Everyone at the Harrison estate looked at me like I was a mistake in a white dress—until the lights d.i.e.d and a masked man screamed, “On the ground! NOW!” Daniel grabbed my hand. “Sarah, don’t do anything—please.” Then a g.u.nman yanked my arm, ripping my sleeve, and something inside me clicked. I whispered, “You just made the worst decision of your life.” Three seconds later, he was down… and every eye turned to me

Three months later, Alexander proposed in my small apartment above the garage. It was simple. Private. Perfect.

I said yes — even though he had no idea who I used to be.

Meeting his family was another story.

His mother, Victoria Reed, barely disguised her contempt. His sister, Lauren Reed, specialized in subtle insults wrapped in polite smiles. His father, Charles Reed, kept his distance, watching me like I was a questionable investment.

To them, I was “the mechanic.”

The night before the wedding, my brother Ethan Carter pulled me aside. He was the only one who knew the truth about my past.

“Reed Dynamics has serious enemies,” he warned quietly. “Not the kind you ignore.”

“I’m tired of living in combat mode,” I told him. “I want something normal. Just once.”

The wedding was breathtaking. The estate glittered under golden lights. The vows were sincere. For the first time in years, I let myself believe I had finally outrun the past.

Then, during the reception, something felt off.

The waitstaff moved too rigidly.
Their eyes scanned too carefully.
Their hands hovered too close to their jackets.

I gripped Alexander’s arm. “Something’s wrong.”

Before he could answer, the lights snapped off.