How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Maurice and the others were almost spot on with their guesses. He let out a strained hiss. "They ran off together? Wait-hang on, that can't be right."

Who ever heard of a groom eloping with his own bride?

Even the matriarch was baffled. "So what exactly is his plan now?"

Lucinda and the others all turned to look at her.

There were only ten minutes left before the ceremony was supposed to begin.

The butler, dabbing nervously at the sweat on his brow, looked like he'd never seen anything like this in all his years of service. "Mr. Silverstein said to go ahead and seat the guests. When the time comes, everything will be made clear."

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances. None of them felt the least bit confident, but with the bride and groom missing, what else could they do?

They didn't even know where the couple had gone.

The matriarch made a decisive call. "Enough. Let's just trust Jarrod."

The arrangements were set, the guests were here—whatever happened, they had to see this through.

Esmeralda, anxious and fidgeting, spun around and hurried to call Elodie.

But all she got was a pre-recorded message: "The number you have dialed is unavailable."

Esmeralda stared at her phone, speechless.

So she was being shut out too? Elodie hadn't even told her?

Frustrated, she turned around-just in time to spot Fleming, who had already arrived.

He noticed her as well. Before Esmeralda could school her expression, she saw Lucy gliding up behind Fleming.

and offered a warm,

and gracious as

done nothing to deserve her resentment.

stopped by Esmeralda's side and, without warning, gave her a light tap on the back of the head. "Don't be

clutched her head and glared up

front. "You want to

all, Esmeralda was still officially Fleming's fiancée, so being seen together wouldn't have raised

wilted, looking down at her shoes. "He's already got

for a moment, then moved ahead. "At

pursed her lips and followed, forcing herself not to glance in

his part,

before turning to Lucy

up here

"Aren't you

didn't change. "No

sighed. "You don't have to babysit me, you

impassive as ever,

just smiled, slipping her arm through

gradually being

the time came, everyone was ushered into

windows lined each wall, framing a breathtaking view of

it seemed to

calm everyone's

nerves.

s

hand ticked to the scheduled hour, there was still

whispering began to spread among the guests confusion and speculation buzzing beneath