Chapter 18: The Runaway Bride I

Ivette took another step toward the door and the world outside it and her heart pounded in her chest like a drum. Her fingers shook as she clutched the bouquet, the white lilies feeling almost as suffocating as the ring on her finger. She hated lilies. She hated white. She hated her wedding dress.

This should be every woman’s happiest day, but all she felt was a sense of impending doom. Thoughts of what her life with Aaron might be like assaulted her thoughts, but she could hardly think past the church, the altar and the wedding rings.

She couldn’t picture a future with him now, even if she had practically been dreaming of it for years. It no longer had anything to do with the merger. She didn’t want to get married to him.

He was probably already waiting at the altar. She could almost imagine Aaron’s confident smile and pose while he waited. Her father would take her hand outside the door and lead her down the aisle as the sound of the organ music greeted them. Jus