The bride he never married

Amara Williams stared at herself in the mirror and smiled. For the first time in months, everything was perfect. Her wedding dress hugged her body perfectly, the long train spreading across the floor behind her. Her hair was pinned into a neat, elegant style, and the diamond earrings Daniel had given her for her birthday sparkled whenever she moved. She looked like a bride. She looked happy. At least, that was what everyone thought. Tonight, she was supposed to become Mrs. Daniel Williams. Daniel Williams. Twenty-nine. Billionaire. CEO. Arrogant enough to make grown men nervous and handsome enough for women to forgive him for it. Amara had known him for almost two years. He was difficult. Controlling. Stubborn. Sometimes unbelievably cold. But he loved her. At least, she believed he did. Her phone vibrated on the dressing table. Amara glanced at it. Unknown number. She frowned. She almost ignored the call. Almost. Then something inside her made her pick it up. “Hello?” Silence. “Hello?” A woman’s breathing came through the phone. Slow. Unsteady. Then a voice whispered, “Don’t marry him.” Amara froze. Her fingers tightened around the phone. “Who is this?” “Don’t marry Daniel Williams.” “Who are you?” The woman ignored her. “Ask him where he was the night your sister died.” Amara’s heart stopped. Her smile disappeared. “My sister?” The line went dead. Amara stared at the screen. Adaeze. Her sister. Her older sister had been dead for six years. There was no reason for a stranger to mention her. None. Amara immediately called the number back. It didn’t connect. She tried again. Nothing. “Amara?” She turned quickly. Her father stood at the doorway. She hadn’t heard him enter. “Daddy.” He looked at her. Then his eyes moved to the phone in her hand. “What happened?” Amara hesitated. “Someone just called me.” “Who?” “I don’t know.” Her father walked into the room. “What did they want?” Amara studied his face. There was something strange about him. He looked nervous. Actually nervous. “Daddy…” “Yes?” “Do you remember Adaeze’s accident?” His expression changed. Only for a second. But Amara saw it. “What about it?” “Someone mentioned her.” Her father went completely still. “Who?” “I don’t know. It was an unknown number.” “What exactly did the person say?” Amara swallowed. “She said I shouldn’t marry Daniel.” Her father’s face lost colour. “And then she told me to ask Daniel where he was the night Adaeze died.” Silence. Her father looked away. “Daddy?” “You shouldn’t listen to strangers.” “That’s not what I asked.” “Amara, forget the call.” “Why?” “Because I said so.” She stared at him. Her father had never spoken to her like that. Not about Adaeze. Not about anything. Six years ago, Adaeze had left the house after an argument with their father. She never came home. The police found her car the next morning. It had crashed through the guardrail on a deserted road. The vehicle was destroyed. There was blood inside. But Adaeze’s body was never found. The police eventually declared her dead. Her father had been the one who told Amara that her sister was gone. He had held her while she cried. He had told her they needed to accept it. So why did he look afraid now? “Daddy,” Amara whispered, “was Adaeze really dead?” Her father’s jaw tightened. Before he could answer, the lights went out. The room became completely dark. Amara gasped. “Daddy?” No answer. She heard footsteps. Fast footsteps. Then the sound of something hitting the floor outside. “Daddy?” She grabbed her phone and switched on the flashlight. Her father was gone. “Daddy?” She stepped into the hallway. The entire house was strangely quiet. The wedding guests were downstairs. Music had been playing only moments ago. Now there was nothing. Not even conversation. Then she heard a scream. Amara ran. She reached the main hall and stopped. One of the security guards was lying unconscious near the staircase. A glass table had been smashed. Blood covered the marble floor. “Daniel!” She ran toward the private lounge. The door was slightly open. “Daniel?” No response. She pushed it open. Her heart nearly broke. Daniel was lying on the floor. His white shirt was covered in blood. His face was bruised. There was blood at the corner of his mouth. “Daniel!” Amara dropped beside him. She touched his face. “Daniel, wake up!” His eyes slowly opened. For a moment, he looked confused. Then he saw her. “Amara…” “Baby, what happened?” He tried to sit up but groaned in pain. “Don’t.” She supported his head. “Who did this to you?” Daniel looked toward the door. His breathing became heavier. “Where is your father?” “I don’t know.” Daniel’s eyes widened. “Amara, you need to leave.” “What?” “Now.” “I’m not leaving you here.” He grabbed her wrist. His grip was weak, but desperate. “Listen to me.” “What happened?” Daniel looked terrified. Amara had never seen him like that. Not once. Daniel was the kind of man who walked into a room and made everyone else uncomfortable. He didn’t get scared. He made other people scared. But now his hands were shaking. “Daniel…” “Your sister.” Amara stopped breathing. “What about her?” His eyes met hers. “She didn’t die.” The room seemed to spin. “What did you say?” Before Daniel could answer, footsteps echoed through the hallway. Someone was coming. Daniel’s grip tightened around her wrist. “Amara…” “Yes?” “Run.” The door behind them slowly opened. And Amara turned around. There was no one there. Only darkness. Then her father’s voice came from somewhere down the hallway. “Amara…” She stood up slowly. “Daddy?” Daniel pulled himself up against the wall. “Don’t go to him.” Amara looked between them. Her father was standing at the end of the hallway. His face was pale. His suit was stained with blood. And he was holding a gun. “Daddy?” He looked at her. Then at Daniel. And whispered, “They found us.”