Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Meanwhile, at the wedding venue, guests had already taken their seats.
The union of New York’s two most prominent families naturally drew considerable attention.
Behind the scenes, however, chaos reigned.
Alaric’s father, Steven Gilbert’s face was dark with fury. “Alaric, have you gotten hold of Stella yet? The ceremony starts in fifteen minutes. If there’s no bride, we’ll be the laughingstock of the entire city!”
Alaric’s expression was equally thunderous.
He dialed Stella’s number one more time, only to hear the robotic voice:
“The number you have called is currently unavailable.”
SLAM!
Alaric smashed his phone against the table, his heart racing with a panic he couldn’t explain.
What the hell was Stella doing?
Wasn’t she the one who had always been desperate for this wedding? Hadn’t she manipulated him into marriage? Hadn’t her lifelong dream been to become his wife?
Now that the wedding day had finally arrived, where the fuck had she disappeared to?
Meanwhile, Camilla Jones–Gilbert had just finished calling the hospital.
“I’ve confirmed that Stella checked out, but she never came to the venue.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Do you think… she’s actually leaving you at the altar?”
The more Camilla considered this possibility, the more distraught she became, tears welling in her eyes.
“She did mention breaking the engagement before. I thought she was just being emotional, but now I see–you’ve driven her away with your coldness! How am I supposed to face Elena’s memory now?”
Camilla and Elena Parker had been inseparable since childhood.
After Elena died, Camilla had taken Stella under her wing, dreaming of the day she would officially become her daughter–in–law.
“That’s ridiculous!” Alaric snapped, a strange tightness gripping his chest. “Stella would never walk away from me!”
But even as he said it, he remembered yesterday–Stella drugged and vulnerable.
The drug had been potent enough to break anyone’s inhibitions, to make them seek relief by any means.
- m. Naalaim My Own Life
88.3%
Chapter 10
Yet Stella had refused him completely, choosing instead to stab herself repeatedly rather than let him touch her.
It seemed she truly wanted nothing to do with him anymore.
As this realization sank in, Alaric felt a hollow sensation spreading through his chest–like something essential had been ripped away, leaving a void he’d never noticed before.
“I’m going to find her,” he said, his voice tight with an emotion he couldn’t name.
He turned to leave, but Steven barked after him.
“Her mansion is nothing but ashes! Where exactly do you plan to look?”
Alaric froze mid–step.
Right.
He’d almost forgotten that yesterday, Stella’s family estate had mysteriously caught fire, destroying everything.
Could it be…
Was she furious because he had saved Jenna first during the fire?
The thought sent a wave of unfamiliar anxiety through him. His palms began to sweat as he considered, for the first time, that Stella might actually be gone. Just as he was about to rush out anyway, a wedding coordinator burst in, breathless with relief.
“The bride is here!”
