The Bride He Locked Out

Chapter 1

There were 24 minutes until my wedding, and I was locked out of the bridal suite.

The hotel manager swiped the key card twice, but the lock didn't respond.

"Ms. Carter, the system says you don't have access."

I thought I must have misheard.

"I'm the bride."

Sweat began to bead on the manager's forehead.

"But the room is registered to Ms. Blake. When she checked in early this morning, she specifically changed the access settings. No one can go in without Mr. Reed's permission."

Everyone in the hallway fell silent.

Mia Carter held my wedding dress, the smile slowly fading from her face.

My veil, jewelry, wedding shoes, and bouquet were all locked inside.

In 24 minutes, the ballroom doors would open right on schedule.

And I couldn't even put on my wedding dress.

I called my fiancé, Daniel Reed.

Daniel Reed came upstairs in less than a minute.

But when he arrived, he didn't look at me first.

He went over to the door and listened. Once he was sure there was no sound from inside, he visibly relaxed.

"Olivia was up all night checking the arrangements for us. She's only just gone to bed. Go next door and get your makeup done. Let her sleep a little longer."

I stared at Daniel Reed as he stood in the doorway, blocking my way.

"All my things are in there."

"Get your makeup done first. We'll still have time. Once Olivia wakes up, I'll go in and get them for you."

I checked the time.

"Open that door in the next 30 seconds, or the wedding's off."

*****

Daniel frowned.

"Emma, don't throw a tantrum today. We've been together for 6 years. I know exactly how much you've been looking forward to this wedding. You wouldn't call it off just because you have to wait a little longer to get into a room, would you?"

He sounded so certain.

To him, our 6 years together were no longer something to cherish. They were the reason he was sure he could limit my choices.

The wedding coordinator ran over with a walkie-talkie.

"Ms. Carter, all the guests are seated. The ceremony starts in 21 minutes. Why haven't you changed yet?"

Daniel immediately motioned for the coordinator to be quiet.

"Keep your voice down. She's just fallen asleep."

The makeup artist sounded tense and frantic.

"Her hair and makeup will take at least 30 minutes, and there are 18 buttons down the back of her dress. We only have 21 minutes left. If that door stays shut, there's no way we can finish in time."

Daniel made the decision on the spot.

"Then don't style her hair. Just brush it, and go easy on the makeup."

I turned to him.

"Why should I give up having my hair done? The hotel has plenty of empty suites. Why can't Olivia sleep in one of those?"

"Because she's already asleep," he said at once. "Her heart's been bothering her. Waking her suddenly could be dangerous."

My dad stepped forward, his expression grave.

"Whose wedding is this, exactly?"

"Mr. Carter, I know Emma and I are the ones getting married today."

"Then open the door."

Mia hugged the dress to her chest, her voice almost pleading.

"Daniel, we won't go in. Just open the door a c***k so Emma can get her things. Please?"

Daniel shook his head. "No."

"The moment we open it, Olivia will wake up."

Mom's grip suddenly tightened, leaving a deep crease in the snow-white skirt.

She had been helping me with everything since 5 a.m.

And now, just to get her daughter's wedding dress back, my mother had to beg Daniel to let another woman leave her daughter's room.

18 minutes until the wedding.

The photographer spoke quietly.

"There's no time for the getting-ready photos now. Ms. Carter, we'll still need at least 8 minutes for the family portraits with your mom and dad."

Daniel answered immediately.

"Cancel the getting-ready photos. We'll take the family portraits after the wedding."

At those words, Dad went rigid.

For those photos, he had revised his toast eight or nine times and practiced it in his study every night.

Only yesterday, I had heard him rehearsing it over and over in his study, stumbling over the words.

"Emma, today isn't about giving you away..."

That speech was in the inside pocket of his suit jacket now.

I suddenly wanted to cry.

"We can't make them up later. Today's family portraits have to be taken today."

Daniel's voice turned cold, too.

"Then stop standing here wasting time."

My bridesmaid and friend, Chloe Morgan, finally lost patience. She raised her hand and pounded on the door.

"Olivia, if you're awake, open the door!"

She had only knocked twice when Daniel grabbed her wrist and pulled her away.

"Stop knocking!"

Chloe stumbled back a step, her face white with anger. "Emma's the bride!"

"She's already upset. Do you have to push her until something happens to her?"

The coordinator's walkie-talkie kept crackling with staff urging us to hurry.

"The livestream equipment is on. The emcee wants to know if the bride will be ready to enter on time."

Daniel took the walkie-talkie.

"Tell the emcee the bride's had a last-minute case of nerves. Push everything back 10 minutes."