Chapter 1 Gone Bride.

VALERIE

My sister disappeared the day before her wedding. It was something none of us saw coming. I could still vividly remember that morning when Lily, one of the maids, came running and informed me that she was missing.

“Missing? How?” I asked with a frown on my face after she told me.

“Your Dad sent me to get her only for me to get to her room, and she was nowhere to be found. She never said she was going anywhere, and I don't remember seeing her leave the house.” Lily clasped her hands together, her urgent tone.

An alarm went off in my head. I knew what Lily was thinking, but I didn't want to believe it. “Does Dad know?”

“Yes. He has ordered the guards to search the premises and the vicinity.”

I started heading downstairs on hearing that, Lily following closely behind. I could feel the tension in the living room when we got there. Dad was seated on one of the couches with a serious look on his face as his right feet bounced up and down. Mom was seated beside him, worry lines etched on her forehead. Another one of the maids was standing by them, with a phone pressed to her right ear, trying Vanessa's number.

“It's not available.” She told them.

“Keep trying.” Dad ordered.

We took tentative steps towards them, the atmosphere felt like it was covered with a thick cloud of anxiety that could make anyone snap at any moment. Their gazes drifted to us but before anyone could utter anything, Dad's right hand man, Chris, walked into the room, drawing all our attention.

“We couldn't find her anywhere.” Chris announced. The top button of his shirt was undone, and sweat glistened on his face.

Dad rose to his feet, panicking. “Are you sure you've checked everywhere?”

“Yes, sir. We've checked everywhere in the vicinity.” Chris replied.

Dad's gaze rested on Mom. “So, she ran away? A day to her wedding?” He asked, a vein in his neck prominent.

Mom stood up, shaking her head. “Let's not jump into conclusions, Honey. We don't know what happened. You need to calm down.”

Dad's jaw tightened as he narrowed his eyes at Mom. “Calm down? You're telling me to calm down? When you know what is at stake if the wedding doesn't happen tomorrow?”

“Of course I know what is at stake, but panicking wouldn't change anything, would it?” Her voice was slightly raised. She paused, and when she spoke again her voice was calmer. “Please, calm down. At least, think about your health. We don't want your blood pressure going up again.”

“Your daughter should have thought about that before she ran off the day before her wedding.” Dad retorted but he sat back down because he knew Mom was right.

“Like I said, let's not jump into conclusions. She was never against the wedding so why would she run away. It's not like we're forcing her into it. She liked him. They were in a relationship.” Mom tried to make him reason with her.

Mom was right. Vanessa was very excited about the wedding. She almost never stopped talking about it. Yes, it was an arranged marriage but they were in love with each other. They wanted it. So, I didn't see any reason why she'd disappear before her wedding.

“What if she never said anything because she was planning this?” Dad asked.

Even if there’s a lot at stake if the wedding doesn't happen, shouldn't Dad be more concerned about her whereabouts? What if she isn't safe? I wondered.

Mom sighed. It seemed like Dad was already convinced that she ran away, no matter what she said. She turned to me. “Valerie. Do you know where your sister is? Did she tell you anything? Or did you guys plan this together?”

My eyebrows furrowed as I wrapped my arms around myself. “What? No! Why would you even think that?”

“Well, you guys used to plan things and trick us when you were kids.”

“That was when we were kids, Mom. We're adults now.” I sighed. “I don't know where she is. She didn't tell me anything.”

Gone were the days we were close and told each other everything. I was almost totally oblivious to anything going on in her life now.

“I think our best bet is to contact all her friends and check out places that she usually frequents.” Chris suggested.

“Okay, do that. Valerie, help him with that.”

I didn't know most of her friends but I agreed anyway. “Okay, Dad.”

Several hours passed and it was evening already. The wedding was just a few hours away, and we were none the wiser about Vanessa's whereabouts. We had checked in on her best friend, Lola, who seemed totally oblivious to her whereabouts. Lola even took us to Vanessa's favorite spots where she had thought she could be, but we couldn't find her anywhere.

My dad was losing it with each hour that passed, bringing us closer to the D-day.

I went into Vanessa's room, hoping to find something– anything that could give us a clue to where she might be, but nothing seemed out of place.

Her room was bigger than mine, and had always been. Almost everything in sight was pink. The vanity light still glowed faintly, as if Vanessa had only just left. A half-open perfume bottle lay on its side, its floral scent clinging stubbornly to the air.

Some of her clothes were sprawled on the bed, and her room was a little disorganized as it usually was. It even looked like she had only prepared for a girls’ day out or something and left. I walked into her walk-in closet, and I stared at her wedding dress on a mannequin, standing there in all its glory.

It was strapless, long and its delicate silk and lace material looked like it was made for an angel. The bodice hugged tight with delicate embroidery, and a plunging neckline. The skirt flowed out flawlessly, diamonds that beautified the dress sparkling in the light. It was beautiful, exquisite, but it wasn't my style. I teared my gaze from the dress, and scanned her closest. It was as loaded as it usually was, but I could notice a few of her favourite things missing.

I walked out of her closest and went straight to her vanity. One of the drawers was slightly opened, I pulled it open to see a note:

I'm sorry but I'm not ready to be tied down to a man.

Dad was right. She ran off. He'd be furious.

What could have made her do that? I thought she loved him. I thought she was over the moon about marrying him. I guess I was wrong. What was going to happen now?

A moment later, I was in the living room with my parents, having shown them what I saw. Dad stared at the note like it would magically show us where she was. Mom pressed her lips together, twisting her wedding band round and round as if it could rewind time.

“I was right. She ran off.” He paused, as if he was trying to let the information sink in. “She chose to disappear even though she knows what is at stake.” He yelled, his hands clenched in fists. If this was a cartoon, his eyes would be red, and steam would be coming out of his ears.

Mom didn't say anything to that. She had nothing to say. I bet she could never have expected this to happen.

Dad continued. “She knows that the Castillos aren't people to be messed with. We already signed the deal.”

I cleared my throat. “I'm sure she must have had a good reason for doing this.” I don't know why I tried to defend her.

“No! She was just being selfish!” Dad glared at me.

Mom's voice was low when she spoke. “What are we going to do now?”

“Unless you have a billion dollars to pay the Castillos, then that wedding has to happen tomorrow. Even if it means we have to go to the ends of the earth to make it happen.”

“A billion dollars?” Mom gasped. “How? Why?”

“I suggested it when we were negotiating the terms of the deal, in case they back out. I didn't know that I was shooting myself in the leg.” Dad groaned.

“Oh, God!” Mom put her face in her hands, feeling devastated.

I knew that the marriage between our families was a business deal but I didn't know it was worth that much. A billion dollar contract was signed for this wedding, and the bride was missing. As far as I knew, we didn't have a billion dollars to give. Our family business has been struggling lately and this marriage deal was what Dad was banking on to get things back to how it used to be. But Vanessa has disappeared. Chris and his guys were still looking for her but I doubt they'd be able to find her. At least, not in time for the wedding tomorrow.

Silence engulfed the room as everyone got absorbed in their own thoughts. I could feel the dread. I didn't know much about the Castillos but everyone knew they were the most influential family in California and their influence stretched beyond the confines of the state; and that they weren't people to be messed with.

After what felt like ages, Mom shattered the silence. “I have an idea.”

We looked at her, hopeful. “What?”

“What if Valerie marries him instead?”

My heart felt like it was about to jump out of my chest. “What?”