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

resentment. It wasn't Lucy's fault things with

side and, without warning, gave her a

her head and glared up

nodding toward the front. "You want to sit

Esmeralda was still officially Fleming's fiancée, so being seen

down at her shoes. "He's already got

a moment, then moved ahead. "At least you're not

forcing herself not to glance in Fleming's

part,

at Esmeralda's retreating back before turning to Lucy "Let's

It's cold up here on

playfully. "Aren't you going

didn't

to babysit me, you know.

remained as impassive as ever, not budging

slipping her

guests were gradually being shown to their

everyone was ushered into the main

lined each wall, framing a breathtaking view of

it seemed to

calm everyone's

nerves.

s

minute hand ticked to the scheduled hour, there was

began to spread among the