“Thanks, Dad,” I replied, forcing a smile. Inside, my heart was a storm of emotions. I didn’t love Nick, not in the way a bride should love her groom. But I had agreed to this, and there was no turning back.

As my father walked me down the aisle, I felt the weight of 200 pairs of eyes on us. The church was filled with friends, family, and business associates of both families. The whispers started almost immediately, a hushed symphony of curiosity and excitement.

I kept my eyes on Nick, standing at the altar, looking handsome in his tuxedo. But his eyes were distant, and there was a tightness around his mouth that I couldn’t ignore.

Suddenly, just as we reached the front, Nick turned. Without a word, he walked out of the church, leaving me standing there in stunned silence.

Gasps and whispers filled the room, and I felt tears in my eyes. Humiliation and disappointment washed over me. What was I supposed to do now?

Before I could process what was happening, the church doors swung open with a loud bang. A rugged, bearded man strode in, his eyes locked on mine. My heart skipped a beat as he walked straight towards me, dropping to one knee in front of everyone.