My father, Richard Bennett, went abroad to investigate, but then mysteriously disappeared. We never heard from him again.
Out of concern that, as a young woman, I might be mistreated or misled, Robert Collins had invited me to live with the Collins family while waiting for news of my father.
I never expected that wait to stretch into three years. And in that time, I had nearly become a Collins daughter-in-law.
Just then, a bespectacled young man hurried past and accidentally bumped into Daniel, spilling coffee all over his suit.
The young man was flustered, stammering apologies.
Daniel, in high spirits after our marriage, smiled. “It’s fine.”
He turned to me. “Wait here a moment, I’ll clean this up in the restroom.”
I nodded.
But no sooner had Daniel rushed off than a group of men closed in around me.
Startled, I tried to step aside, but they lunged, seizing my arm.
I opened my mouth to call out, but one of them quickly covered it with his hand.
I recognized one of them immediately—it was Eric Collins’ bodyguard.
He made a quick call. “Mr. Collins, we’ve found Miss Bennett. We’re bringing her to the wedding venue now.”
Eric’s cold voice came through the phone: “Hurry.”