Prologue

ANASTASIA

My makeup artist had just finished my makeup, and very soon, I would be walking down the aisle. It all seemed like a dream, Matthew Smith would be my husband. I couldn't believe I would be marrying the most eligible bachelor. I just couldn't contain my joy as I gazed at my reflection in the mirror. My engagement to Matthew had been on gossip blogs and magazines. It was a very romantic engagement.

We had attended the Super Bowl together, and just as the halftime started, the camera landed on us, and I turned to Matthew, and there he was with a beautiful diamond ring. I accepted it with a continuous "yes."

I had come into my hotel room to speak with Matthew.

"In an hour, you'll be mine," Matthew had said, and I just couldn't wait.

After talking to Matthew on the phone, I sprawled out on the bed and fantasised about our honeymoon. Images of us making love on the beach sent shivers down my spine, I was going to make sweet love to Matthew, and I just couldn't wait for the wedding to be over. My head was still in the cloud when my phone beeped, signalling an incoming message.

It was a multi-media message from an unknown number. The message was short,

For Your Eyes Only

After the message was a video file. I opened it out of curiosity, and what I saw drew air out of my lungs. Matthew was on top of another woman. I recognized his bedroom because I had been there countless times. it wasn't an old video because I bought him the shirt he had on as a Valentine's gift.

I couldn't stop looking. Tears formed in my eyes, blurring my vision. I saw my fiancé take off another woman's bra. I kept watching, and I couldn't tear my eyes away. I watched him feast on her breast, and then the video ended.

I started sweating profusely, sweat dripping down my face and ruining my makeup.

As I stared at myself in the mirror, I knew the wedding was over even before it had begun. The beautiful lace wedding dress, covered in tiny beads and crystals, felt incredibly heavy on me. How could things change so fast?

"How could it have all been a lie?" I whispered, the words hanging in the empty air.

I had loved him with all my heart, "where did I go wrong ?"I asked myself.

"How could he be cheating on me and still want to marry me, ", I asked myself.

I wished it was on an old video if only it happened before we started dating, but I knew it wasn't an old video. Matthew was indeed a cheat.

I laid down on the beautiful, luxurious bed, and the fancy hotel suite felt like it was closing in on me. Laughter and music from the next room, where my bridesmaids were celebrating, just annoyed me. I was supposed to be the bride, but here I was, alone, drowning in a sea of confusing feelings. Tears streamed down my face, ruining my carefully done makeup.

Just a little while ago, I was excited to become Mrs. Anastasia Matthew Smith. Matthew had always been the one, the guy who I loved completely. I had built all my romantic dreams around him. But now, doubt and despair had taken over, replacing the happy excitement I'd felt earlier.

I walked over to the bed, and the long train of the wedding dress was trailing behind me, feeling heavier with every step. I knew what I had to do. I removed the lace at the back of the dress one after the other, and I let it fall to the floor like old skin.

I stepped out of the fancy wedding dress and threw on a pair of blue Palazzo pants and a crop top I had worn the night before. The sparkly Cinderella shoes were replaced by flat shoes that I could actually walk in. Grabbing my purse, I threw my phone into it and my belongings that were on the nightstand. I marched towards the door that connected to the room where the bridesmaids were.

"Anastasia!" Britney yelled, surprised when she saw me without the wedding dress.

Britney Samuel was my best friend, but at this time, I couldn't listen to her, I had to go; I just had to leave town.

There was no way I could continue with the wedding. Not after knowing he had been cheating on me.

The other bridesmaids rushed in, their fancy dresses not really made for running.

"Anastasia, wait! What's going on?" they pleaded, but I kept going, the gap between us getting bigger as I raced towards the hotel exit.

Outside, paparazzi were everywhere, taking pictures of me running away for the whole world to see.

About an hour later I was out of my house, my suitcases were in my trunk, as I drove to the airport.

While I waited for my flight, my phone started ringing. The calls started coming in. Matthew called several times, he sent messages, and my mother called too; but I didn't respond.

Natasha, my sister, called countless times, but I didn't want anyone to stop me or talk me out of leaving. Then, the updates on social media started. I watched my life implode right in front of me. But there was no going back. I had to get away from Matthew Smith. I waited at the airport waiting area, hoping no one would spot me until I was gone.