Chapter 1
His bride-to-be had stood him up.
He clenched his jaw, words echoing in his mind, foreign and infuriating, like a bitter pill he couldn't swallow.
The day had started perfectly. The sun finally broke through days of relentless rain, casting a glow on the church courtyard adorned with rows of white roses, leading up to those wide, wooden doors his mother had insisted on—the very same doors she and his father had walked through years ago.
The old cobblestone church had been polished to an unyielding shine, filled with a sweet haze of blooming flowers and candlelight that left even the bride’s beauty pale by comparison. The scent, the laughter, the hushed murmur of guests—all crafted to perfection. For once, things were in his control, his reputation flawless, his name held high.
And then the waiting began.
Guests shifted uneasily, glancing between the altar and the towering doors. Seconds stretched into minutes, and as the laughter quieted, whispers slithered through the air, questioning her absence. His heart thundered, but he waited, gritting his teeth in forced patience. She’d promised him. Her words were now empty—hollow sounds in the face of a dawning nightmare.
Then her mother, had stormed into the church like a whirlwind, clutching a letter—a farewell wrapped in betrayal. She didn’t love him, she said. She couldn’t go through with it. And as her mother’s words rang out, every lingering trace of hope slipped through his fingers, leaving a bitter chill in its place. The picture-perfect day shattered, leaving him with empty stares and mocking pity from those who’d come to witness his triumph.
For a man revered as ruthless—a powerhouse feared in the courtroom—he’d been reduced to little more than gossip fodder, his shattered pride dissected by strangers.
The humiliation seethed beneath his skin as he drove back to his office, dreading the pity in his assistant’s eyes.
As he paced his office, lost in thought, his assistant’s voice cut through his musings.
"Mr. Santos? You have a call," Lisa’s voice came muffled through the glass.
He snapped back, irritated. "Who is it?"
"It's Officer Johnson, from the police department."
"Patch him through," he replied, curiosity laced with irritation.
A beat, then a firm voice came over the line. "Mr. Santos?"
"Speaking."
"This is Officer Johnson. We’ve received a report of a missing person. I’m assuming you're aware?"
A simmering anger stirred within him, his fingers tightening on the phone. "Yes. I was there when her mother found her letter."
"We’d like you to come in tomorrow morning for a statement."
“Fine. I’ll be there by nine.”
He hung up without another word, grinding his teeth as he tossed the phone on the desk.
He barked a command for her to leave early, barely able to tolerate the sight of anyone who might remind him of his loss. How quickly fear had shifted to sympathy, and from that to contempt. The town’s most feared lawyer—left humiliated by the woman he was supposed to own, to bind to his life with vows and laws and endless promises.
He still felt the dull ache of her betrayal as he navigated his way through winding roads, the dark clouds gathering once again as though nature mocked him, amplifying the desolation seeping into his bones. A silent, screaming reminder that he’d lost control.
His thoughts drifted back to a memory of her—when he was eight, she no more than four. A petite figure with raven hair, draped in white, clutching flowers meant for his mother. She’d been so small, her innocent steps echoing off the high ceilings, her eyes glittering with a light that seemed to penetrate through time. Her purity then—untainted, untouched. And as she looked at him that day, he remembered a feeling he couldn’t name, a heat he didn’t understand.
But whatever warmth he’d once felt was long gone. Replaced by a need, raw and unyielding, to pull her back into his orbit. To remind her of what she’d torn away from him, to make her feel the burn of that betrayal as deeply as he did.
His anger gnawed at him, an old friend that had always been tempered by her presence. Now, it simmered uncontrolled, growing stronger with every moment she wasn’t there.
The fresh night air filled his lungs as he stepped out, a fleeting calm washing over him. For miles, there was nothing but the dark embrace of nature—a vast, empty solitude perfect for a retreat where no one could intrude. The tall trees loomed overhead, casting twisting shadows in the fading light, seeming almost to curl around him, as if welcoming him home. The road soon vanished into a narrow path that wound through dense underbrush, shrouding him in silence and shadow, each step deeper pulling him further into isolation.
Finally, the narrow path gave way to a clearing, revealing the silhouette of his cabin against the darkening sky. Smoke coiled up from the chimney like a faint, eerie beacon. Pulling into the garage, he felt a bittersweet ache of nostalgia as the familiar, solitary cabin rose before him.
Inside, the cabin was chilled, a stark contrast to the warmth it had once held in his memories. He shivered, rubbing his hands together, feeling the oppressive cold as he adjusted the thermostat, watching the darkness slowly retreat as heat filled the air.
The place was untouched—wooden floors, walls lined with carvings, the stone fireplace looming like a silent witness to memories both cherished and tainted. He stepped into the kitchen, moving mechanically through the motions of unpacking groceries, setting down his cat’s food bowl as she eyed him with her usual curiosity. Her amber eyes gleamed in the dim light, but tonight, he ignored her, his mind too clouded to appreciate her company.
He prepared dinner without thought, the rhythmic slicing and stirring becoming a sort of meditation, a way to drown out the restless, dark thoughts swirling within him. As he finished, the aroma of the dish was warm and inviting, but to him, it felt hollow.
He ascended the creaking stairs, food in hand, moving through the shadows until he reached his room. Shadows clung to the corners, and the dim light of his lamp cast an eerie glow over old photographs adorning the walls—pieces of the past trapped in their frames, whispers of love and promises long broken. His gaze landed on a picture of a young couple, radiating joy and innocence, cradling a newborn on his grandfather’s cabin porch.
“Some would say that was the happiest day of their lives, when their little girl was born” he murmured, tracing the edge of the frame. “They waited for that moment for so long, they weren't the only ones waiting though."
His voice trailed as his eyes moved to another photo, and then another—a series of memories that seemed so perfect.
"There was someone else who was just as eager to welcome you to their world"
If only life had gone as planned, another frame might have held a picture from today, capturing what should have been one of those perfect moments.
"Just like today."
But his gaze lingered on one photo beside the mirror—a girl with raven-black hair, her youthful face half-lost in the shadows. Her beauty had captivated him from the moment he’d seen her, the quiet gleam in her eyes, the soft curl of her lips. She’d enchanted him, bound him, unknowingly pulling him deeper into an obsession.
His footsteps stopped near the dresser eyeing the last photo next to the mirror.
"But it doesn't matter anymore, does it sweetheart?"
His gaze caught hers through the mirror
Tears streaming on her cheek her eyes flared up indignantly at his question
"Despite your insistence we did end up getting married today. Too bad the bride herself couldn't attend the ceremony."
He clicked his tongue mocking sympathy.
"Here's to many more." Clinking his glass with hers he pushed down the cloth tied around the back of her head, forcing her to take a sip of the cool liquid while he took a sip of his own
Catching her forearms, he pulled her up from the bed onto her feet and shaking legs
She shrieked but he simply caught her flailing arms folding them over her chest and swaying with her in his arms.
"Congratulations on the wedding Mrs Santos" he murmured against her lips enveloping them in a warm embrace
