Chapter 46 Just an Elder Tobias felt a sting at the word "asking," but he swallowed it. "Yeah, okay. Consider me asking," he said. "I'll be there," Kaia replied. "I'll meet you at the venue, but I'm skipping the pre-ceremony preparations." He hesitated, then nodded. "Fine. I'll let the Graves family know." All those traditional pre-wedding customs were just for show anyway. The reception was what mattered. When Lucien arrived at the hospital, they were already gone. He spoke briefly with the doctor, then looked through the glass at the woman lying unconscious in the bed. He'd seen her just days ago, so full of life. Now she lay still, a fragile form lost in a tangle of tubes and beeping machines. He stepped away, pulling out his phone to call Alyssa again. "Anyone visited the Graves Manor in the last day or two?" he asked. "No, don't think so. Uncle Lucien, what's going on?" "Mm, I see," he replied, hanging up, lost in thought. Is she sun going to my либ accident… He tugged at his tie. The urge to storm over to her place, to demand what she was doing, was almost unbearable. But he couldn't. She was still Alden's bride-to-be. Until that engagement was dead and buried, he was just an elder to her. ***** Back at their house, Sally met Tobias at the door, her face a mask of concern. "So, how's your mother?" she asked. Tobias shot her a fierce glare. "Why weren't you at the hospital?" "Oh, honey, I wanted to!" "But Kaia… You know how she is. I didn't want to set her off. She'd start smashing things if I even looked at her wrong!" Tobias grunted, "Mother had a stroke. Hire a good private nurse for her tomorrow. Top care, understand?" A stroke? Sally's smile faltered. "And when she's discharged? You're not planning to bring her back home, are you?" Oh god. What if he wants her to move in here after? No way. I'm not taking care of an invalid. What if she passes away in the house? Talk about bad luck. Tobias said, "She'll stay at the hospital for now. We can afford it." Relief washed over Sally. "Right. Of course. So the wedding? Is Kaia actually going?" "She is!" A smug smile spread across Tobias' face. "Finally, a shred of decency from that girl." He added, "Even if she tried to bail, I'd drag her there myself. But she said to skip all the pre-wedding stuff. We'll get a good night's sleep and head to the hotel at ten tomorrow morning." Sally frowned. Skip all the traditions? A seed of doubt began to sprout in her mind. Is Kaia really going to show up? At ten o'clock that night, Alyssa's phone finally buzzed. It was Kaia. "Kaia! Where have you been? I've been so worried!" "Alyssa, I need you to do something for me tomorrow." On the morning of the wedding, Alden, sharp in a black tux and hair perfectly coiffed, projected an air of cool detachment. But a hint of something like eagerness flickered in his eyes. Getting married was a big deal, after all. His only real gripe was Kaia ditching all the pre-wedding rituals. He actually liked that traditional stuff. Luna, a vision in a white dress, her makeup soft and innocent, gazed at the man in the mirror, a little lost in the reflection. "Alden, you look amazing," Luna said, her cheeks flushing delicately as she stepped closer. Alden turned to her, raising a brow. "Silly girl." "I'm in white, you're in black. We match too, don't we? Even if we're just brother and sister," she whispered hopefully. His expression softened instantly."Hey, of course we do. Don't overthink it. Me getting married doesn't change a thing. You'll always be my number one." Sweet talk. The oldest poison in the book. Luna had heard him murmur a thousand pretty lies to her over the years. But today, he was marrying another woman. When he married Kaia, would he whisper sweet nothings to his bride the same way? The thought made her sick. Kaia's grandmother was practically on her deathbed, yet she still had the nerve to proceed with the wedding. Luna'd planned for every contingency, but hadn't expected Kaia to be this ruthless-so desperate to claw her way into the Graves family. All that talk about calling it off… For a second, I almost respected her. Turns out she's just another social climber, after all. Luna ruthlessly suppressed the burn of jealousy. "Alden, what time do we leave? Can I… Can I ride with you today?" Alden's car was the bridal car meant for the groom and his bride. Luna's eyes, wide and shimmering with unshed tears, fixed on his. He was a goner. His voice was husky when he answered, "Yeah. We'll ride to the venue together." Write your comment 1r Gifts