Chapter 87

As the hour slipped past and Wren was nowhere to be seen, Ivy could barely contain her frustration. Beneath the composed facade, bitterness and resentment simmered, threatening to boil over. She was so close—just one step away from officially becoming Wren's fiancée. Yet, at the most critical moment, he had vanished. Her fingers tightened around her phone as she dialed his number again, but the line went unanswered like before. A chilling thought crossed her mind: Had Wren blocked her? The possibility sent a surge of panic through her. Gathering her gown, she prepared to head upstairs and confront Carlisle directly. But before she reached the stairs, Carlisle appeared, descending into the banquet hall with a composed, authoritative air. Ivy hurried to meet him. "Mr. Carlisle, have you been able to reach Wren?" Carlisle's eyes softened as he looked at her. Her striking resemblance to Shirley in her youth never failed to stir a mix of guilt and nostalgia in him. "I g