So why did it feel like I'd been rejected all over again?His grandmother smiled as if she had achieved exactly what she wanted."What's wrong?" she asked sweetly. "Didn't he tell you?"I looked at Damian."Tell me what?"He finally spoke."My grandmother enjoys humiliating people.""Oh, don't be dramatic." She walked toward me, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor. "I'm simply giving the poor girl the truth. She deserves that much.""The truth?" I whispered.She nodded."My grandson was supposed to marry someone else this afternoon."My stomach twisted."This afternoon?""Yes."She glanced at Damian with disappointment."Everything was arranged. The guests had arrived. The contract had been prepared. Then, at the

You Lost Me"Angela... please come home."The ring in Ethan's hand sparkled under the chandelier.Three years ago, that same ring had made me cry tears of happiness.Today...It made me feel sick.No one spoke.Not Damian.Not his grandmother.Not the house staff.The entire room seemed to be holding its breath.Ethan slowly stood, his eyes never leaving mine."I know you're angry."I laughed.It wasn't a happy laugh.It was the kind that came after your heart had already broken."Angry?"I repeated."You think I'm angry?""I know I hurt you.""You humiliated me.""I know.""You abandoned me at the altar.""I'm sorry.""You blocked my number.""I'm sorry.""You sent me a message saying I was a mistake."His face went pale."I didn't mean it."I stared at him.For a long moment, I simply stared.Then I asked the one question that had been tearing me apart since I read his text."When did you stop loving me?"His lips parted.No words came out."Yesterday?"Silence."Last week?"He lowe

I Refuse to Run "Lily!" My scream echoed through the mansion. I pushed past Damian before anyone could stop me. The front door was wide open. Rain poured from the sky, soaking the marble steps. "Lily!" Nothing. The driveway was empty. No footsteps. No car. No sign that anyone had been there. It was as if she had vanished. I stood in the rain, breathing hard, my heart pounding so violently it hurt. Behind me, Damian's voice broke through the silence. "Angela." I didn't turn around. "Don't." "I need you to come inside." I laughed bitterly. "Inside?" I spun to face him. "You want me to go back inside after someone stole the only thing my mother ever left for me?" His jaw tightened. "I'll get it back." "How?" He didn't answer. "Exactly." I wiped my tears with the back of my hand. "For hours you've been telling me to trust you." "You've asked me to marry you." "You've promised to protect me." "But every answer you give leads to another secret." His eyes nev