Chapter 4 A Wedding Without A Groom

Adeline was still reeling from the shock of seeing the white light when Waylon suddenly turned to look at her. To her, his face remained a blur, lost in a haze of white mist, his face indistinct. Yet, despite not being able to see him clearly, she could feel his stare-cold, unreadable, as deep as the ocean's trench.

A tremor ran through Adeline's body, instinct kicking in as she tried to shrink away. But before she could pull back, a firm hand clamped around her chin, fingers pressing against bone. Pain shot through her.

"Fine, I'll marry you." Waylon suddenly leaned in, his voice rich and smooth, laced with an eerie gentleness. "Miss Sullivan, eat well and regain your strength so I can take my time with you later."

With that, he patted her cheek intimately before stepping out of the car.

"Ugh-" The nausea surged inside Adeline, violent and overwhelming. One of the bodyguards reacted quickly, shoving a trash bin in front of her just as she doubled over, vomiting. Afterward, she had a strange clarity of vision.

As Adeline lifted her head, her refocused gaze landed on Waylon's unfamiliar figure at the limousine door. Tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in dark colors, he had one hand resting casually in his pocket. In the blinding light, his coat took on a ghostly hue. He looked like a phantom stepping out of the darkness, his very presence radiating a chilling, unshakable aura.

...

Three days later. A dense mountain forest stretched endlessly.

Cutting through the wilderness, a long asphalt road snaked toward an opulent estate. At its grand entrance, rows of servants stood in perfect formation to welcome the arriving guests.

Inside the grand hall, Adeline walked forward in a white wedding gown, intricate embroidery shimmering under the soft glow of the lights.

The orchestra played a romantic melody-twice-before falling into a heavy, unsettling silence.

A quiet murmur of confusion rippled through the small crowd. Among them, an elegantly dressed older couple stood stiffly, looking displeased.

The wedding had begun. But there was no groom.

Adeline's vision had returned, yet she played the blind bride, feigning ignorance to the discomfort thickening the air around her.

Zain hurried over, shaking his head as he approached Ruby and her husband and confirmed that Waylon was nowhere to be found.

Ruby's face darkened. The anger hit her so hard that she wavered on her feet. "Someone bring me a rope! I swear, I'll hang myself right outside my grandson's door!"

Immediately, relatives and servants rushed forward to console her.

Nearby, Adeline caught sight of a well-dressed, middle-aged woman stepping toward Ruby.

Lowering her voice, the middle-aged woman murmured, "Ruby, you know how Waylon is. He does as he pleases. There's no need to let this get to you. Thankfully, today's guests are all close acquaintances. Word won't spread. Let's just go through with the ceremony."

"Go through with the ceremony? Without a groom?" Ruby snapped.

The woman's eyes flicked toward Adeline, still standing at the center-bouquet in hand, her face blank and composed.

The woman chuckled. "She can't see anyway. Just get someone to stand in for Waylon. What really matters is the child growing inside her belly, right? As long as she stays calm and doesn't do anything to harm the child, that's all that's important."

The woman likely assumed Adeline wouldn't hear her and spoke without restraint. But after five years of blindness, Adeline's hearing had sharpened to an almost unnatural precision, catching every word.

"That wouldn't be fair to her," Ruby muttered, her eyes drifting to Adeline.

Watching Adeline stand there, bouquet in hand, her face calm and seemingly untouched by the tension around her, Ruby felt a sudden stab of pity.

"The Sullivan family lost everything years ago. She's a nobody now. Marrying into the Holden family is a blessing for her. She should be grateful," the woman added.

Ruby remained still, her brows knitted in hesitation, but in the end, she relented.

A tall maid was selected to act as Waylon's stand-in.

The ceremony proceeded without a hitch. The rings were exchanged. The vows were declared.

Adeline placed her hand on the arm of the maid beside her, acting as though nothing were amiss. After the ceremony ended, she was escorted to her new bedroom.