That night, Bowen should have been the busiest groom alive, bustling with the fervor of the grand reception. Yet, the moment Leandro and Seraphina made their entrance, the smile that once graced his face vanished, never to return.

Even as he occasionally exchanged pleasantries with the arriving guests, his laughter was faint, his eyes betraying a stormy gloom.

Before long, Bowen had slipped away from the entrance of the grand hall.

Simon Martin, mingling among the guests, keenly sensed Bowen’s absence. He promptly sent his assistant, Isaac, on a search mission.

Isaac scoured the place without any luck. Eventually, he knocked on the bridal suite, only to find Tania primping in front of a mirror, surrounded by a gaggle of bridesmaids, all immersed in merry banter.

The sudden appearance of Simon’s aide startled Tania, “What brings you here? Is something wrong?”

“Nothing, nothing at all,” Isaac stammered, “I just came to see if you were ready, miss. I won’t disturb you ladies further.”

Knowing Tania’s inability to keep things under wraps, Isaac dared not divulge Bowen’s disappearance, fearing the chaos it might unleash. So, with a polite nod, he closed the door and retreated.

Just around the corner, Isaac nearly collided with Andrea. He hesitated for a split second before greeting her, “Miss Martin.”

Andrea simply nodded, “What are you doing here?”

Isaac furrowed his brow slightly and decided to speak up, “Miss, have you seen Mr. Smith?”

Andrea shook her head, asking, “He’s missing?”

“He was just at the entrance, welcoming guests,” explained Isaac. “He seemed to leave the banquet hall, and Mr. Martin sent me looking for him.”

Andrea showed little reaction, merely responding, “Carry on, then.”

With a quick acknowledgment, Isaac hurried off.

Andrea lingered, but then turned and stepped back into the banquet hall.

of a hundred tables, Andrea walked straight to the front, where indeed, she found Leandro and Seraphina at

around her, and upon spotting Andrea, she

her away from the crowd, “Your dress

with compliments, “Did you see Bowen when you

could I miss him?” Seraphina replied, adjusting her own

him?” Andrea inquired in a low voice, “He’s gone missing

couldn’t suppress

family in a state of subtle disarray, a stark contrast

for this

what you

eyeing Andrea, “Whatever I said, it

an assistant. Seraphina nudged Andrea, who followed Simon’s

disappear, Seraphina

Simon arrived at a room guarded

Isaac

the door behind

resting inside,” Isaac informed

the room’s soundproof walls

armchair, a cigarette dangling from his lips. His mind was haunted by the images he had seen on Seraphina’s phone, especially the last one—Sandra, with the slight swell of

him, rage and desire erupted unchecked, and he

was not meant for pregnancy, and he had not intended for her to conceive until

pregnant, the irony

against the Reynolds; now, it was his own flesh

most pressing issue.

manage alone? How would she protect

shouldn’t have cared, yet the thoughts tormented him

have you become?” Simon stood at the door, his gaze

eyes fixed outside,

calm but frosty, “A few simple words from a woman can break you like this. If I had known you were

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