Chapter 1 The New Beginning

The scent of fresh roses filled the air, their delicate petals woven into elegant arrangements that lined the grand hall of the Blue Crescent Hotel. A mild melody played from the string quartet in the corner, blending seamlessly with the gentle hum of excited whispers. The chandeliers above cast a golden glow, illuminating the cream and gold theme of the wedding decor. Everything was just as she had ever imagined.

Kimberly stood before her full-length mirror, her heart pounding in her chest. She barely recognized herself. The strapless ivory gown hugged her slender frame, the lace bodice intricately embroidered with tiny pearls. A veil of the finest tulle cascaded down her back, catching the light as she moved. Her long, dark brown curls were swept to one side, adorned with delicate crystal pins.

"This is it," she whispered to herself, her voice barely above a breath. Everything about her wedding gown was just so perfect and beautiful.

Samantha, her best friend and maid of honor, adjusted the folds of the gown. "You look like a goddess," she said.

Kimberly turned to her. "Do you think Mason will cry when he sees me?"

Samantha smirked. "If he doesn't, I will personally slap him for being an emotionless fool, girl, he will be the luckiest to wife you."

A nervous laugh bubbled from Kimberly's lips. She had dreamt of this day since she was a little girl, playing pretend weddings with her dolls. And now, here she was about to marry the love of her life. What would she ever ask for again.

Karen, her mother, stepped into the room, her eyes misty. "Oh, sweetheart, you look breathtaking my little girl is now a bride." She cupped Kimberly's face with warm hands. "Your father would have been so proud of you."

A lump formed in Kimberly's throat. Her father had passed away five years ago, leaving a void nothing could fill. "I wish he were here, mom" she whispered.

"He is," Karen replied, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "He's watching you now, and smiling."

A knock at the door interrupted them. The wedding planner, Miranda, peeked in. "We're ready, ma'am. The guests are seated, and Mason should already be at the altar, we don't want to keep the groom waiting."

Kimberly inhaled sharply. This was happening.

Samantha grabbed her bouquet, an elegant mix of white peonies and blush roses, and handed it to her. "Deep breaths. You've got this."

Kimberly nodded, gripping the bouquet as if it were an anchor. Excitement mixed with nerves as she followed her bridal party down the hall.

The moment she stepped to the entrance of the ballroom, the music changed. The first notes of Canon in D filled the air, and all heads turned toward her with smiling faces.

Kimberly barely noticed. Her gaze sought Mason at the altar. He should have been there, standing tall in his black tuxedo, waiting for her with love filled eyes.

But he wasn't.

The spot where he should have been was empty.

A murmur ran through the crowd. Confused whispers everywhere.

Kimberly's heart clenched. Maybe he was just running late? Maybe he had a last-minute issue?

She turned to Miranda, whose face had turned pale. "Where is he?" She asked

The wedding planner fumbled with her clipboard. "I,I don't know. He should be here."

A strange numbness settled over Kimberly. This had to be a mistake. Mason loved her. He wouldn't do this to her.

Kimberly couldn't hold back her tears, "No, No, he's supposed to be here, he can't do this to me, Mason loves me, we've been waiting for this day."

She turned to Samantha, but her best friend's expression was unreadable, lips pressed into a tight line. "Maybe he got stuck in traffic," Samantha said, though her voice lacked conviction.

Karen stepped beside her, gripping her hand. "Sweetheart, let's wait a few minutes. I'm sure he'll show up."

Minutes passed. The whispers grew more louder.

Kimberly's breathing became shallow. Her chest tightened. She felt like she was standing at the edge of a cliff, teetering on the brink of something dark and terrifying.

Miranda's phone rang. She answered quickly, stepping aside. Kimberly's eyes locked onto her, searching for any clue, she needed an explanation.

Then Miranda turned back, her face drained of color.

She swallowed. "Kimberly... I,I just spoke to Mason's best man."

The world slowed, the atmosphere was calm.

"He's not coming," Miranda said, her voice barely a whisper.

The words crashed into Kimberly like a violent wave, knocking the breath from her lungs.

Not coming.

Not coming.

The words echoed in her skull, sharp and cruel.

She shook her head. "No... that can't be right."

Miranda's gaze was full of pity. "I'm so sorry."

The ballroom erupted. Guests gasped. Some stood, murmuring in shock. Kimberly felt her mother's grip tighten around her hand, as if trying to keep her from collapsing.

Samantha was the first to snap. "What the hell is wrong with him? He just... decided not to show up? No call? No message? Nothing?"

Miranda hesitated. "His best man said Mason... left town last night."

Kimberly's knees buckled like she was loosing her stamina, she couldn't feel her legs anymore. Samantha caught her before she could hit the ground.

"He left?" Kimberly's voice was barely above a whisper.

Miranda nodded. "He booked a flight. No one knows where he went."

The words punched through her, knocking the air from her lungs.

How? Why?

She had spent years with this man. She had built a life around him. They had made promises.

Her vision blurred. Her hands shook.

Karen turned to Miranda. "Did he say anything? A reason?"

Miranda hesitated before answering, as if unsure whether she should say it aloud. But Kimberly needed to know.

"He left a message," she said quietly. "He said, 'Tell Kimberly I'm sorry. I can't do this anymore, she will get someone to love her.'"

A sharp, strangled sound left Kimberly's throat.

Sorry? That was all he had to say?

The guests were staring at her. Some with pity, others with shock. This was supposed to be her wedding day, the day she has long dreamt of. Instead, she was standing alone at the altar, humiliated, and abandoned.

Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

Samantha's grip tightened on her shoulders. "Kim, say the word and I'll ruin his life."

Kimberly let out a hollow laugh, one that didn't reach her eyes. "He already ruined mine."

Her mother tried to pull her into an embrace, but Kimberly stepped back. She couldn't breathe. The walls were closing in. The weight of every gaze in the room crushed her.

Then, without another word, she turned and ran.

The ballroom doors swung open as she rushed through them, her wedding gown trailing behind her. The sound of heels clicking against the marble floor echoed around her, but she didn't stop, she just kept running .

She ran past the floral archways, past the confused hotel staff, past the curious onlookers.

She burst through the doors of the hotel and into the open air. The city skyline stretched before her, indifferent to her pain.

A sob tore from her throat. She pressed a hand to her chest, as if trying to hold herself together.

This wasn't happening.

This was a nightmare.

And she didn't know how to wake up.