Kylan

I was not excited to know that a lady I had stooped low enough to consider as my wife decided to embarrass me.

Not just on any other day, but on this day that I had managed to pull top businessmen and presidents from all over the world.

Adjusting my glasses that sat on the bridge of my nose, I tried to hide my shame. Whispers had already begun to fill the hall, as the priest's voice came again.

Facing some girl who had rushed in with the news panicking, he asked, "What did you say?"

"The bride has gone missing. I can't find her in her room." She stuttered.

The whisperings increased even more and it pricked my skin. I did not want to be there anymore.

At that point, I knew it was time to leave and just as I made to stand, my right-hand man held me back.

With a low voice, he said, "It won't be good if you leave right now, Sir. The word will spread even further and it might cause issues for you."

"It would be even more stupid if I stayed." I held myself from raising my voice.

I had already analyzed everything and knew how terrible it was to my reputation. My chances of becoming the chairman of the family company had gone even slimmer than it was just because of the embarrassment that the Richards had caused me.

I was certainly going to deal with them, but right now, I needed to be anywhere but here.

"Take care of the whole mess, especially the media. They will not like me if I see news flying about today."

"Noted, Sir."

I left just after, the whisperings, though reduced to the barest minimum making me want to disappear into thin air.

Hearing people talk was not the problem. All my life, my actions always had people talking.

The difference this time was that I was the one getting embarrassed when it had always been the reverse. I did not like the taste of my own medicine, not at all.

I jerked the engine of my Mercedes to life the moment I stepped in, and in the next minute, I zoomed out of the churchyard.

'Katarina Richards will regret this day all the days of her life' that, I was sure of.

Few of my men had already gone looking for her, while I wandered about the city, trying to calm my angry nerves.

Who the hell did she think she was running away from me like I was the undesirable one, like her family didn't practically beg for my hand in marriage?!

This had to be the most ridiculous shit in the world.

A bitter and guttural laugh escaped my lips as the thought of being left at the alter hammered in.

I was going to kill her for making me look like a fucking fool. I was going to teach every single one of her family members a lesson that would haunt them for generations.

I took off my sunglasses as my eyes zoomed in on a woman on the side of the road waving at a car in front of me.

The driver zoomed past her and so did several others in front of me.

As I got closer, I could hear her crying for help.

"Please help me, help me please!" the woman yelled, waving furiously at the cars coming towards her.

She was wearing a wedding gown, the exact style I had chosen from the Italian most renowned designer, Milano Gomez.

The corner of my lips curved into a smirk as I halted, winding my glasses to meet her diamond-shaped face.

She sure looked finer than she did in pictures, it just amazed me that such an innocent face dared to run away from me.

Smiling ar her, "Need a ride? Hop in!" Like a Saviour, I said.

She blinked at me before rounding the car and entering the passenger seat.

I had the urge to strangle her and make her confess her reason for even daring to emberrass me but I thought against it. Letting my anger take over me was something I didn't want to take a chance with in the middle of the highway.

But what on earth was I going to do with her now?

Take her back to the wedding?

The deed had been done, and forcing things was only going to make things worse.

Snapping her head off? The thought lingered on my mind and I was so close to doing it.

She escaped after all, it would not hurt to kill her and dump her body in some lake. She would be found eventually and the police would probably think she was killed by a rival of mine. But death felt too easy. It was almost like letting her off the hook.

I wanted to punish her, play with her mind, make her believe she was going crazy and then make her take her own life with her own hands.

I reawakened the engine and continued driving. I had not made up my mind yet on what to do with her but I was definitely not taking her back to the church.

She had blown her chance to be with me already. All I wanted to do now was to make her pay for her crimes.

"Thank you so much." Her breath was heavy as she spoke, "Please do you mind driving me to the outskirts of the town?" she asked, her voice soft and polite.

"The outskirts of town?" I frowned as I glanced at her. "Is there a problem?" I looked her up and down, taking in her beauty. She was beautiful, I would admit but even that couldn't save her from my wrath.

"No, no. I just need to be away from here. My head is messed up, and I'd appreciate it if you don't ask me any questions."

"I see...can I at least know your name?"

She turned to me, the uneasiness on her face evident. "My name is K... my name is Lisa." She forced a smile.

I could see through her fake smile, and I wanted to play along.

Good thing, I never sent a picture to her family. Also, I was glad that I had blocked every agency that tried putting pictures of me on the internet.

"Nice to meet you Lisa." Her name on my tongue came out a little accusatory.

Thankfully, she didn't quite notice.

"Likewise Mr..."

"Not necessary." I said, I didn't want to have to come up with a fake name like she did. I didn't want to be like my cowardice enemy.

"Oh."

Look, I want to help you but you have to give me something. What exactly happened? Why are you trying to skip town wearing a wedding dress?" I asked, my eyes hard with anger.

Her eyes veered to look at me, scanning my face as if trying figure out whether or not I was trustworthy before proceeding.

"It's supposed to be my wedding day. I ran away because the man that is to be my husband is a tyrant, a beast even and I couldn't do it.

I couldn't marry someone I didn't love that also happened to be a monster, I'll never forgive myself if I did."

At her remark, I gulped.

"Luckily for me, I managed to escape, and I'm trying to leave this city. I know he has influence here, and his men will be looking for me soon."

'Luckily?' I murmured, "you my dear are the furthest thing from lucky."

"Did you say something?" she asked, her eyes peering into mine.

With a nod, I replied, my eyes still on the steering wheel. "Yeah, I don't think running away from here is the best thing to do right now."

"But there's no other choice," she retorted.

"That is why I'm here to help you.

I don't know you or your situation, Lisa but I have a strong feeling that I was meant to find you and help you. Considering the influence you said the "beast of your husband-to-be has," it can only put me at risk, but I'm ditching that fact because I want to help you."

"Thank you," I heard her murmur and I nodded with a smile. She was definitely guilible.

"You know running away still wearing your wedding gown will only make it easier for you to be found, right? and what if this beast has already sent his men to the train stations and airport, how will you be able to escape? You didn't think this through, did you?"

"You are right" She answered with a shaky voice, turning towards me in haste. "What do you think I should do?"

She asked, her doe eyes peering up at me.

A smirk appeared on my lips.

 "How about I take you to my place, you get dressed and tomorrow when everything must have settled, I sneak you out of the state?"

Katarina

"We are here." The stranger announced as soon as we came to a huge golden gate.

He drove into the compound immediately the gates were opened.

I didn't have the time or the energy to fully appreciate the opulence of the place. I was too busy trying to figure out my next move

I was lucky to find such a kind man who was willing to help me even though he didn't know who I was. If he hadn't picked me up when he did, I was sure that I would have been captured by Kylan's men by now.

I didn't want to think of what Kylan would have done to me if he had been the one to find me instead of this kind stranger.

"Thank you," I said to the man as he opened his car door and rounded his car to open my car door for me.

He smiled, revealing his impossibly white dentures and I smiled back at him. It was a genuine smile but it felt frozen on my face.

He waved me off and held my hands as he led me down to the front door of his place.

"Welcome back sir." A man appeared at the doorway.

"Thank you, Festus. Make arrangements for our guests. Food and a warm place to sleep."

"Of course sir," Festus said with a small bow and scurried away, disappearing into the house.

We advanced further into the mansion and I couldn't help but admire the beauty of the place. But my admiration quickly gave way to a feeling of dread. I knew I was safe now but I couldn't help but feel worried. What if somehow Kylan finds me?

I didn't want to put this kind stranger in danger and what would Kylan do to my parents now that his investment was gone?

I didn't want to think about it but I couldn't help it.

"Are you alright?" The man asked beside me.

I glanced up at him.

"I'm okay, just finally feeling the effect of running sixty miles, I guess." I chuckled nervously.

"Sixty miles? Just how much of a monster is your husband to be?" His eyes widened. For the first time, I noticed his appearance. He was handsome, the kind that was equal parts sophisticated and rough. His black hair and blue eyes were a huge contrast that fit perfectly and his jaw was a work of art.

"Ex-husband to be." I clarified. I knew there was still a chance that I would be found by Kylan but I wasn't going to jinx my escape by calling him my husband-to-be.

"Yes, ex-husband-to-be." He repeated, his tone mimicking.

"He's everything you think but worse. I don't want to talk about this." I said, uncomfortable with his questions. I knew he was trying to help but the only help he could render now was to get me out of there as fast as possible.

"Of course. Come on, I'll take you to my room. You can freshen up there till Festus finishes with your room."

"Thank you so much. I wish you would tell me your name, I don't feel comfortable not knowing it."

"Fine. It's Jerome." He said as if he was doing me a favor by telling me his name.

"Jerome..." I tested the name on my lips.

"Thank you, Jerome."

"You are welcome."

Jerome took me upstairs to a bedroom that looked like it belonged in the castle of a medieval drama.

I quickly hopped in the shower as I honestly needed to relax.

Done with showering, I put on my wedding dress as it was the only thing in the room.

Shortly after, I exited the room and went down to the living room, uncomfortable with being alone in the room of someone I didn't know. He was being a complete sweetheart and a gentleman but I didn't want to take my chances.

As soon as I got to the ground floor, I met Jerome waiting for me. He was talking to someone on the phone but that didn't stop him from taking my hands and leading me to the kitchen.

I tried to listen in on his conversation but he was speaking a language that I didn't understand. Arabic to be precise.

We both settled down on the stool and the maid made quick work of dishing out food.

"Your dress," he muttered, "I will inform Festus to get clothes for you."

"Thank you," I replied with a smile and immediately delved into the food.

I didn't realize how hungry I was until I finished my plate of pasta in less than two minutes.

"How on earth did you finish that so fast?" Jerome's voice came as a surprise to me. I didn't realize he was done with his call.

"I'm sorry. I was just hungry."

I said sheepishly.

"No, there's no need to apologize. I've just never seen a woman eat that fast. You can have as much as you want."

"Thank you, Jerome. You are a lifesaver."

A weird smirk appeared on his lips that made me uneasy but I waved it off.

"You say thank you a lot, you know that."

"I'm sorry..."

"That too... stop apologizing to me."

"I'm sorry... I mean, okay."

"So, tell me, what are your plans?"

Jerome asked as he settled down beside me.

"Well, I need to skip town as soon as possible. Leave everything behind and start over."

"How can I help?" He asked.

"If you can get me a ticket, I promise I'll pay you back with interest once I'm finally settled."

A weird look crossed his face but before I could place what it meant, it was gone.

There was a long pause from him before he spoke up again.

"Alright, I'll get you your tickets."

"Really?" I asked, almost crying with Joy.

"Of course. If you feel unsafe here, I'll help you. You can pay me back whenever you want."

Just then his phone rang, stopping me from thanking him.

He placed his palm up, halting me from speaking. He picked up his phone call and began to speak in rapid Arabic again. Shortly after, He hung up.

"Well, I've got to leave for a while, business calls. I'll be back as soon as I can and then we can talk more." He said to me.

"Oh?" I said, my voice a little disappointed.

"Yeah. Don't worry, Festus will take very good care of you."

"Oh, alright." I smiled and watched him leave.

I had no idea what was going on but I didn't feel comfortable with staying in a mansion so big without the owner in it. Plus I had this nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right. I needed to leave as soon as possible. Maybe even sooner.

Done with eating, I went back to his room and rummaged through every drawer. I found some cash that I knew would me to the next city.

I took off my wedding dress, stole a T-shirt and sweatpants that were too big for me and ran out of the house.

 I made sure that the coast was clear before disappearing from the mansion.

Kylan

"Remember Festus, no staff should be in the house until further notice. I can't have my bride be suspicious of anything." I said to Festus who was sitting beside me in my car.

"Of course sir." Festus nodded.

I had already informed him of this information before I had even brought my very lovely bride who had decided I was not worth marrying to the house. But I felt the need to hammer it in. I couldn't have her suspicious of anything.

I still wasn't completely sure what to do with her other than keep her in my mansion as my prisoner but whatever I decided on would be something that left an everlasting mark on her.

She didn't deserve anything less not after humiliating me and making a ridicule out of me among my business associates and family. She and her family would pay for making me a laughing stock and for making me lose my chance at becoming chairman of my father's company. I had my eyes on that chair for as long as I could understand and the bitch had destroyed my chances. How on earth was anyone going to trust a man who couldn't even get a woman to marry him? I know I fucking wouldn't.

Sure she was fucking beautiful and I was having a hard time not touching her. But none of that mattered to me, not when She thought I was a monster, some kind of villain. She was not exactly far from the truth but I was only a monster to people that deserved it and she did.

Maybe I was overreacting, maybe she did what she did because she was genuinely scared of me. She looked shaken when I picked her up.

The memory of the girl running into the church to announce that my bride had run away flashed in my mind and it immediately erased every doubt in my mind. I was going to make her pay for her insolence.

With my hands still gripping the steering wheel, I turned a corner and entered my street. Festus sat beside me, quiet as always. He was holding a few supplies that I had ordered him to go get for Katarina while I quickly drove to my in-laws who were still very worried about their daughter's whereabouts.

Good for them, I needed them to feel the humiliation I felt hours ago. If they couldn't keep their daughter in check, I was glad to do it for them.

Less than five minutes later, I drove into my mansion and came out of my car.

Festus walked ahead of me and opened the front door. We both marched into the house only to stop abruptly in our tracks, eyes wide with shock at the scene before us.

"What the fuck happened here?!" I barked, looking to Festus for answers even though he'd been with me since I left the house.

"I...I am not sure sir." He stuttered, walking ahead of me to inspect the scene.

I scanned the living room, anger starting to boil in my veins. The place was in complete disarray as if it had been bulldozed through by a bulldozer.

My couch was flippied over, my coffee table lay broken in half on the ground and shards of glass were scattered on the floor.

Two of my chandeliers were gone from the ceiling which I now realized were the shards of glass scattered on the floor.

I glanced up at the ceiling and found a few bullet holes.

"Find her!" I growled and headed upstairs, taking the stairs two by two.

Someone had broken into my home and I had a feeling that they had taken Katarina.

This could not be fucking happening! Nothing appeared to be missing, not that I had anything of value in this particular house. It wasn't exactly my main house. It was just one of my many houses in the city.

I got to my bedroom door, a little panicked at what I'd see in there, and pushed it open.

I went straight to my closet and pulled out a gun in case the intruders were still lurking around. Armed with a weapon, I searched the room for Katarina.

"Lisa!" I yelled out her name but couldn't find her. Where on earth was she? Had she been taken? Was this a kidnapping or was this an attempt at taking my life? It wouldn't be the first time.

I came out of my room and searched every room upstairs and still couldn't find a single sign of her.

Still unable to find her, I went back to my room, and as soon as I entered, my eyes zoomed in on a piece of paper on the dresser.

Quickly, I plucked the paper from the dresser and saw that it was a letter.

"Dear Jerome, thank you so much for rescuing me and having me in your home but I am afraid I can't stay for both your safety and mine. By the time you're reading this, I will be long gone.

I took some cash from your dresser, I promise to pay you back someday.

Thanks again."

Lisa*

"Fuck!" I yelled as I crumpled the piece of paper and threw it against the wall.

She left. How could I have been so naive?

Fuck! I cursed out again, as I ran my hands through my hair. The woman just kept slipping through my fingers.

Well, at least she escaped unscathed, at least I wanted to believe that she was long gone before the intruders came but I couldn't be sure.

Maybe they had taken her. But why? Nothing was making sense.

I needed to find her, and most importantly I needed to know who the fuck had broken into my apartment. This shit had never happened before. I was going to kill every single one of them once they were captured.

I was already halfway down the stairs investigating the situation, when I saw Festus running towards me.

"What is it Festus? Did you find her?" I asked, hopeful.

"No sir but you have to see this." He said a grim look on his face. I had never seen Festus look anything but impassive before so I already calculated that whatever he saw was bad.

Without wasting time, I took the stairs and followed Festus into the kitchen to find my cook lying unconscious on the floor with blood spilling out of her stomach.

"What happened to her?" I asked, ignoring the disarray in the kitchen.

"She appeared to have been shot, sir. She's still breathing." Festus Informed, tremor lacing his usually poised-sounding voice.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Call a fucking ambulance!" I barked, running toward the unconscious maid

Festus frantically ran to the living room to make the call while I crouched down to where my cook lay, eyes shut and face countered into a grimace while placing her head up in my hands.

 "Don't move, the doctor will be here soon, and don't die. I need to know what the fuck happened here!"