“Where are we going?” I gasped, struggling to keep up with Sarah’s frantic pace.

“Just keep running,” she panted, not slowing down. “We need to get out of here before he…”

Her voice trailed off as we reached the service exit. Sarah pushed the door open, and we were met with the cool night air. It was a stark contrast to the suffocating atmosphere inside. I took a moment to breathe, my lungs grateful for the fresh air.

“What did you mean by ‘what he planned for me’?” I demanded once we were a safe distance from the building. My voice trembled with a mix of anger and fear.

Sarah glanced around, ensuring we were alone before speaking. “David… he’s not who you think he is. I found out that he has a history of marrying wealthy women and—”

“And what?” I pressed, fear gripping my heart.

“And making them vanish,” she finished, her voice barely a whisper. “I found evidence that links him to the disappearances of his previous wives. He takes their wealth and then… they just disappear.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. The reality of the situation hit me like a cold wave. My wedding had been a trap, and I had almost walked into it blindly. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I asked, tears brimming in my eyes.

“I tried, but you were so in love with him,” Sarah replied, her voice full of regret. “I wanted to find concrete proof first, but when I saw him watching his watch like he was counting down to something… I had to act.”

I nodded, understanding the impossible position she’d been in. We needed to get far away from here, to a place where David couldn’t reach us. “We need to go to the police,” I said, my voice firmer.

Sarah nodded. “I have everything we need. We just have to get to safety first.”

Together, we ran into the night, leaving behind the shattered remains of a wedding that was never meant to be. The Grand Conservatory, once a symbol of a perfect life, became a stark reminder of how close I’d come to losing everything.

But as we moved forward, fear was replaced by determination. I wasn’t just running away; I was running toward the truth, toward justice. And with Sarah by my side, I knew I had the strength to face whatever came next.