Prologue

She made a promise to him that she would never leave him. Now he was standing at the altar with another beautiful lady, who was anything but a stranger to him, about to say his vows because she had broken her promise. She had left him.

He noticed that the woman he was holding hands with was shivering in fear.

Silently, he cursed. "Dang it!"

Under the veil, in a sparkling white wedding dress adorned with diamonds, was a girl of 25. She had been forced to break up with Nicholas, a man she believed she loved, so she could marry a billionaire's son. Yes, there had been a moment when she thought she felt a spark of something for him, but he was far beyond that now. Now she only felt fear. It was at this thought that tears threatened to slip from her eyes.

She began asking herself, "Where's Clara? Why in the world did she stand this guy up? Oh God, this is a mess. Please, help me!"

"Do you, Clarissa David, take Daniel Isaiah Thompson to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, till death do you part?" She gulped, her heart racing like never before. This was her last chance to back out. She looked up, catching the pleading stare of her mother. She shut her eyes, and the tears that had gathered finally spilled.

"Yes, I do."

"And do you, Daniel Thompson, take Clarissa David to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, till death do you part?"

"I do."

"Then I hereby pronounce you husband and wife! You may now kiss the bride," the priest said happily, clasping his hands together in delight.

Daniel leaned forward, gently placing his lips on hers, and she accepted his kiss with her eyes shut. He sighed and looked away from her, definitely uncomfortable with what was going on. Looking at his father, he shook his head in disapproval. He felt he might've just taken the first step in ruining his future.