The Runaway bride

Joy and merriment were all over the place, but all Linda could sense was fear. Her wedding dress looking all pretty and flowing just as she wanted it but now, it all felt like it was tight and uncomfortable because she was filled with fear and anxiety. Maxwell was waiting at the altar just as it should be, but Linda was about to do otherwise. She suddenly heard a knock on the door. It was Kara, who was Maxwell's family friend, business partner and the woman who knew too much. Linda was shocked on hearing the knock. "Linda", you don't want to keep your husband waiting, do you? Linda looked away from the door because she knew the weight of the secret she had inside her. Kara whispered into her ears, saying, "If you marry Maxwell, I'll destroy his legacy, company, and I'll make sure no child of yours ever sees the light of the day. Kara knew Linda was pregnant, and she was ready to blow the news all up and embarrass her if she dared go ahead with the wedding. Linda stared at Kara in shock and confusion. This is not how her love story should end: not in shock, not in her disappearance. But staying back could cost Maxwell everything he has built or worse. Immediately, Linda tore the veil from her head and made her way through the crowd. She was nowhere to be found at short notice. She had to do it for Maxwell's sake and that of their unborn child. Five years later, Maxwell Liam went on a business trip in a small town and bumped into a boy looking like a five-year-old, playing football with his friends. Maxwell's eyes were focused on the boy because he had a striking resemblance to him. The child smiled wildly as he played with his friends. He had dimples just as Maxwell did. The ball rolled to his feet and the little boy came running after it. He then looked again at the boy, this time, carefully and more focused. And behold, there it was!! The dimple, the gray hair. It was like looking back at the past, into his own childhood face. "Hi," the boy said. Did you see my ball? Maxwell said gently, yeah, it rolled this way. The boy then picked up the ball and looked at Maxwell curiously. "You look like me," he said. Are you an older version of me? Maybe, Maxwell said," What's your name, boy, "he asked. Eli, he answered, Eli Anthony. Anthony's name struck his heart, and before he could say anything else, he heard a voice from across the park. "Eli", a woman called out, "I've warned you times without number not to run off without telling me? On saying that? Her eyes met with those of Maxwell and for some moment, everywhere was quiet. She didn't change much though, just shedded a little weight. Instantly, everything Maxwell had buried and tried to forget, the rage, heartbreak and disappointment all came back hurting him again. After some moments of silence, Maxwell finally spoke first: Is he mine? He asked. Her eyes filled with tears and she said Yes.