The Conspiracy of the Wedding

Chapter One

My fiancé invited the guy who’d terrorized me for a year to our wedding.

He sat in the corner, a creepy smirk plastered on his face. “You can’t escape me, Jennifer.”

Suddenly, a little boy ran over, grabbing my leg. “Mommy, why are you marrying another man? Don’t you love me and Daddy anymore?”

“Do you, Emily, take Daniel to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”

My mouth went dry, the words “I do” caught in my throat.

I saw him. Sitting in the corner, swirling the whiskey in his glass, a knowing look in his eyes.

Then he was walking towards me, standing below the stage. “Jennifer, do you really?”

A murmur rippled through the guests. “Who’s Jennifer? Isn’t the bride Emily?”

Some loudmouth, always gotta stir the pot, piped up, “Hey, buddy, you got the wrong wedding. Bride’s name is Emily!”

He glared, his eyes dark and cold. “I know exactly who she is. She’s the mother of my son.”

My fingers clenched, knuckles white. A kid, maybe five years old, came barreling towards me, clinging to my leg, tears streaming down his face. “Mommy, are you leaving us?”

“What the heck is going on? The bride has a kid?”

“Is this wedding even happening?”

“Bride, you leading our groom on a wild goose chase?”

I reached for Daniel, but he flinched back. “You told me you were divorced!”

Everything went blurry, like I was trapped in a nightmare.

“I can explain, please, just listen.”

Daniel’s face hardened with disgust. He ripped off his ring and tossed it on the floor. “Emily, or should I say Jennifer, you’re unbelievable.

He turned and walked away. I tried to follow, but the boy wouldn’t let go.

“Mommy, don’t you love me anymore?”

Looking down, the kid’s face was the spitting image of Mark.

Without thinking, I kicked him. “Get away from me! I’m not your mother!”

I put everything I had into it. He went flying.

Even after that, he stumbled back towards me. “Mommy, I’ll be good, please don’t leave me.”

Mark grabbed my wrist. “Jennifer, that’s enough! Whatever’s going on between us, leave the kid out of it!”

“Yeah, lady, that’s low. Even if he isn’t yours, you don’t just kick a kid.”

Even after five years, my body still trembled when I saw Mark. My breath caught in my throat.

“Just leave me alone! Why are you here? Why can’t you just let me go?”

I shoved him away, stumbling towards the door. I had to explain to Daniel.

Tell him everything.

“I’m sorry, the number you have dialed is no longer in service…”

“I’m sorry, the number you have dialed…”

A cold, automated voice.

“Jennifer, wait!”

Mark came out, holding Little Mark’s hand.

My brain shut down, and my legs took over.

I couldn’t let Mark catch me. I had to find somewhere safe.

I absolutely couldn’t let Mark catch me.

Finally back in the small apartment Daniel and I shared, I realized I was drenched in sweat, my legs weak.

I frantically called Daniel again.

Still nothing.

Wouldn’t even give me a chance to explain…

Then it hit me.

How did Mark find me?

I’d changed my whole life for five years.

I’d been so careful, so cautious. Why was he here, at my wedding?

I collapsed on the couch and passed out.

My phone buzzed, an urgent notification.

It was the building’s resident group, discussing the situation downstairs.

“What’s with the commotion downstairs?”

“No idea, sounds like someone’s looking for someone.”

“I caught a glimpse when I went to the store. Apparently, some woman dumped her husband and kid and ran off to the city to marry another guy. The ex-husband found her, crashed the wedding, and the new groom bailed right then and there.”

“Doesn’t seem like anyone in our building has gotten married recently except for the folks at apartment 1807.”

Someone @ed me.

“1807, what’s going on? All this noise is giving me a headache. If you don’t get this resolved, I’m reporting you.”

I rushed to the window. Mark and Little Mark stood below.

Little Mark was banging on a pot with a spoon, screaming “Mommy.”

A crowd had gathered, everyone eager to see the drama unfold.

Suddenly, another message popped up.

“I’m going downstairs to ask them if they’re looking for the people from 1807, and then I’ll bring them upstairs. This can’t go on.”

My blood ran cold.

I couldn’t let Mark find me.

I grabbed my bag and slipped out the back door.

Lying on the hotel bed, I finally felt safe.

Again, I tried to call Daniel.

This time, he answered.

“Is it too late to explain?”

There was a long pause. Then, a single word: “No.”

We agreed to meet at the coffee shop downstairs.

He looked terrible, worn down and exhausted.

“I didn’t marry him.”

His eyes darkened. “Are you still lying to me?

You want to make me look like a fool?

If you didn’t marry him, where did the kid come from!”

I bit my lip, a million words fighting to get out. My mind raced back six years.

Six years ago, I was a college student.

I went on a field trip with my classmates to the countryside, and got lost.

Cell reception was terrible. By nightfall, I still couldn’t reach anyone.

The mountain grew silent and dark, covering the narrow path. The bushes surrounding me swayed in the night wind.

The roar of a wild animal echoed through the wind.

Then I saw Mark.

He walked toward me, against the light. I reached out and grabbed his hand.

“I’m lost. Can you help me?”

He hesitated, then nodded, leading me off the mountain.

“These mountains are easy to get lost in, especially if you’re from out of town. You’re lucky I found you.

Otherwise, you would’ve been in real danger. Lots of wolves and mountain lions in these parts.”

He took me to his house. “It’s not safe to go out at night. You can sleep here, and I’ll take you out tomorrow.”

After hiking all day, I was exhausted. I immediately agreed.

I slept soundly that night.

The next morning, I asked Mark to take me home.

He stared at me, surprised. “You’re leaving?”

I frowned. “Yes.”

He slapped me. “You think you can just walk into my house and then leave?”

I was stunned.

“Now that you’re here, you’re not going anywhere. You can stay here.”

He grabbed my wrist and dragged me inside.

The room had no windows. The door closed, and the room was pitch black.

My eyes started to tear.

I didn’t want to relive this.

Daniel gently wiped my tears away.

His throat bobbed as he swallowed. “So, he held you captive?”

I nodded. “Yes, he held me captive.”

“Didn’t you think about calling the cops or getting help?”

I looked up, tears streaming down my face. “How could I run?

The town was surrounded by mountains.

My phone was smashed to bits.

No one there cared.

They might as well be helping Mark.

I couldn’t escape.”

Daniel closed his eyes, pulling me into a hug. Although his actions were calm, his shaking fingers betrayed his fear.

When I was first imprisoned, I tried to escape.

But there was no way I was finding my way through the mountains alone.

“Every time I was caught, he tortured me.

At first, he wouldn’t give me food. Later, he chained me to a tree in the yard.”

Daniel looked at me and asked, “Did no one help you?”

All the pent-up pain came pouring out. “He told everyone that I was his girlfriend and that I had mental problems. If he didn’t tie me up, I’d run away.

Everyone accepted it.”

“What about the child?”

Daniel hesitated before asking.

I glared, my face contorted in anger. “Of course it’s his kid!”

When I found out I was pregnant, I wanted to die.

But Mark hid all the knives and pesticides.

I begged him. “Please, let me go. I’ll give you whatever money you want.”

But he didn’t want money. He wanted the child.

Once my baby was born, he would let me leave.

“So, he eventually let you go?”

I shook my head. “No, he didn’t.”

“I escaped.

I had just given birth, and Mark assumed I didn’t have the strength to run. He opened the bedroom door.

A few hours later, he passed out drunk.

I took my chance.”

I honestly didn’t think I’d make it. As Mark said, the mountains were full of wild animals.

“I’d rather die than be chained up by Mark forever.”

For the time I was chained up, I wasn’t even treated like a dog.

“Maybe fate was on my side. I walked for three days and found my way out.

I immediately called the police, but Mark told them I was his girlfriend. The townspeople testified, and there was nothing the police could do. I was locked up for a few days, and then released.”

Daniel sighed, his voice soft. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

I looked at him. “I don’t blame you. It’s my fault I didn’t explain.”

He changed the subject. “But the kid? He’s innocent. Are you really never going to see him again?”

My mind went blank. I looked at him, shocked.