Free Web NovelChapter 56: Chapter 56: The Groom’s Procession Is Long Overdue
"It’s too late."
Two minutes had already passed. The message couldn’t be unsent.
He grabbed Jaden’s hand, which was clutching his collar. His expression was cold. "Since you can’t bring yourself to say it, I’ll give you a hand."
"Alaric, how could you do this to me? I’m your best friend! You said you’d give me more time..."
"I already gave you an ultimatum. You treated my words like they were nothing, so don’t blame me for exposing you."
He pried Jaden’s hand off and forcefully shoved him away.
Just as he turned to leave, a powerful wave of dizziness washed over him, and the world began to spin.
He braced himself against the wall. The door, just a few steps away, blurred into a double image, and his outstretched hand couldn’t even manage to accurately grasp the doorknob.
Seeing that something was wrong with him—the jacket draped over his arm had fallen to the floor—Jaden suppressed his anger and stepped forward. He picked up the jacket, pulled one of Alaric’s arms over his own shoulder, and held him steady.
"You bastard, you expose me, you get wasted, and I’m still the one who has to take care of you."
Jaden cursed under his breath as he yanked open the restroom door and helped him out.
As they walked, Jaden pulled out his phone to call a designated driver, not forgetting to send a message to Evan Ford: [Alaric drank too much. I called a driver for him.]
When they reached the parking lot outside the club, Jaden saw a tall man in a black hoodie already standing next to Alaric Blackwood’s black Maybach.
The man was wearing a mask, his face thoroughly concealed, revealing only a pair of slender, upturned eyes.
"The driver?"
"Yes."
Jaden found the car key on Alaric Blackwood, unlocked the doors, and helped him into the back seat. Knowing Alaric got cold easily, he casually draped the jacket over him.
After closing the back door, he handed the car key to the driver and gave him the address for Maplewood Estate.
He glanced worriedly at the dazed Alaric Blackwood in the back seat. He pulled open the car door, intending to get in and escort Alaric home, but a soft, slender hand suddenly grabbed his arm.
"Garland, are you abandoning me?"
He turned his head and saw Stella Yarrow, her eyes red-rimmed.
"Alaric’s drunk, and his wedding is tomorrow..."
"So your friend is more important than your girlfriend, is that it? Do you have any idea that when you left me at the club entrance just now, a couple of thugs tried to hit on me? If the security guard hadn’t stopped them, those two bleached-blond punks would have dragged me away."
Stella Yarrow angrily shook off his hand. "Since your friend is so important, then go ahead and take him home. I’ll go back by myself. And tomorrow, I’m handing in my resignation letter. I quit! And we’re over."
Stella Yarrow wiped away a tear, turned with a sob, and walked away.
Jaden’s head was splitting.
There was no way he could let her go home by herself in this state. He instructed the driver to take Alaric Blackwood safely to Maplewood Estate. But then he reconsidered, thinking it wasn’t right. So, he gave the driver the address for the Blackwood Family’s old residence instead, telling him to take Alaric directly there.
After giving the instructions, he glanced at Alaric Blackwood in the back seat, whose eyes were shut tight, completely ’dead’ drunk. He steeled his heart, slammed the car door shut, and hurried after Stella Yarrow.
The Maybach pulled out of the club’s parking lot, but it didn’t head toward Maplewood Estate or the Blackwood Family’s old residence. Instead, it twisted and turned onto a hidden side road, and soon, it had left the city limits.
Once they were far from the streets dense with security cameras, the hooded man in the driver’s seat pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
"It’s done."
"Take him far away. The farther, the better."
...
「At the same time.」
Sophie Shaw and Anne staggered out of the lounge bar, supporting each other.
They had already arranged for a designated driver. After handing over the keys, the two of them piled into the back seat of the Cayenne and huddled together.
Anne wasn’t planning on going home tonight. She was going to stay with Sophie Shaw at the Kane Family’s house for the night. First thing in the morning, she needed to do Sophie’s bridal makeup and make the bride look absolutely beautiful.
The car drove for half an hour before reaching its destination.
After paying the driver, Anne helped Sophie Shaw out of the car and rang the doorbell of the Kane Family’s house.
The person who opened the door was Joseph Shaw.
It was almost midnight. He hadn’t been able to get in touch with Sophie Shaw, and as her father, how could he possibly sleep?
Seeing that the bride-to-be had returned safely, he suppressed his anger despite the reek of alcohol on her and said nothing, stepping aside to let Anne pass.
After closing the door, he tried to take Sophie Shaw’s other arm to help her to her room upstairs, but the moment he touched her, she shook his hand off.
"I don’t need your help."
Sophie Shaw’s expression was cold, her tone just as frigid.
"How much did you drink?"
"None of your business."
Joseph Shaw sighed. It was impossible to communicate with her, so he could only turn his attention to Anne. "Anne, please take care of her. You can sleep in Sophie’s room tonight. There are fresh sheets and toiletries."
"Okay, thank you, Uncle."
"Hurry and get her upstairs to rest. You two wash up and get to bed. Don’t be late for the big day tomorrow."
"Okay, Uncle."
Anne found two pairs of slippers in the shoe cabinet in the entryway, helped Sophie Shaw change into them, and then supported her up the stairs.
Sophie Shaw’s room had been redecorated. The bedding had been changed to a festive bright red, a large "double happiness" character was pasted on the wall above the bed, and there were also decorations of pink stuffed animals and balloons... ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
She helped Sophie Shaw sit on the edge of the bed and took off her jacket. She had intended to take her to the bathroom to wash up before sleeping, but Sophie’s head flopped onto the bed, and she drifted into a deep sleep.
Anne wasn’t as drunk, just a little dizzy. She pulled the covers over Sophie Shaw, went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face, then crawled into bed. Not forgetting to set an alarm on her phone, she fell peacefully asleep.
Sophie Shaw was sleeping groggily when the alarm jolted her awake.
Anne nudged her shoulder. "Get up and take a shower."
"What time is it?"
"Six o’clock." frёeωebɳovel.com
The groom’s party was scheduled to arrive to pick her up at ten o’clock sharp, and they were expected at the wedding hotel at eleven-thirty...
Sophie Shaw sat up, rubbing her dizzy head. She noticed her room looked completely different. All the drawing papers she had left out to dry on her desk before staying at Alaric Blackwood’s place were gone.
She got up and walked to the desk, pulling open the drawers. She didn’t see the papers and assumed the cleaning lady had put them away for her. Since today was her wedding, she set the matter aside, went into the bathroom to wash up, and then took a proper shower.
Because it was a special day, she wasn’t required to go downstairs for breakfast. At seven o’clock, a servant brought up a tray with two bowls of tangyuan, symbolizing reunion and a happy, harmonious life.
After hastily eating a few of the tangyuan, Sophie Shaw changed into her wedding gown and sat down at the vanity mirror. Anne ran to her car, brought up her own makeup case, opened it, and began to apply her makeup, followed by styling her hair and putting on her jewelry and headpiece.
Once the bride was beautifully made up, Anne quickly changed into her bridesmaid dress, casually put on some light makeup, and quietly waited with Sophie Shaw for the groom’s party to arrive.
Ten o’clock arrived in the blink of an eye.
But there was still no sign of the wedding convoy.
At that very moment, Alaric Blackwood was still inside the black Maybach.
He had been woken up by the piercing sound of a car horn.
He opened his eyes to find himself in the back seat of the car with a jacket draped over him. He was alone, and the car was parked in a desolate, godforsaken place.
