Orla:
The decision to run came to me like a lightning strikeâsharp, sudden, and unavoidable. I had to get out of here. I couldnât stay and face the humiliation, the betrayal, the sham of a life that Logan and his family had constructed around me like a gilded cage. My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline surging as I spun around and bolted down the corridor, heading back to the bridal suite.
Every step felt like a lifetime, every shadow along the hallway like a threat waiting to pounce. What if Logan found me? What if he realized I wasnât going to play my part in this twisted fairy tale and came after me? The thought sent a fresh wave of panic crashing over me, but I forced myself to keep moving. There was still time before the ceremony started. If I was fast, I could make it out before anyone noticed I was gone.
I burst into the bridal suite, slamming the door shut behind me. My breath came in ragged gasps as I stumbled to the closet, yanking open the doors and grabbing anything I could find. My suitcase was still there and I threw it open on the bed, frantically stuffing in clothes, shoes, anything my hands could reach. My fingers trembled so violently that I struggled to fold the garments, my mind racing as I tried to think of what I might need.
What about the jewelry? No, leave it. It would only slow me down. The bouquet? Hell, no. The dress? I paused for a second, staring down at the intricate lace gown I was still wearing. It was beautiful, everything Iâd once dreamed of, but now it felt like a noose around my neck. I had to get out of it, but there was no time. I grabbed the pair of jeans and the black hoodie I had worn earlier, quickly shoving them into a tote bag. Iâd change laterâonce I was far, far away from all of this.
I zipped the suitcase shut with trembling hands, my thoughts a chaotic jumble as I tried to figure out my next move. I needed to be smart, to think this through. The front entrance would be too riskyâtoo many people, too many eyes. But the back hallways, the ones the staff usedâthey were quieter, more secluded. I could slip out unnoticed, take the back exit, and get away before anyone realized I was missing.
I slung the bags over my shoulder and rushed to the door to the secondary hallway, my heart hammering so loudly I was sure someone would hear it. With one last glance around the room, I stepped out, closing the door softly behind me. The estate was eerily silent, the usual bustle of the staff replaced by the stillness of the minutes before the wedding was set to begin.
My footsteps were quick, purposeful, as I made my way through the winding corridors, trying to retrace the route I had taken earlier. Every turn, every intersection felt like a gambleâleft or right? Was this the hallway that led to the back stairs? I kept my eyes sharp, making sure not to pass the same godforsaken closet I had come across earlier. Panic clawed at me as I realized how easy it would be to get lost, to end up right where I started. But I couldnât stop, couldnât hesitate. I had to keep moving, had to get out.
Finally, I saw itâthe small, nondescript door that led to the back exit. My heart leaped with relief as I hurried toward it, fumbling with the handle. It swung open with a creak, revealing the narrow staircase that would lead me down and out of the Ashcroft Estate, out of the nightmare my life had become.
I didnât look back as I descended the stairs, didnât allow myself to think about what I was leaving behind. My family, my friendsâthey would be furious, no doubt. My parents would never forgive me. They had invested so much in this wedding, in Logan and me. And now I was about to ruin everything. But I didnât care. I couldnât care. All I knew was that I had to get away, had to go somewhere far, far away where I could disappear, where no one could find me.
The back door opened into the staff parking lot, and I hurried across the pavement, my eyes scanning the area for a way out. A distant neigh caught my attentionâa black horse standing near the paddock, its mane catching the sunlight as it pawed the ground. How carefree they must be, unaware of the chaos I was leaving behind. I tore my gaze away and spotted a taxi idling near the service entrance. Without hesitation, I practically threw myself into the back seat, gasping that I was going straight to the airport. The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of my wedding dress, but he didnât say a word. He just nodded and started the car.
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As we pulled away from the estate, the tears finally came. Silent, uncontrollable sobs wracked my entire body. I didnât know where I was going. There was no going homeâLogan and I shared an apartment, and my parentsâ house was a definite no after this. I didnât know what I would do when I got there, but I knew one thing: I had to leave. Maybe the state, or maybe even the country. All I knew was that I couldnât stay. Not there, not with them, not with him.
***
The airport was a blur of motion and noiseâpeople rushing past with their luggage, announcements blaring over the intercom, the hum of engines and voices blending into a chaotic symphony. I pushed through the crowd, my oversized black hoodie pulled tight around me, trying to cover as much of the wedding dress as I could. The train still dragged behind me, a dead giveaway of the mess I was running from. I didnât have time to change, didnât have time to do anything except get out of here.
I just needed to disappear.
I approached the first airline desk I saw, my breath coming in shallow gasps. The agent behind the counter barely looked up as I leaned in, trying to keep my voice steady. âWhatâs the next flight out?â
The woman finally glanced up, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of me. I didnât need a mirror to know what I looked likeâa runaway bride, disheveled, desperate, with makeup smudged from tears and a wedding dress peeking out from beneath a hoodie that did nothing to hide it. But I didnât care. I just needed to leave.
âYouâll have to hurry,â she said, her fingers tapping rapidly on the keyboard. âThereâs a flight leaving in about ten minutes, but itâs across the terminal. They only have first class seats left.â
I didnât hesitate. âIâll take it.â
âDo you have your passport?â she asked, her tone wary as if she expected me to bolt at any moment.
I nodded, fumbling in my bag for the small booklet that held the key to my escape. Iâd already packed it, since Logan and I were supposed to leave for Bora Bora on our honeymoon right after the reception. At first, Iâd even thought of heading there, but it didnât take long to realize Logan might follow me. No, this time I needed to get as far away from him as possible.
âHere,â I said, thrusting it at her along with the credit card Iâd swiped from Loganâs wallet before I left. I didnât care about the cost, didnât care that it was first class. All that mattered was that I got on that plane and vanished.
She glanced at the card, then at me, but said nothing as she swiped it and handed me the boarding pass. âYouâre going to have to run to make it,â she warned, pointing in the direction of the gate. âItâs Gate 47, Terminal C.â
I barely heard her as I grabbed the pass and turned, my heart racing as I sprinted through the terminal. The hoodie flapped around me, the dress trailing behind like a ghost of the life I was leaving behind. I dodged around travelers, narrowly avoiding collisions, my mind focused on one thing: getting to that gate before the doors closed.
The gate number echoed in my mind as I ran, 47, 47, 47. I didnât even look at the destination, didnât care where the flight was going. I just needed to be on it.
By the time I reached the gate, my lungs were burning, and my legs felt like jelly. The gate attendants were already starting to close the door, but I held up my boarding pass, breathlessly pleading with them to wait. They exchanged glances before one of them reached for their handheld radio, likely calling ahead to notify the flight crew to hold the door. After a moment, they nodded and waved me through.
I stumbled down the jet bridge, barely registering the surprised looks from the flight attendants as I boarded. The cabin was a world of plush seats and calm, a stark contrast to the chaos in my mind. I found my aisle seat, collapsed into it, and for the first time in what felt like hours, I let out a shuddering breath.
As the plane began to taxi down the runway, the reality of what I had done started to sink in. I was leaving everything behindâmy family, my friends, my entire life. I had no plan, no destination in mind. All I knew was that I couldnât stay.
It wasnât until the flight attendant came by with a hot towel and asked if I wanted champagne that I thought to glance at the ticket in my hand. The destination glared back at me in bold letters: Incheon International Airport (ICN), Seoul, South Korea.
I stared at the ticket, my mind reeling. Seoul? Of all places? I knew I needed to be far away, but halfway across the world? It felt like a reckless, possibly terrible idea. But maybe that was exactly what I neededâsomewhere so distant, so unknown, that I could finally start over. Anything was better than the misery Iâd have faced if I had gone through with the wedding.
I sank into the seat, letting the weight of it all settle over me. There was no turning back now, even if I wanted to. As the plane climbed higher, every mile put more distance between me and the life I was leaving behind. It felt almost surreal, like a dream I couldnât wake from. For now, all I could do was breathe, take in what small relief this flight could give me, and plan my next move once I landed in South Korea.