Laura's POV

"Kendrick thinks that I have gone crazy," I said, pressing the phone close to my ears. I released a heavy sigh as I slowly folded my clothes back into my backpack.

"He does not think you are crazy, Laura." Chill out. "I guess he is just worried about you, we all are," Bree said, her voice accompanied by shuffling noises coming from the background. "I mean it kind of sounds unrealistic, the fact that you saw a lady dressed in a bridal dress with a knife in her hands, that only sounds like something that can happen in the movies." Bree ranted.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes at her even though I was fully aware that she could not see me. "Oh, so telling me that I am stressed out from wedding preparations sounds realistic?" I retorted.

I heard Bree sigh over the phone. I knew she was stylishly taking Kendrick's side, and it annoyed the living hell out of me. I just really hoped someone out there would believe me.

I mean, if you think deeply about it, "Seeing a woman in a bridal dress does sort of relate to a wedding and your wedding is around the corner, so yes, hallucinations can be a symptom of stress," Bree explained.

What about the trailing footsteps? "Bree, I swear I could feel someone following me from behind, and it has been that way ever since then," I said in a serious tone.

"Maybe someone is actually trailing you. It is possible that you might have a stalker. I do not know, maybe an abusive ex or someone, or it could also be possible that all of this is just some weird ass coincidence," Bree said. I could imagine her shrugging at me.

Oh, so what you are trying to say is that someone keeps coincidentally following me? "Are you kidding me, Bree? "Can you hear yourself now?" I paused to breath out a heavy sigh. Okay, let us say that maybe the lady in a bridal dress was just my hallucination, which I solely doubt though, but let us assume that is the case. Are you trying to say someone stalking me is also a coincidence? "Come on Bree, you have to believe me." I pushed further.

I needed validation to at least confirm that I was not completely crazy and the only person I thought of convincing was Bree. I had tried telling Kendrick about it many times, but he did not buy any of it at all. Kendrick called me a liar and a joke. He said I was intentionally making things up for some weird reason. He said that to me yesterday at noon and ever since then we have not spoken.

That was because I was offended by his choice of words, whereas Kendrick, on the other hand, was waiting for me to apologize.

"I believe you babe, I do. I guess I just mean you should be careful. I mean it could literally be anyone stalking you. Maybe someone might not want the wedding between you and Kendrick to happen," Bree stated. Although that sounded almost impossible. I could not think of anyone who would want to sabotage me and Kendrick's union. I mean, so far so good we were at complete peace with basically everyone.

Also, chill out with the wedding preparations and allow me to handle most of it, alright? I will be back in town next week, and then I can handle the invitations and wedding dress. "You just take your time to rest," Bree insisted.

I nodded my head at her and spoke in a calm tone. Thank you, Bree. "How is your mother, by the way?" I asked.

"Huh?" Bree responded in a tone of confusion.

Your mother, you said she was sick. "I asked how she was feeling now," I repeated. I heard Bree mutter a cuss under her breath before saying a very long "ohhh."

"Thanks for asking Laura, my mother is a lot better now," she replied. Bree and I continued to laugh and chat about other things, but I got interrupted the moment, by a call from my mother-in-law, Alice.

"Hi, Alice." I paused to clear my throat. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, why wouldn't everything be?" Alice snapped at me. Alice and I were not exactly on good terms. She hated me for some reason unknown to me. Several times, I had tried to please her in the past, but she had concluded that she was going to despise me for the rest of my life.

Alice only came to me when she needed stuff done. She used me like a puppet, and I was glad that she needed me at least. That was the only way to stop her from hating me any further.

"Okay then. How can I help you? Do you need help with anything? "Perhaps your hair needs to be done?" I asked in a soothing tone.

I heard her mutter something to herself over the phone before proceeding to say her request. "I am having guests over the house and I have a few chores to settle. "I need you to be here immediately so you can help me out with them," Alice ordered.

I sighed slowly. I badly wanted to refuse because I was swamped with work. I had to pack some of my clothes for the hotel where I was staying, but I knew I could not refuse.

"Sure, I will be there immediately," I said, feigning excitement.

Without wasting any more time, I left the rest of my clothes with a reminder to pack them later. I scurried out of the house and hastily boarded a taxi to Alice's house.

I arrived in an hour's time due to the traffic on the road. I hastily scurried to the front door, ready to take whatever insult Alice planned to rain on me.

I delivered a small knock on the door, but to my uttermost surprise, the door knob was broken, and the door creaked open wide.

I furrowed my brows into confusion as I stepped into the apartment. I stood by the entrance, shocked at the horrific sight in front of me.

Alice's lifeless body is covered in her own pool of blood. I noticed a familiar knife stuck in her stomach.

I cover my mouth to stop myself from screaming loudly as the tears rush down my cheeks. I notice a piece of paper lying close to her.

I tilt my head to the right to properly read the content out loud.

"Game On.”

Laura's POV

Game on? What was that supposed to mean? I felt my heart race extremely fast and fear washed over me as I gripped my chest tight, trying to calm my rapid heartbeat.

I gulped a lump down my throat as tears pricked from the corner of my eyes. I bit my lower lip to hold back my tears as I stared at the red-written words. I wanted to pick up the paper, but I was afraid of ruining the evidence, so I left everything just as it was.

I fetched my phone out of my pocket and tried to dial 911's number, but my phone slipped out of my sweaty palms. I watched my phone fall flat onto the hard floor, causing the screen to shatter. I was about to bend low to pick it up when I suddenly heard shuffling noises come from the stairs.

I snapped my head up to gaze at the direction of the stairs and I gasped loudly in shock as I saw a familiar shadow run up the stairs. It was the same mysterious lady dressed in the bridal dress. It suddenly clicked to me that there was only one way to discover whether I was hallucinating or not. I needed to find out who the mysterious lady was and why she had a veil covering her face.

I abandoned my phone and began to rush towards the staircase. I could hear her footsteps growing faster as I slowly approached her. I have to admit, she was fast. I caught her rushing into Alice's room. I followed her from behind, but I was too late to catch her. Before I could grab her, she jumped right through the window.

If I could not catch her, I knew the police could. I rushed back downstairs and dialed 911, explaining the entire situation to them. I contemplated whether or not, to call Kendrick or to call him. I ended up settling with the latter because I knew it would be harder if someone else told him.

Kendrick arrived on time before the police officers. He rushed into the house and I watched his face drop at the horrific sight of his mother. Kendrick slumped to the floor in defeat and choked out a bitter cry. "Mother."

"Kendrick, I am so sorry this had to happen," I said immediately, pulling him into my arms. I wanted to mention the mysterious bride to him, but I had a feeling that would only worsen his mood, so instead I gave my full statement to the police, then they could tell Kendrick about it, but I would not want to be the one to bring it up.

"Wh-o d-id this to m-y mo-ther?" Kendrick choked out a bitter cry. My hands reached for his shoulder, I squeezed them tight, and I began to mutter soothing words to him. We watched the police officers take Alice's lifeless body from the house. They told us to leave the house so they could perform further investigations.

I drove Kendrick back to the Alberto mansion and decided to spend time with him before leaving because I knew it would hurt him if he was left alone.

Kendrick and Alice were close to each other. Alice adored Kendrick and that was why I understood why she never really liked me. It was because she wanted nothing but the best for her son.

I just do not get why someone would have killed my mother and left such a note like that? "Why would anyone do such a heartless thing to her?" Kendrick said. He shook his head in curiosity. I sighed heavily and caressed his hair gently.

Some people just do the most heartless things without having a reason to back them up. "That is why psychopaths exist." I whispered softly into his ears, but Kendrick shook his head in disagreement at my response. "No, it seemed exactly like this person had a target, I mean the note said game on which probably meant that the person was only getting started." Kendrick said.

I sighed heavily, knowing fully well that Kendrick was right. That mysterious bride was only getting started, and I had a feeling that I was her target since she was only appearing to just me and no one else. It made me afraid, from appearing at my house with a knife, to stalking me and then going as far as killing Alice. All of that was beginning to look really serious.

"What are you thinking about?" Kendrick's soft voice interrupted my thoughts. I sighed heavily for the umpteenth time and shook my head in disagreement. "Nothing at all, just random thoughts," I muttered.

"Or wait a second, did you by any chance see anybody lurking around the house? Just a glimpse? "Anything at all or was it just you?" Kendrick threw questions at me as he sat upright in curiosity.

I wanted to mention the mysterious bride. I badly wanted to, but I was unsure of Kendrick's reaction. The last thing I wanted to do was get into a serious fight with him, especially in a time like this.

"No, it was just me." I lied with a straight face.

Kendrick groaned in frustration and went back to brooding.

A few days later, Kendrick's family invited both of us to a family dinner. All of his family members were present, including his brother, Bruno. Bruno and Kendrick never really got along well, but for today, they were not on each other's necks. Maybe because the discussion was on the preparations for Alice's burial.

While we were preparing for Alice's burial, there was something else I would like to discuss. "Something important," Francis Alberto, Kendrick's father, said in a serious tone.

We do not have the luxury of time for that. Investigations are around the corner. "I need to see Detective Brooks to discuss some important stuff," Kendrick said.

Detective Brooks was Kendrick's best friend and also the detective handling Alice's case.

"It is about the wedding," Francis said, casting a glance at me.

I sat upright, and I felt anxiety wash over me as Francis' face went blank.

"I want you both to call off the wedding”

Laura's POV

I felt my heart freeze the moment Francis made mention of calling off I and Kendrick's wedding. It was too much of a sudden decision and I felt like I had been punched in the guts. Tears pricked from the corner of my eyes and I clenched my fist tight as I could feel everyone's eyes on me.

"No." I suddenly heard Kendrick say. I turned to my right to gaze at him and gasped in shock at his bold way of rejecting his father's offer.

"Listen to me Kendrick! You should not be quick to give me a response. I know exactly why I have asked you to call off the wedding, it is just for the meantime. What I mean is that the wedding should be placed on a hold while we make preparations towards your mother's burial." Francis explained.

Now, he just had a valid point. It would be such a hassle to plan both a wedding and a burial.

"My wedding with Laura will be held regardless. The burial will also be planned well. I do not see why the burial should be a barrier to stopping my wedding. Not even mum would want that." Kendrick said in a serious tone. His face was expressionless and I had a big feeling he was trying so hard to hold himself from breaking down into tears. Kendrick loved to act weak but deep down inside of him, he was just a weak baby when it came to anything that had to do with his mother.

"Stop acting selfish Kendrick. This has nothing to do with just you. Can you not be considerate for once and sacrifice something for the whole family?" Bruno, Kendrick's brother snapped at him. He rose to his feet and walked out of the room with an angry look on his face. I had a feeling his anger was more than just about calling off the wedding.

"Look, I do not care about whatever it is that you guys have planned. I and Laura will get married no matter what." With that, Kendrick rose to his feet and dashed out of the house as well.

I nodded my head in agreement. "I am sorry father but the wedding has to be held." I apologized. I rose to my feet and began to walk out of the house. I got into the large compound where Kendrick's car was parked, he was sitting comfortably with his head bent low. I felt pity for him as I slowly approached him.

Suddenly, I felt someone grab me by the wrist and pulled me backward. I turned around to gaze at the culprit, it was Bruno. He sighed heavily and arched a brow at me. "Can I talk to you for a brief moment?" He asked.

I nodded my head in agreement and followed Bruno to the small garden at the back of the house.

"Look Bruno..." I started because I had a hint he wanted to talk about calling the wedding and that was the last thing I wanted. Calling off the wedding felt like I was losing, I just could not explain why I felt that way.

"I know you want us to call off the wedding for the sake of your mother." I continued but Bruno interrupted me immediately. "No Laura, this has nothing to do with the wedding or anything of such. I have something much more important to discuss with you." Bruno said with a serious look on his face.

If it was not about the wedding then what could it possibly be about?

"Sure, go ahead and tell me about it. What is going on?" I asked, my brows furrowed at Bruno in curiosity. I noticed how his entire body fidgeted, his eyes kept darting towards different directions as if he was afraid.

"Bruno, are you okay?" I had to ask.

"I can not talk about it here Laura. Let's meet at the coffee shop a few walks away from our house. Meet me there by five and we can discuss everything." Bruno ranted.

I knew Kendrick would be mad if he heard that Bruno was inviting me out without his knowledge. "Bruno, I-I..." I tried to explain to him but he cut me off in a haste.."It is something important Laura, see you there by five." Without waiting for my response, Bruno scurried back into the house.

My curiosity got the best of me. Once it was five, I headed straight to the coffee shop to hear what Bruno had to say but surprisingly for me, two hours had passed and Bruno had not yet arrived. I was getting impatient and I had called his number several times but it kept going to voicemail.

Just as I was about to leave angrily, I got a call from Kendrick.

"Uhm hey Laura, where are you right now? I am currently freaking out! I am at the hospital! I got a call that Bruno got involved in a serious car accident." Kendrick blurted out.

My phone slipped out of my palms for a brief moment as I slowly began to process everything. Bruno? Accident? It was almost like someone was trying to stop him from telling me something important.

Without wasting any more time, I asked Kendrick to text me the address of the hospital and I boarded a taxi there right away..

I arrived at the hospital and met Bruno lying helplessly on one of the hospital stretchers while the doctors around tried to search for a free room. I stood beside Kendrick and squeezed his hands tight as we both stared at Bruno, his entire body was covered in wounds and it looked like he was bleeding everywhere.

I felt my heart shatter in pieces as Bruno slowly began to mumble faint words.

"Do not worry Bruno, you will be fine." Kendrick said in a reassuring tone.

"S-he...sh-e..." Bruno stuttered.

"Who?" I raised a brow at Bruno.

I watched him gasp for breath.

"I-I sa-w a-a bri-de an-d I-I tri-ed no-t to hi-t he-r.."

Those were Bruno's last words before I watched him shut his eyes close and accept defeat.

“He saw the mysterious Bride?!”