Chapter 13

I couldn't react for a moment. "Not in the lounge? Could he have gone out to greet the guests?" After all, Gavin was the star of today's event. No one could possibly be busier than him. Dawn pressed her lips together. "I asked the makeup artist. She said Gavin answered a call and left." My heart skipped a beat. "Whose call?" "No idea." Dawn said the words, but it was clear she had someone in mind. Gritting her teeth, she muttered, "I just knew that Mandy wouldn't stay quiet!" "Gracie, call Gavin right now! Today is your wedding—you can't let anything go wrong!" I hurriedly grabbed my phone and disabled Gavin's number, but all I got was, "Sorry, the number you're calling is currently switched off." "He's turned off his phone." The gravity of the situation hit me like a ton of bricks. There was only an hour left before the wedding, and most of the guests had already arrived. Considering the Gould family's position in Fuvine, if Gavin didn't show up today. The mere thought of it made my vision blur. Panicked, I grabbed Dawn's wrist, my voice trembling. "Is my mom here yet?" "She's been here for a while," Dawn replied, her lips pressed tightly together. "What do I do?" I was beside myself with worry. Even if I had to face everyone's ridicule alone on the wedding stage, I could endure it. But under no circumstances could I let my mother find out. Her health wouldn't withstand the shock. "I'll find your brother Alex and ask him to come up with a reason to take your mom back to the hospital." "Okay." I nodded hurriedly. "Please, take care of my mom. "Don't panic. Call Caleb and see if he can reach Gavin. Also, ask your mother-in-law for help." Dawn, ever decisive and level-headed, exuded a calm authority that steadied me somewhat. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to focus. After Dawn left, I immediately called Caleb. The call connected quickly. "Where's Gavin?" I waste no time with pleasantries, cutting straight to the chase. Caleb was silent for a moment. "Caleb," I pressed, my voice low but urgent, "today is my wedding with Gavin. All of Fuvine's elites are here. Do you want the Gould family to become the laughingstock of the entire city?" Clearly grasping the seriousness of the situation, Caleb hesitated before saying, "Mr. Gould received a call from the hospital. Ms. Green attempted suicide and was admitted." It felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over my head, extinguishing the last shred of hope I had held onto. My knees buckled, and I swayed, barely managing to stay upright. It was a blow unlike any other—crushing, overwhelming despair. He had promised me. He said he wouldn't get involved with Mandy anymore. Yet, when he heard she had attempted suicide, he still abandoned me to see her. Why? Why today of all days? He had personally promised me this wedding. He knew how much this day meant. And yet, everything—this entire day, this dream—meant nothing compared to Mandy's place in his heart. I clutched the phone tightly, unable to speak. Even as Caleb's voice filtered through, his words sounded distant and muffled, like echoes in a void. I felt as though a blade had pierced my chest, twisting cruelly, robbing me of breath. "Mrs. Gould," Caleb's voice deepened, tinged with urgency, "I'm heading to the hospital now. Don't worry—once I find Mr. Gould, I'll bring him back. But I need you to stall for more time." There was less than an hour until the wedding began. And the hospital Mandy had been taken to was over an hour away from the venue. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to calm down. I knew despair wouldn't help. The best I could do now was minimize the damage. At the very least, I couldn't let my mom find out. As for everything else—after this wedding, I would put an end to it all. "That brat Gavin! Let's see how I deal with him this time!" Amelia stormed in, clearly distraught. This wasn't just about the Gould family's reputation—Gavin was the designated heir chosen by the Gould patriarch. If anything went wrong, it would disgrace the entire family. "Any updates? Has Caleb found him yet?" Amelia demanded, visibly anxious. Before I could answer, my phone suddenly buzzed—it was Caleb. Amelia didn't wait for me to react; she snatched the phone and answered immediately, "Caleb, did you find Gavin?" Caleb seemed momentarily taken aback by Amelia's voice but quickly responded, "Madam, don't worry. I've found Mr. Gould, and we're on our way back to the hotel now." Relief washed over Amelia's face, though her tone turned sharp again. "Put Gavin on the phone!" Caleb hesitated, his voice betraying a hint of unease. "Mr. Gould said he'll explain everything once he's back." Amelia, though frustrated, understood this wasn't the time for reprimands. Still, she added harshly, "Tell him to prepare himself—he's not escaping this once the wedding's over!" After hanging up, Amelia's tense expression softened slightly. With Gavin on his way back, it was just a matter of time now. As long as the wedding proceeded smoothly, that was all that mattered. "Gracie, don't worry. Once Gavin's back, I'll make sure he pays for this!" Amelia reassured me, patting my hand gently. "All you need to do is step onto that stage. I've already spoken to the emcee about everything." I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. Just as the makeup artist approached to touch up my makeup, Dawn hurried back, visibly flustered. "How did it go?" I asked anxiously. "Mrs. Summers refused to leave. She's insisting on staying to witness the wedding," Dawn replied, a light sheen of sweat on her forehead. Lowering her voice as she noticed Amelia still nearby, she leaned in and whispered, "Did they find that bastard Gavin?" I nodded. "They found him. He's on his way back." Dawn let out a long sigh of relief, patting her chest. "Good." As my bridesmaid, Dawn was to accompany me onto the stage. At this point, the hotel's grand hall looked like something out of a fairy tale—an ethereal dream that any girl would wish for their wedding day. But standing in the wings, listening to the emcee's lively banter and the cheerful laughter of the guests, I found it impossible to smile. My gaze drifted toward the VIP table where my mom sat, center stage. Despite the weariness on her face, her eyes sparkled with joy. Even the corners of her eyes radiated happiness and hope. Just then, a commotion spread through the lively hall. Guests began glancing at their phones, whispering among themselves. The atmosphere shifted uneasily. A sense of foreboding welled up in me. "What's going on?" I asked nervously. Behind me, Dawn's brows furrowed as her tone turned tense. "It can't be—did word get out that Gavin bailed halfway through?" Panic surged through me, but before I could respond, a tall, imposing figure strode toward me. Tom's sharp gaze met mine, his dark eyes unfathomable. Even from several yards away, the air around him seemed to pulse with an overwhelming pressure. "Tom," His expression filled me with unease. "What's wrong? Did something happen?" "Gavin isn't here, is he?" His words came as a question, but his tone left no room for doubt. My heart sank—he knew. Seeing my silence, Tom's eyes flared briefly with frustration before his tone turned icy. "Are you really going to stay here?" His question hit me like a bolt of lightning, leaving me even more unsettled. "Tom, what's going on? What happened?"