CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

Ava sat in front of the mirror, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of her wedding day preparations. Her stylist, a petite woman with a kind smile, expertly applied a light layer of foundation to ava's flawless skin.

Kira, ava's best friend and maid of honor, chatted excitedly as she watched the transformation. "Oh, ava, you're going to knock Jerome's socks off!" she squealed.

Ava laughed, her eyes sparkling with happiness. "I hope so," she said, smiling at her reflection.

The stylist stepped back to examine her handiwork, nodding in satisfaction. "Perfect," she murmured, reaching for a palette of shimmering eyeshadows.

Kira plopped down beside ava her eyes shining with excitement. "So, have you heard from Jerome this morning?" she asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

Ava blushed, a soft smile spreading across her face. "Yeah, he sent me a sweet text," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kira squealed again, bouncing up and down in her seat. "Ooh, do tell!" she begged.

Ava giggled, shaking her head. "No way, Kira. You'll just have to wait until the ceremony to see how romantic he is."

The stylist chuckled, expertly lining ava's eyes. "I think we can safely say that Jerome is head over heels in love with you, Harvard," she said, smiling.

Ava's heart swelled with happiness, and she couldn't help but feel grateful for this special day, surrounded by the people she loved.

Ava stood in front of the mirror, her wedding dress shimmering in the soft light of the room. Kira, her maid of honor, chatted excitedly as she helped Ava with her final preparations.

"Okay, Ava, you look absolutely stunning," Kira said, stepping back to admire her handiwork. "Jerome won't know what hit him."

Ava laughed, her eyes sparkling with happiness. "I hope so," she said, smiling at her reflection.

Just as Kira was about to respond, the door to the room burst open and a figure clad in black slipped inside. Ava and Kira spun around, startled, as the figure moved swiftly towards them.

Before either of them could react, the figure struck Kira on the head with a blunt object, sending her crashing to the floor. Ava screamed, horrified, as the figure turned towards her.

A black mask covered the figure's face, making it impossible to discern any features. Ava tried to run, but the figure was too quick. It grabbed her, holding her in a tight grip as it slapped an anesthetic-soaked cloth over her mouth.

Ava struggled, but it was no use. The anesthetic took effect, and she felt herself being lifted off the ground. The last thing she remembered was Kira's limp form on the floor.

Meanwhile, Jerome stood at the altar, waiting for his bride to arrive. The guests were getting restless, and Jerome's best man, ryan, was trying to reassure him that everything would be okay.

But as the minutes ticked by, Jerome's anxiety grew. Where was Ava? Why wasn't she here?

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity,ryan went to investigate. He returned looking grim, his face pale.

"Jerome, I have some bad news," he said, his voice low and serious. "Ava's gone missing."

Jerome's eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean she's gone missing?" he demanded.

Ryan hesitated before answering. "We've checked everywhere, but she's nowhere to be found. And Kira's been knocked out cold."

Jerome's face turned white with fear. "Oh God," he whispered. "What's happening?"

As the news spread like wildfire through the guests, chaos erupted. People were running everywhere, trying to find Ava.

It wasn't until they reviewed the security footage that they discovered the shocking truth: Ava had been kidnapped.

But by whom? And why?

The questions swirled in Jerome's mind as he stood at the altar, his heart heavy with fear and uncertainty. Where was Ava? And would he ever see her again?

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Ava's eyes fluttered open, her head pounding with a dull ache. She was lying on a cold, damp floor, and the air was musty and filled with the scent of mold. As she struggled to sit up, her hands trembled with weakness.

Suddenly, a light flickered on, illuminating the dark space. Ava's eyes adjusted slowly, and she saw Julian standing before her, a sly grin spreading across his face.

Julian, the man they had been searching for, looked every bit as menacing as Ava had imagined. His eyes gleamed with a malevolent intensity, and his voice dripped with malice.

"Well, forgive me for bringing you here," Julian said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "I feel like I should pay back your husband-to-be. He's put me in a tight corner, after all."

Ava's eyes flashed with anger. "He's fulfilled his sentence," she spat. "He's living a good life now. But what about you? You're on the run, Julian. Aren't you tired of hiding?"

Julian's grin faltered, and he took a step closer to Ava. His hand shot out, and Ava felt a stinging slap across her cheek.

"Remember, you're at my mercy," Julian sneered. "I'm going to trade you for a business deal. You're worth a lot to me, Ava."

Ava's eyes welled up with tears, but she refused to cry. "Why are you doing this to me?" she demanded.

Julian chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "It's not my fault I'm in this situation," he said, pacing around the room. "I just need money. And your husband-to-be has plenty of it. Maybe I can smuggle some out in exchange for your life."

Ava's heart sank, and she felt a wave of fear wash over her. She was trapped, and Julian held all the cards.