THE POLICE ARRESTED ME AT MY WEDDING—THEN MY FIANCÉ SMILED
THE POLICE ARRESTED ME AT MY WEDDING—THEN MY FIANCÉ SMILED
CHAPTER 1: THE HANDCUFFS
"Emma Reynolds, you're under arrest."
The church fell silent.
I stood frozen at the altar.
Still wearing my wedding dress.
Still holding my bouquet.
For a second, I honestly thought it was a joke.
Then I saw the handcuffs.
My stomach dropped.
"What?"
Two police officers walked down the aisle.
The guests moved aside.
Whispers spread through the church.
My father stood up.
"There must be a mistake."
The officers ignored him.
One of them unfolded a document.
"Warrant for financial fraud and embezzlement."
I blinked.
"What are you talking about?"
The officer stepped closer.
"You have the right to remain silent."
My heart was pounding.
This couldn't be real.
I worked as a school teacher.
I barely made enough money to cover rent.
Financial fraud?
Embezzlement?
It was absurd.
Then I looked at my fiancé.
Ryan.
The man I was supposed to marry in five minutes.
The man who should have been defending me.
Instead...
He was smiling.
Not a shocked smile.
Not a nervous smile.
A satisfied smile.
A smile that made my blood run cold.
"Ryan?"
His eyes met mine.
And he didn't even pretend.
"Sorry, Emma."
The church erupted.
My mother gasped.
"What did you do?"
Ryan shrugged.
"What I had to."
I couldn't breathe.
"What does that mean?"
He stepped forward.
Calm.
Relaxed.
Like he had rehearsed this.
"You're not the one who should've inherited your grandfather's company."
The world seemed to stop.
My grandfather's company?
I hadn't inherited anything.
My grandfather left everything to charity.
At least that's what I had been told.
Ryan laughed.
"That's what they wanted you to believe."
I stared at him.
Then at my family.
Nobody looked surprised.
Not my mother.
Not my uncle.
Not even my cousin.
The realization hit me like a truck.
They knew.
All of them.
Ryan lowered his voice.
"Once you're convicted, your inheritance passes to the next eligible heir."
My knees nearly gave out.
"What inheritance?"
Ryan's smile widened.
"About three hundred million dollars."
The church exploded into chaos.
And then the officer placed the handcuffs on my wrists.
As I was being led down the aisle, I turned around one last time.
Ryan looked directly at me.
Then he whispered something no one else heard.
Something that changed everything.
May you like
"Thank your uncle for the plan."
END OF CHAPTER 1
