CHAPTER FOUR HUNDRED AND TWENTY NINE – KIDNAPPED BEFORE THE BIG DAY

A soft knock on the window startled her. She looked up to see Marco standing there, concern etched on his face. She unlocked the door, and he slid into the passenger seat. "Mi amor," he said softly, pulling her into his arms. "What happened?" Through her tears, Jasmine explained about Emily's betrayal. Marco listened, his jaw clenching in anger. "I'm so sorry, Jas," he said when she finished. "I can't believe Emily would do something like this." Jasmine wiped her eyes, suddenly feeling exhausted. "I can't either. I just... I don't understand why everyone seems determined to ruin our wedding." Marco cupped her face in his hands. "Hey, look at me. Nothing is going to ruin our wedding, okay? We're in this together, remember?" Jasmine nodded, trying to draw strength from Marco's words. But as they drove home in silence, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the latest in a string of disasters leading up to their big day. Over the next few days, the stress of everything b