On My Wedding Day, My Mother-in-Law Handed Me a Note—I Fled Out the Back Door and Disappeared for 15 Years.

My eyes fixed on my mother-in-law, whose face looked like she’d just seen a ghost. In her trembling hand, a small envelope fluttered, and her eyes were frozen in an expression of pure panic. The loud music in the old mansion’s banquet hall drowned out any other sound, making our conversation completely private.

That sunny May morning should have been perfect. My fiancé Sergei’s imposing family mansion was immaculate, ready to receive guests. Waiters precisely arranged crystal glasses, and the air was thick with the scent of fresh roses and the aroma of fine champagne. Luxurious, gold-framed portraits seemed to silently watch everything from the walls.

“Anastasia, have you noticed Sergei is acting strangely today?” my mother-in-law whispered, looking around restlessly.

I frowned. Indeed, Sergei had been tense all day. Now, he was at the other end of the room, holding the phone to his ear, his face rigid, as if he were hiding something.

“Just pre-wedding nerves,” I tried to minimize, adjusting my veil.

“Look at this. Right now,” she murmured, thrusting an envelope into my hands before disappearing among the guests, regaining her elegant posture and a rehearsed social smile.

Curious and uneasy, I found a more discreet corner and hastily opened the note. My heart stopped.

“Sergei and his family plan to get rid of you after the wedding. You are part of a scheme. They know about your family’s inheritance. Run if you want to live.”

My first instinct was to laugh. This had to be a cruel joke from my mother-in-law. But then I remembered Sergei’s suspicious conversations, which he always cut short whenever I appeared. His sudden coldness, the furtive glances…

My gaze crossed the room and met his. Sergei had finished his call and was now watching me. There was something different in his eyes—he wasn’t the man I fell in love with, but a calculating stranger.

“Nastya!” my friend called out excitedly. “It’s time!“

“Coming! I just need to go to the restroom!“

Without hesitation, I spun on my heels and, disguising my haste, walked to the service corridor. As soon as I reached the street, I ripped off my shoes and ran as fast as I could, without looking back.

That day, I left everything behind. My past, my life, even my name.

And for 15 years, no one knew where I went.