THE RUNAWAY CONTRACT BRIDE

Open secret

Rose folded her arms across her chest and leaned against one leg, a slow, knowing smile spreading across her face.

"Surprised, aren't you?" she asked, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "I know your little secret. You're pregnant... and that baby isn't Williams'."

The knitting needles slipped from my fingers before I even realized I'd let go.

They hit the floor with a metallic clink that sounded far louder than it should have.

My breath caught.

I quickly looked toward the doorway, then the hallway beyond it.

There was no one, at least... not yet.

When I looked back at Rose, my pulse had already begun hammering wildly beneath my skin.

How?

How could she possibly know?

I'd been living each day terrified someone would notice, and somehow, despite all that, she herself knew all along.

"Let me guess," she continued with a smirk. "It's the man from that night, isn't it?"

"Enough, Rose." I shot to my feet, the sofa scraping loudly against the marbled floor. she laughed under her breath.

"And how exactly did you come up with that ridiculous story?" I asked, forcing my voice to stay steady. "You're making things up."

Her eyes sparkled.

"You really think I'm bluffing?"

She slipped her phone out of her handbag.

The moment I saw it, something inside me tightened.

She tapped the screen.

"I don't know what I'm going to do anymore, Maddy..."

My own voice filled the room. Weak, scared.

Every drop of warmth drained from my body, i couldn't move or even blink.

The recording continued.

Every confession I'd whispered to Maddy inside the restroom on my wedding day played back word for word.

The pregnancy, the baby's father—everything.

Rose lowered the phone only after the recording ended.

"I had been in one of the stalls that day before you two arrived," she said casually. "You two were so caught up talking that neither of you noticed."

A wave of nausea rolled through me.

Not the kind pregnancy caused, but the kind from pure fear.

"You recorded us..." I whispered.

"I did."

"That's sick."

She shrugged.

"I call it being prepared."

I stared at her, suddenly seeing the woman standing before me for exactly who she was.

She hadn't stumbled onto my secret.

She had been waiting for the perfect moment to use it.

My shoulders slowly slumped.

Pride wasn't going to save me now.

"Please..." The word tasted bitter. "Don't tell anyone."

I hated myself for saying it, for begging her, but I had no choice.

"I'm still trying to figure things out."

My eyes kept drifting toward the entrance every few seconds.

Anyone could walk in.

If anyone overheard...Everything would be over.

Rose said nothing, she just simply watched me.

The corners of her lips lifted higher the longer I stood there looking helpless.

She enjoyed this, she enjoyed seeing me crumble.

Then, without warning, she reached into her bag again.

This time she pulled out a thick gold envelope.

"Here."

I frowned.

"What is that?"

"My wedding invitation."

She pushed it toward me.

Reluctantly, I accepted it.

The card felt heavy, and xpensive.

The gold lettering shimmered beneath the light.

I frowned, it was a Wedding card?

Nobody had mentioned she was getting married.

I slowly opened it, then they stopped. My fingers froze around the paper.

Ethan Walker…. Was the groom.

The words blurred almost instantly.

A sharp ache spread through my chest, for a second, I forgot how to breathe.

Ethan, Of course.

Who else could it have been?

The man I'd once imagined spending forever with.

The man who broke my heart.

The man who slept with my step-sister on bed while still telling me he loved me.

Now they were getting married.

I forced myself to close the invitation before she could see how badly my hands were shaking.

"Congratulations," I managed.

The word scraped painfully against my throat.

Rose smiled with quiet satisfaction.

"Thank you."

She stepped closer.

"I actually have another reason for coming."

I looked at her without saying anything.

"I want you to be my chief bridesmaid."

For a moment, I wondered if I'd heard her wrong.

"What?"

"My chief bridesmaid."

I let out a short, humorless laugh.

"What happened to Emma, your friend?"

"Oh, Emma's fine."

She tilted her head.

"But I'd rather have you."

"You've lost your mind."

"Have I?"

I shook my head.

"I'm not standing beside you while you marry the man you stole from me."

The smile disappeared from her face.

"So that's your final answer?"

"Yes."

She nodded once.

Then her expression hardened.

"Fine."

She folded her arms again.

"I'll just tell everyone that you're carrying another man's child."

Every muscle in my body locked.

"You wouldn't."

"Try me."

She meant every word, and wanted me humiliated, to watch my world burn.

The room suddenly felt too small.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

"What bastard baby?"

The voice came from behind us.

My heart stopped.

Every ounce of color drained from my face.

Slowly… I turned around.

Aunt Priscilia stood at the doorway, her brows drawn together.

Seth was beside her, looking between Rose and me with obvious confusion.

And standing just behind them...

Williams.

He had probably just returned from his usual morning visit to the hospital.

His hand was still resting on the doorframe.

His eyes stayed fixed on me.

The invitation slipped from my fingers and landed softly on the floor.

No one moved, no one spoke.

The silence stretched so tightly it felt ready to snap.

I couldn't hear anything except the violent pounding of my own heartbeat.

Rose's threat echoed inside my head.

One sentence, that was all it would take.

One sentence from her...

...and the secret I'd been desperately holding onto was shattering right in front of everyone.