Chapter 4

Early the next morning, I went downstairs to buy Mom's favorite bagel from the shop at the corner of the street.

After breakfast, I'd tell her there was an urgent family matter back in our hometown and drive her out of the city immediately.

But when I opened the front door with the breakfast I'd bought, the living room was empty.

The dress and red shawl she had prepared the night before were also gone.

There was a handwritten note on the coffee table.

[Ian, Zac came to pick me up early this morning.]

[He said you worked late last night and wanted you to sleep a little longer.]

[I'll head to the hotel first to help Gina welcome the guests. Come over after you wake up.]

I ran downstairs, floored the accelerator, and sped straight toward the hotel.

When I arrived, the entrance was lined with congratulatory flower stands, and guests streamed inside one after another.

Ignoring the people greeting me, I ran directly to the bridal suite on the second floor.

When I pushed the door open, the makeup artist was touching up Gina's makeup while the bridesmaids surrounded her, taking photos.

Mom was nowhere to be seen.

Gina caught sight of me in the mirror, and her expression immediately changed.

I took big strides toward her and stared at her.

"Where's my mom?"

She looked away and answered dismissively.

"She said it was too stuffy in here. She went out to get some fresh air in the hallway. Zac's with her."

I immediately turned around and went to look for her. Some time later, as I reached the corner near the emergency stairwell, voices drifted out from inside.

The fire door hadn't fully closed, and through the narrow gap, I saw Zac smoking on the stairs. Katie and Gina were standing beside him.

"Gina, are you really letting Mrs. Jefferson go on stage later? What if she says the wrong thing and ruins everyone's mood? Also, that silver bracelet she's wearing is so old. It's practically turning black."

Zac quickly chimed in. "Exactly. If Mrs. Jefferson wears that on stage, the Fletcher family will laugh at her. She should wear the gold bracelet the Fletcher family prepared instead."

Then, I heard Gina speak.

"We're only letting her show her face. It's just so people don't think I, the bride, have no family. Right after she goes through the motions, we'll get her off the stage."

Rage surged inside me, and I kicked the stairwell door open.

Everyone inside jumped.

Gina slowly turned around, and the expression on her face froze.

My gaze swept past them and landed on Mom standing halfway down the stairs.

She had simply come there to take a walk. Instead, she had been forced to hear every single word.

She didn't yell, and she didn't make a scene.

Lowering her head, her trembling hands slowly removed the silver bracelet from her wrist.

It caught on her knuckles, and she tugged hard, causing a red welt to instantly appear across the back of her hand.

Clang.

The bracelet landed on the lid of a discarded storage bin nearby.

Mom's body swayed, and her face turned pale. Then, she collapsed backward.

"Mom!"

I lunged forward and caught her before she hit the ground.

Her fingers were icy cold, and her breathing was rapid. Even the color had drained from her lips.

Gina rushed over in panic. But instead of calling an ambulance, her first reaction was to shut the fire door.

At some point, Mike had appeared from the far end of the hallway.

He glanced at Mom, frowned, and looked thoroughly annoyed.

"The elderly shouldn't stay here if they're emotionally unstable."

He turned to face Zac.

"Arrange a car. Get Mrs. Jefferson out through the side entrance. Don't let this interfere with the ceremony."

Katie and Zac immediately stepped forward.

"Ian, today is the most important day of Gina's life. Don't make this into a bigger issue. Just leave with your mom."

I ignored every one of them. Bending down, I lifted Mom into my arms.

She was so light that my heart ached.

Holding her tightly, I walked out of the stairwell and toward the hotel's side entrance.

I had just settled her into the back seat of my car when hurried footsteps in high heels echoed behind me.

Gina ran after me. She was in her wedding gown. Her makeup was flawless, and she was still clutching her bridal bouquet.

"Ian, take Mrs. Jefferson to the hospital first. I'll come as soon as the ceremony is over."

Standing beside the car door, I turned to look at her.

"Are you coming with me or not?"

From inside the ballroom, the emcee's opening remarks echoed through the speakers.

Gina glanced back. The aisle had already lit up beneath the stage lights.

She bit her lip without moving.

I didn't ask a second time.

Before closing the car door, I ripped the boutonniere from my suit and tossed it onto the hem of her wedding dress.

"Gina, after seven years together, this is where it ends."