The Bride He Left Behind
Chapter 5
The boutique was tucked into one of the quietest corners of the city high-end, discreet, and steeped in understated luxury. From the moment Rose stepped inside with Diego, she felt a strange mixture of nerves and disbelief.
Rows of delicate ivory gowns lined the plush showroom, each one more beautiful than the last.
She could hardly believe this was her reality. She was about to marry Diego Edwards-CEO of Edwards & Holt International, the man every magazine gushed about and every woman dreamed of. And yet, as he leaned in to whisper something silly in her ear while a consultant fawned over a lace bodice, he made her feel like she was the only woman in the world.
“Try this one,” he said, holding up a satin gown with intricate beading and a sweetheart neckline. “You’ll make everyone stop breathing when you walk in.”
Rose chuckled, trying to hide her blush. “That’s not the goal, Mr. Edwards.”
He grinned. “It is for me.”
They laughed together as she was ushered into the changing room. Behind the curtain, Rose slid into the dress and turned to look at herself in the mirror. She barely recognized the woman staring back. There was elegance in her form, but also a kind of quiet strength. A survivor. A bride.
Her smile faded only slightly when her phone buzzed.
She emerged from the fitting room just as Diego was finishing a call. His expression had shifted, still composed, but serious now.
“I’m so sorry, Rose. I just got an urgent call. A board meeting has been moved up because of a deal that’s falling through. I have to go.”
Her heart dipped, but she nodded. “It’s okay. I still need to finalize some adjustments anyway.”
He kissed her forehead softly. “I’ll send the driver back for you.”
“I’ll be fine. It’s not far from home.”
He hesitated. “Text me the moment you’re done. No delays.”
She smiled. “Yes, boss.”
They both laughed
He left with his driver and two guards. Rose watched the car pull away, her hands folding quietly over the smooth fabric of her gown.
****
Hours passed.
Rose tried on three more gowns, discussed alterations with the designer, and even spent extra time selecting the right veil and accessories. By the time she was done, the sun had dipped beneath the skyline, and the staff had begun closing the boutique.
She stepped out into the cool evening breeze with her tote bag in hand. Her phone buzzed again, texts from her mother asking when she’d be home, a missed call from Abigail, and one from Diego.
Don’t forget to text me, beautiful.
She smiled and quickly replied: On my way now. Got carried away picking the perfect dress. You’ll love it.
As she walked along the sidewalk toward the busier street to hail a cab, she hummed softly to herself. Her heart was light despite the evening gloom. She had faced so much and somehow ended up in the arms of a man who wanted forever with her.
But fate had other plans.
She barely noticed the black SUV pulling up in front of her until it was too late.
The back door flew open. Two masked figures stepped out. One lunged toward her. She screamed, struggling, but a cloth was pressed tightly over her face. The sickly-sweet scent filled her lungs with chloroform.
“No! Stop! Help!” she cried, her words muffled.
Her phone clattered to the ground.
She thrashed, kicked, clawed but her limbs were weakening.
Darkness swept over her before she even hit the floor of the vehicle.
It was 12:14 a.m.
Rose's mother paced back and forth in their modest living room, wringing her hands as the wall clock ticked louder than usual.
“She should’ve been home by now,” she said aloud, though no one was there to hear her.
She’d called Rose four times with no response. Her last message had been cheerful, full of love and excitement about the gown. There had been no mention of a delay.
She picked up her phone again and dialed Abigail.
“Hello?”
“Abigail, is Rose with you? Have you seen her?”
“No, Mama. I thought she was with Diego.”
“She went for her dress fitting. She was supposed to come straight home. It’s past midnight.”
Abigail’s voice turned anxious. “Okay, I’ll call Diego. Maybe she went back to his place.”
“Please do. Something’s wrong. I can feel it.”
****
Meanwhile, Diego had just returned from his emergency board meeting. He loosened his tie, checking his messages with a tired hand.
Then he saw her reply from earlier.
On my way now. Got carried away picking the perfect dress. You’ll love it.
That had been hours ago.
He frowned and immediately dialed her number.
No answer.
He called again. Nothing.
Then he texted her: Where are you? Text me as soon as you see this.
Something twisted in his gut.
Seconds later, Abigail’s call came through.
“Abigail?”
“Diego, have you heard from Rose?”
“No. She left the boutique hours ago. Said she was on her way home.”
“She never got home. Her mom is worried. So am I.”
Diego stood up sharply, already calling his security chief on the other line.
“I need her location. Now.”
***
Far away, in an undisclosed location, Rose stirred on a hard surface.
Her head pounded. Her arms ached. She tried to move, but her wrists were tied.
A single dim bulb flickered above her.
“Where… where am I?”
A door creaked open.
Two men stood in the doorway.
"She’s awake," one said.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized this wasn’t a bad dream.
This was real.
She had been taken.
***
Back at the Edwards’ family mansion, Diego’s father, Harold Edwards, sat with a glass of bourbon, watching the late-night news. The segment was now covering the viral video of Diego’s public proposal and the media storm that followed.
He didn’t care for the tabloids, but he admired how Rose had kept her composure amidst it all.
His son was finally growing up.
He smiled softly and raised his glass to the screen.
“To becoming a man.”
At the same time, in the dim sitting room of a luxury estate across town, Kimberly Edwards sipped her wine slowly.
She smirked as Julia, her assistant, hurried to them.
“Mmm… Ma… so sorry to interrupt you but Sir Diego just called, he said Rose is missing”.
“Missing?” Julia whispered. “She was taken?.”
“Good,” Kimberly replied. “One step closer to fixing this mess.”
Julia hesitated. “Mom? Do you have a hand in this?”
Kimberly’s eyes narrowed.
“ Of course not”
“And even if I do, before Diego finds out, she’ll be too far gone to come back.”
***
Hours passed.
The city didn’t sleep, and neither did Diego.
He stood outside the police station, running a hand through his hair as his chief of security updated him.
“Last confirmed location: outside the boutique. Phone was found on the street. She never made it to a cab.”
Diego’s fists clenched.
“This is my fault. I shouldn’t have left her alone.”
“No sir,” the guard said firmly. “This wasn’t random.”
Diego’s eyes burned with rage.
“I’m going to find her. No matter what it takes.”
***
Somewhere else, in the back of a locked warehouse, Rose cried silently into the dark.
Her wrists were bruised, her heart pounding in fear.
But even in this moment of terror, her mind drifted, to her mother’s warm embrace, Abigail’s laughter, and Diego’s promise in the park.
“I’ll wait until our wedding night… because I want you to know I’m not going anywhere.”
Would he keep that promise?
Would he find her?
Would she ever wear the dress she chose today?
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she prayed into the silence.
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