One moment, she’s sipping champagne in Paris, the next, she’s fleeing for her life. Rachel’s fairytale date in the City of Love spirals into a nightmare when she discovers her dreamy boyfriend’s sinister past. Can she escape before she’s next?
Do you believe in love at first sight? I know, I know… it’s a bit cliché, but I couldn’t help but wonder. I’m Rachel, a 30-year-old woman living her American dream in downtown Chicago. My life was simple—wake up, go to work, grab a coffee from the local shop, and occasionally indulge in a good book. That was until Robert walked into my life…
I met him at a charming little bookstore I frequented. We both reached for the same copy of “Pride and Prejudice”—classic, right? Our eyes met, and we both laughed.
“Well, this is quite the meet-cute,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “I’m Robert.”
“Rachel,” I replied, feeling a flutter in my stomach. “Are you a Jane Austen fan?”
“Guilty as charged,” he chuckled. “Though I must admit, Darcy Burke sets a rather high bar for us mere mortals.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” I said, surprising myself with my boldness as I picked a book from the shelf. “I think there’s something to be said for modern-day charm.”
We chatted for nearly an hour, discovering shared interests and laughing at each other’s jokes. As we were about to part ways, Robert hesitated.
“I know this might seem forward,” he said, “but would you like to grab a coffee sometime? I know a great little place around the corner.”
I felt my heart skip a beat. “I’d love to,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
From that moment, things just clicked. We exchanged numbers, and before I knew it, we were texting every day.
“Hey, Rachel, ever been to Paris?” Robert asked one evening after weeks of chatting.
“Only in my dreams,” I replied, chuckling. “Why do you ask?”
“Well, I’ve been thinking,” he said, his voice filled with excitement. “We’ve been talking for weeks, and I feel like I’ve known you forever. But we haven’t actually been on a proper date yet.”
“That’s true,” I said, my curiosity piqued. “What did you have in mind?”
“How about making that dream a reality? Come with me. Let’s have our first date in Paris.”
I was stunned. “Paris? For a first date? Are you serious?”
“Absolutely,” Robert replied. “Life’s too short for ordinary, don’t you think? We could spend a weekend there, see the sights, eat amazing food. What do you say?”
I hesitated, my mind racing. “That sounds incredible, but… isn’t it a bit much for a first date? We barely know each other.”
“I understand your hesitation,” Robert said softly. “But think about it… we’ve been talking every day for weeks. We know each other better than most people do on a first date. It’s just a chance to get to know each other better in a magical setting.”
His words were persuasive, and the allure of an adventure was too strong to resist. “You know what? You’re right. Let’s do it!”
“Really?” Robert sounded elated as he kissed my hand. “You won’t regret this, Rachel. It’ll be amazing, I promise.”
Soon, the day of our departure arrived. When I met Robert at the airport, he greeted me with the most stunning bouquet of red roses I’d ever seen. It felt surreal. He looked genuinely happy, and his eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Ready for an adventure to remember?” he asked, smiling.
“As ready as I’ll ever be!” I chuckled. “I still can’t believe we’re doing this.”
“Neither can I,” Robert admitted. “But I’m so glad we are. You look beautiful, by the way.”
I felt myself blush. “Thank you. You look great, too!”
The flight was smooth, and before I knew it, we were in Paris.
Robert called a taxi, and we went straight to this swanky restaurant. The place was fancy, with chandeliers and a pianist playing softly in the corner.
“This place is incredible,” I said, looking around in awe. “How did you find it?”
Robert smiled mysteriously. “I have my ways. I wanted our first date to be unforgettable.”
Hours melted away as we talked, champagne bubbles tickling our noses. We savored an exquisite meal, our laughter echoing between bites as we shared stories. For a moment, it felt like a fairytale.
When the bill came, Robert insisted on paying. “It’ll make me happy if you let me,” he said, his eyes earnest.
“Are you sure?” I asked. “It must be expensive.”
“Absolutely,” he replied as he paid the bill. “Tonight is my treat. You can get the next one,” he added with a wink.
“Alright, thank you,” I said, excusing myself to the restroom.
In the restroom, I was fixing my makeup when a woman approached me. She looked serious, almost scared.
“You need to leave, now,” she said, her voice low and urgent.
“What? Why?” I asked, confused. “Who are you?”
“My name is Cindy,” she replied, glancing nervously at the door. “I’m a detective from the States. Robert isn’t who he seems.”
“What are you talking about?” I demanded, feeling a pang of fear and disbelief.
“I’ve been tracking him,” Cindy continued. “He’s brought at least eight women to this restaurant in the past six months. Some went missing, others lost their jobs and disappeared. You could be next.”
My heart pounded. “This is crazy. How do I know you’re telling the truth?”
“I know this is hard to believe, but you need to trust me on this. Block his number and leave,” she desperately added, frowning.
I felt a wave of fear and disbelief. “But he’s been so kind… and genuine. Are you sure you have the right person?”
“I’m positive,” Cindy insisted. “Men like Robert are experts at appearing charming. It’s how they lure their victims. Please, for your own safety, you need to go.”
Without saying another word, I nodded, blocked Robert’s number on my phone, and rushed back to the table. Robert looked up, puzzled.
“I’m sorry, I have to go,” I said, my voice trembling.
“Go?? Rachel, what’s going on?” he asked, standing up. “You look pale. Are you feeling alright?”
“I can’t explain. Don’t try to find me,” I said, turning and heading for the door.
“Rachel, wait!” Robert called after me. “Please, tell me what’s wrong. Did I do something?”
I got into a taxi and told the driver to take me to the airport. Sitting in the back seat, I finally began to calm down. Cindy’s words echoed in my mind. Was Robert really dangerous?
When I arrived at the airport, my stomach dropped. Robert was there, waiting for me.
“Please, Rachel, talk to me,” he said, approaching me cautiously. “What did I do wrong?”
“This trip was a mistake. Just leave me alone,” I said, trying to stay calm.
“It’s all because of her, isn’t it?” he asked, his face etched with anger and sadness.
“Who?” I was genuinely confused.
“A woman around thirty, blonde hair, flower tattoo on her right arm? Name’s Cindy.”
“Yes, she said she’s a detective. Is that true?” I gasped.
Robert’s face fell. “She’s not a detective,” he confessed. “She’s my ex-girlfriend. She’s been obsessed with me… stalking me for two years, ruining my relationships. I didn’t tell you because I thought it was over. I’m so sorry.”
I didn’t know what to believe. “You should have told me about her. Now I’m scared and can’t trust you.”
“I understand,” Robert said softly. “I made a mistake by not being honest with you. I was afraid that if I told you about Cindy, you’d think I was damaged goods or something. I really like you, Rachel, and I didn’t want to scare you away.”
“But now I’m more scared than ever,” I replied, feeling tears well up in my eyes.
“I’m so sorry,” Robert said, reaching out but stopping short of touching me. “Please, let me help you get back to the States. You can take the ticket I bought. I’ll stay here and come back tomorrow.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, still wary.
“Absolutely,” he nodded. “Your safety and comfort are what matter most to me right now. I hope that one day, when you’re back home and feeling safe, you’ll give me a chance to explain everything properly.”
On the flight home, I couldn’t stop thinking about everything that had happened. Who was telling the truth?
Once I was back in Chicago, I decided to find out more about Robert and Cindy.
I contacted a private detective. Over the next few days, I found some of the women Robert had dated. They were alive and well but confirmed that Cindy had harassed them, forcing them to quit their jobs and disappear from Robert’s life.
This supported Robert’s story, but I still had doubts.
One evening, my phone rang. It was an unknown number.
“Hello?” I nervously answered.
“It’s Cindy. Robert is dangerous. I’m just trying to protect you,” a woman spoke.
“Cindy? How did you get my number?” I asked, my heart racing.
“That’s not important,” she replied urgently. “What matters is that you understand the danger you’re in.”
I listened as she detailed Robert’s supposed manipulations and sent me a file of disturbing information about his past.
“But why should I believe you?” I asked. “The other women I spoke to said you were the one harassing them.”
“They’re afraid of him,” Cindy insisted. “Robert has a way of making people believe whatever he wants them to. Please, you have to trust me.”
Unsure of who to believe, I agreed to meet Cindy at a café. She seemed sincere and provided more evidence against Robert.
But a shiver ran down my spine as I listened. Despite her convincing story, a shadow of doubt lingered. My gut told me Robert held the missing piece.
I decided to confront him.
He looked genuinely distressed and denied everything, showing me a restraining order he had against Cindy.
“Rachel, I know this whole situation is confusing and scary,” Robert said. “But I swear to you, I’ve never hurt anyone. Cindy is the one who’s been causing all this trouble. I should have told you about her from the beginning, and I’m sorry I didn’t.”
“But why would she go to such lengths?” I asked, still uncertain.
“She… she has some mental health issues,” Robert explained hesitantly. “When we broke up, she couldn’t accept it. She became obsessed with the idea that I was some kind of predator. I’ve tried to get her help, but she refused.”
As I reflected on the situation, it became clear that Robert and Cindy each held their own perspective on the truth. The actual reality, I suspected, lay somewhere in the middle of their conflicting narratives.
Recognizing the potential danger to my well-being, I decided to cut ties with both of them.
During our last exchange, I mustered up the courage to tell Robert, “I’m afraid I can’t continue being a part of this, Robert. The situation has become far too intricate and perplexing for me to handle.”
With those words, Robert and I went our separate ways.
This whirlwind experience served as a powerful lesson in the importance of trusting my gut instincts and exercising caution when allowing new people into my life.
While the dream trip to Paris had been thrilling, it also served as a sobering reminder that appearances can be deceiving. I learned that sometimes, the wisest course of action to protect yourself is to walk away from trouble.
My Fiancé Didn’t Show Up at the Wedding – Police Officers Walked in Instead
On what was supposed to be the happiest day of her life, Serene’s wedding takes a shocking turn when two police officers arrive with news about her fiancé. But as the truth unravels, Serene discovers a gift, and a love, beyond her wildest dreams.
I remember that day like it was yesterday.
It was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. Our wedding day. But instead of saying “I do,” I found myself standing frozen in the middle of the wedding hall as two police officers walked straight toward me, holding a photo of my fiancé.
A surprised bride | Source: Midjourney
“Ma’am? Do you know this man?” one of them asked.
Now, let’s rewind.
I met Andrew six months ago at an art gallery my friend dragged me to. I’d gone reluctantly, expecting to spend the evening sipping overpriced wine and nodding at abstract paintings I didn’t understand.
“Come on, Serene,” Mimi said. “Let’s just throw ourselves into a life of cultural antics. First an art gallery, next the theatre. Please!”
A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
“Fine,” I said, giving in. “I wasn’t planning on doing anything else for the night, anyway. But if I don’t enjoy it…”
“Then I’ll take you for some Thai food before we head home. I promise,” Mimi said.
So, I got dressed and out we went.
And there he was.
Andrew.
A woman standing in an art gallery | Source: Midjourney
Tall, with messy dark hair, flecks of paint on his hands, and the kind of smile that makes you forget your own name.
He was showing some of his work that night, a series of dreamy, surrealist landscapes that immediately caught my attention. When I wandered over to one of his paintings, he appeared beside me.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“Honestly? It’s beautiful. Breathtaking,” I said, looking at him instead of the canvas.
A man in an art gallery | Source: Midjourney
From that moment, we were inseparable. Andrew was unlike anyone I’d ever dated before. He didn’t care about money or status. He didn’t even own a car.
He was happy with dates including food from vendors and long walks. And he lived in a tiny studio apartment with canvases stacked to the ceiling.
But he was kind, passionate, and wildly talented.
A food truck | Source: Midjourney
“Serene,” he called softly. “Don’t move, the light is perfect.”
Andrew was painting me, or trying to, but I kept wanting to move around. I was restless, and I felt unsettled. Like something was coming, but I didn’t know what.
And I was right. Except I had no reason to feel so on edge.
A man painting | Source: Midjourney
Andrew proposed that evening, after us being together officially for only four months. My heart said yes before my brain could even catch up. How could I have said anything other than ‘yes’? The man I loved was on one knee, a bouquet of wildflowers in my hand, and the most beautiful and unusual ring on my finger.
It was meant to be.
My father, on the other hand, was furious.
“You’re marrying a man you’ve only known for six months,” he said, pacing the living room with a glass of whiskey in his hands.
A woman’s engagement ring | Source: Midjourney
I was having dinner with my parents, eager to tell them the news. Andrew was supposed to come with me, but at the last moment, inspiration struck, and he had to get his paints out.
“A man who has nothing to his name except some paintbrushes and a dream,” my father shouted. “Do you really think he loves you for who you are, Serene? Or is he after the money that you come with? Our family fortune!”
“Andrew isn’t like that!” I argued. “He doesn’t care about money. He loves me for me. Not everything is about you, Dad. Not everything is about money.”
An upset man | Source: Midjourney
My father wasn’t convinced at all. He refused to give us his blessing, and although my mom tried to stay neutral, I could tell she wasn’t thrilled either.
Still, I believed in Andrew.
The morning of the wedding was chaotic but exciting.
A woman standing in her nightgown | Source: Midjourney
My parents were at the venue early, managing the last-minute details while I was upstairs getting ready with my bridesmaids.
“Do you think your dad will behave today?” my maid of honor, Lisa, asked as she curled my hair.
“I hope so,” I said, fiddling with my engagement ring. “He’s been better lately. I think he’s starting to come around.”
The rear view of a woman | Source: Midjourney
But as the ceremony time approached, something felt off. Andrew was nowhere to be seen.
“Have you heard from him?” Mimi asked, her voice tight with concern.
I shook my head.
I’d called him three times already, but there was no answer. The ceremony was supposed to start at 2 p.m., and now, forty-five minutes later, the whispers among the guests were getting louder.
A bride holding her phone | Source: Midjourney
Just as I was about to call him again, the doors to the hall burst open, and two men in police uniforms walked in.
The room fell silent.
“Ma’am,” one of them said, striding toward me. “Do you know this man?”
My knees almost gave in as he held up a photo of Andrew.
Two police officers at a wedding | Source: Midjourney
“Yes,” I said, my voice trembling. “That’s my fiancé. That’s Andrew! What’s going on? Is he okay? Has there been an accident?”
The officer exchanged a look with his partner before continuing.
“We’re sorry to inform you, but your fiancé has been apprehended. He broke into your family’s estate earlier today while everyone was here and attempted to rob the house.”
A policeman at a wedding | Source: Midjourney
The room erupted into chaos.
“What?!” I gasped, shaking my head. “That’s impossible. Andrew could never…”
“I warned you!” my father’s voice thundered across the hall, cutting through the noise. He was already marching toward me, his face red with a mix of anger and vindication.
An angry man | Source: Midjourney
“This is exactly what I said would happen. Andrew is a con artist! And now, he’s made a fool out of you in front of everyone. In front of your own family and friends, Serene!”
My heart was pounding so loudly I could barely hear the officers as they explained that Andrew had been caught on the outskirts of the city, trying to flee.
They invited me and my parents to come with them to the scene.
A police officer at a wedding | Source: Midjourney
“Of course, I’m coming too,” my father declared, grabbing his coat. “Let’s see what this scammer has to say for himself.”
The ride to the scene was unbearable, my wedding dress felt heavy and uncomfortable.
My father kept muttering under his breath about how he knew this would happen, and how I should’ve listened in the first place.
A bride sitting in a car | Source: Midjourney
“You were too damn naïve for your own good, Serene,” he spat.
I sat in silence, staring out the window, my engagement ring feeling heavier by the second.
When we arrived, the officers didn’t take us to a police station. Instead, they pulled up outside an old warehouse on the edge of town.
“What is this?” my dad asked, narrowing his eyes.
The exterior of an abandoned warehouse | Source: Midjourney
“This is… an unusual case,” one officer replied cryptically, opening the warehouse door.
The moment I stepped inside, I froze.
There were tins of paint everywhere. Old paintbrushes strewn around. It felt like Andrew’s studio.
There, on a massive wall that stretched across the entire warehouse, was a mural.
Tins of paint in an abandoned warehouse | Source: Midjourney
A breathtaking, larger-than-life graffiti painting of a bride and groom. The bride was unmistakably me, with my dark curls and white wedding dress, and the groom, Andrew, was holding my hand, smiling like the happiest man alive.
In the corner of the mural were the words:
Forever yours, Andrew.
A shocked bride | Source: Midjourney
Before I could fully process what I was seeing, Andrew stepped out from behind a canvas, wiping his hands on his jeans.
“Surprise!” he said, grinning nervously.
“What… what the hell is this?” I stammered, tears already welling up in my eyes.
A man standing in an abandoned warehouse | Source: Midjourney
“It’s my wedding gift to you, Serene, my love,” he said, gesturing toward the mural. “I wanted to give you something that would last forever, something that showed how much I love you. The police officers are actors, I hired them to play along. I know it’s a bit dramatic, but I wanted to make today unforgettable.”
My dad, who had been standing in stunned silence, finally spoke.
“You mean to tell me this was all… a prank?”
Andrew nodded.
A smiling groom | Source: Midjourney
“Yes, sir,” he said. “I’m sorry for the scare, but I wanted to show you and everyone else that I’m serious about marrying your daughter.”
For a moment, my dad just stared at him. Then, to my shock, he chuckled.
“Well, I’ll give you this,” he said, crossing his arms. “You’ve got talent. And guts. I still don’t fully trust you… but you’ve earned my respect today.”
Andrew smiled.
A laughing man | Source: Midjourney
What the actual heck?
“No! This is not okay!” I shouted. “Andrew! We’re supposed to be getting married right now! What on earth were you thinking? I’ve been calling you! Seriously?”
Andrew’s eyes widened.
“I know, I know, Serene,” he said. “But it’s the muse that called. When I started the mural, I had to finish it. You understand, don’t you? You know how it is, my love.”
A bride with her hands on her hips | Source: Midjourney
I wanted to be angry. I wanted to remain upset and scream until I felt better. But I didn’t know how to be upset with Andrew. I couldn’t hold back anymore.
I ran to my fiancé and threw my arms around him, laughing and crying all at once.
“This is the best wedding gift I could’ve imagined,” I whispered.
“Good,” he said, holding me close.
A couple embracing | Source: Midjourney
We all returned to the venue together, where Andrew explained the entire thing to our bewildered guests. My dad even raised a toast to Andrew during the reception, admitting that he might’ve misjudged him.
It turns out, sometimes love isn’t about perfect timing or logic. It’s about trust, creativity, and a little bit of risk.
And Andrew?
My goodness, he didn’t just become my husband. He was the masterpiece I never saw coming.
A man giving a toast | Source: Midjourney
After our wedding, we lazed in a hotel room, eating strawberries covered in chocolate.
“I was scared,” I admitted. “When you didn’t answer my calls or show up at the wedding, I was… scared. I thought that my father had finally run you out of town.”
“Oh, Serene,” he said, smiling. “Nothing will send me away from you.”
A tray of chocolate covered strawberries | Source: Midjourney
“I have a wedding gift for you, too,” I said.
“What is it?” he asked, reaching for a bottle of champagne.
“When we get home, I want you to pack your studio up. I’ve bought you a space, just for your art. Your own studio. It’s bigger, and the lighting is beautiful… and there’s a gallery attached to it. So you can show off your artwork whenever you want.”
Andrew was quiet for a moment, and I wondered if I had overstepped.
“That’s… everything to me, Serene. You’re my muse, you know that, right?”
An art studio | Source: Midjourney
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