Chapter 4

On the morning of the wedding day, Luca put on his suit early.

When he pushed open the bedroom door, I was still in my pajamas, just having gotten up.

He paused.

“Chloe, why haven’t you changed into the wedding dress yet?”

I looked up at him and lied:

“I’ll put it on in a bit.”

Luca walked over smiling.

“I almost thought you didn’t want to marry me.”

He bent to kiss my forehead, but I turned my head aside.

His movement paused slightly, yet he didn’t press the matter, treating it as pre-wedding nerves.

“All right, stop throwing a tantrum. After the ceremony, I’ll take you on our honeymoon. Haven’t you always wanted to go to Paris? This time we’ll stay a few extra days.”

I looked at him and softly answered,

“Okay.”

He seemed a little surprised by my reaction.

In the past, whenever he mentioned our wedding, I couldn’t help smiling and pulling him into discussions about where to go after the ceremony and what kind of hotel to stay in for the honeymoon.

But today, even looking at him more felt exhausting.

Luca didn’t overthink it.

His phone suddenly rang.

When he answered, Vera’s tearful voice came through.

“Luca, can you come over for a bit?”

Luca’s expression immediately changed.

“What happened?”

“The lock on my apartment door is broken. Someone keeps knocking outside, and I’m afraid to open it…”

She paused, her voice growing lower.

“Never mind. You’re getting married today. I shouldn’t disturb you. If it delays the wedding, Chloe will be unhappy. I’ll figure it out myself.”

Luca immediately stood up.

“Stay inside and don’t open the door. I’m coming right away.”

After hanging up, he turned to look at me.

“Chloe, something’s come up on Vera’s end. I have to go over.”

I lowered my head and zipped up my suitcase.

“Go ahead.”

He frowned slightly.

“You can have the planner handle things at the wedding venue first. I’ll come back as soon as I’m done. It won’t take too long.”

“Okay.”

Seeing my indifferent attitude, a bit of fluster and helplessness entered his tone.

“It’s just a small matter. Vera is alone at home with no one she can rely on. I can’t really ignore her.”

I looked at him and suddenly remembered that five years ago he had held my hand and said that no matter what happened, I would always be the first person he protected.

Now that promise hadn’t even expired, and he had already forgotten it.

“Okay. I understand.”

Luca seemed not to have expected me to be so agreeable.

He stared at me for a while, then reached out as if to touch my face.

“Wait for me to come back.”

I neither dodged nor responded.

In the end he still picked up his coat and left in a hurry.

The moment the door closed, I changed clothes, pulled my suitcase, and walked out of the bedroom.

The car downstairs had been waiting for some time.

The driver opened the door for me and took the luggage.

“Miss White, shall we leave now?”

“Yes. To the airport.”

As the car drove away from the estate, I didn’t look back.

At the same time, Luca arrived at Vera’s apartment.

She sat on the sofa with red eyes. Seeing him enter, she immediately threw herself into his arms.

“Luca, I thought you wouldn’t come today.”

Luca held her and gently patted her back.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

Vera looked up and glanced at the black formalwear he was wearing.

“But today is your wedding. Chloe has waited for you so long. Are you really not going back?”

“Your matter is more important. She’s waited so long—she can wait a little longer.”

…

By the time he finally calmed Vera and rushed to the private island, the original ceremony time had already passed.

He walked into the hall in his black formalwear and looked around.

The chapel that should have been filled with white roses was completely empty, no guests.

Nothing at all.

Luca’s face instantly darkened.

“Where is Chloe? What’s going on here?”

The wedding planner stood at the entrance. Seeing him, she clearly paused.

“Miss White has already canceled the wedding. Didn’t she tell you?”