Chapter 1

My brother told me the wedding limo had broken down on the causeway.

“Stay inside, Emma. We'll get help.”

Mom and Dad left with him. My clutch, with my phone, went with Mom because she'd promised to hold it while I adjusted my dress.

The air-conditioning stopped. Sun baked through the windows. When I finally tried to get out, the release didn't work.

It was a vintage custom stretch limo, with a divider separating me from the front. I shouted until my throat hurt. The driver was gone.

I don't know how long I was inside. Long enough that the water bottle was empty. Long enough that standing made the world tilt.

I found the window breaker mounted beneath the seat and smashed a side pane. Glass cut my hands as I crawled through.

On the pavement, I found the driver's phone where it had fallen beneath the open front door. A group call was still connected to the car's speakers.

My brother's voice came through.

“Emma's still inside. I've told the driver to wait. She can't interrupt the ceremony.”

Dad answered, “Once Tessa's ex sees her married, he'll leave her alone.”

Tessa. My fiancé's assistant.

Then Nolan spoke.

“Let her out after it's over. I'll give Emma another wedding later.”

I stood beside the broken window in my wedding dress.

They hadn't forgotten me.

They'd made sure I couldn't come.