On My Wedding Morning, My Mother Called and Told Me to Run—Then I Discovered What My Fiancé Had Planned for Me

My heart nearly stopped.

I backed away from the bedroom door.

For a moment, I wanted to call out to him.

I wanted to demand an explanation.

But my father’s voice returned through the phone.

“Amelia, are you still there?”

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Then move. Now.”

I gathered the skirt of my dress, grabbed my phone and handbag, and slipped through the small kitchen door leading to the rear service stairwell.

I had used those stairs only a handful of times during the three years I’d lived in the building.

That morning, I descended them faster than I thought possible.

My dress caught on a loose metal railing.

The delicate fabric tore.

I didn’t stop.

I barely noticed.

All I could think about was reaching my father before Derek realized I was gone.

When I finally emerged into the alley, a black SUV was waiting beside the loading entrance.