The wedding was about to begin, yet Julian still hadn't seen Audrey appear.
"What the hell is Audrey up to?"
Even Beatrice was starting to lose patience. "That warehouse isn't even far away. She should've made it here by now, even on foot!"
"Exactly! She's doing this on purpose. She's trying to stall for time!" Edward snapped in agreement.
Julian clenched his fists, displeasure written all over his face.
"Lillian, wait here. I'm going to bring Audrey back right now so she can be your bridesmaid!"
He had barely taken a step when Lillian clearly caught the flicker of worry in his eyes.
A flash of resentment crossed her heart. She quickly grabbed Julian's arm and clung to him, keeping him by her side.
"It's okay, Julian. If Audrey doesn't want to come, then let it go. She must still be upset. We shouldn't make things harder for her."
"That's right, Julian. It's better if she doesn't come. At least she won't ruin the wedding again," Beatrice added at just the right moment.
Only then did Julian let out a sigh and pull Lillian into a tender embrace. "If Audrey were even half as understanding as you, things would be so much easier. Lillian, don't worry. Even if this wedding is fake, you'll still be family to me for the rest of my life. I'll take good care of you."
Julian's voice was gentle, but a vicious glint flashed through Lillian's eyes.
She didn't want a fake marriage. The title of Mrs. Ashcroft could only belong to her.
Once Audrey was dead, she would take her place completely.
But for now, she only smiled, wrapped her arms around Julian gently, and said with feigned emotion, "Thank you, Julian..."
At the exact moment she lowered her head, the screen of Julian's phone lit up on the table. A message popped up.
"Mr. Ashcroft, something happened to Miss Winslow!"
Lillian's expression changed at once. Her eyes shifted, and she quickly put on a nervous face, holding tightly to Julian as she said, "Julian, I'm so nervous. Could you get me a glass of water?"
"Sure." Julian nodded and turned to leave.
Lillian picked up Julian's phone and casually deleted the message.
She wouldn't let Audrey call for help.
Today would be the day Audrey died.
Soon, all the guests had arrived. The place was filled with festive decorations and joyful noise.
After the officiant finished speaking, Lillian slowly made her entrance in a luxurious designer wedding gown.
An assistant pushed open the doors to the banquet hall. Beneath the dazzling lights, Edward held Lillian's hand and slowly walked her toward Julian.
"Miss Lillian Winslow, do you take Mr. Julian Ashcroft to be your husband, to stay by his side for the rest of your life, whether in poverty or wealth, in sickness or in health, never leaving him?"
"I do." Lillian's voice trembled with excitement.
But as Julian looked at Lillian standing before him, Audrey's image in that bridesmaid dress the day before suddenly flashed through his mind.
The woman he was supposed to marry was Audrey, yet here he was, standing at the altar with someone else.
A strange sense of panic rose inside him. It felt as though something important was slipping through his fingers.
Instinctively, he reached for the phone in his pocket, wanting to see if Audrey had tried to contact him, only to remember that he had left it backstage.
The unease kept growing, almost enough to swallow him whole.
Could it be... that something had gone wrong?
The thought turned his whole body cold, as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over his head.
He didn't dare think any further, but the memory rose before him anyway.
Audrey tied to that chair was still vivid in his mind, and the panic on her face had not looked fake.
Could that bomb have been real?
He couldn't bear to follow that thought any further. He was afraid things had truly spiraled beyond his control.
"Mr. Ashcroft, do you take Miss Winslow to be your wife..."
The officiant finished the vows, but Julian still didn't respond.
His brows were tightly drawn, revealing the storm of turmoil inside him.
"Mr. Ashcroft?" The officiant spoke again, and an eerie silence settled over the room.
Everyone waited for Julian's answer, but he gave none.
The air seemed to freeze solid, and even the faintest sound became unnaturally clear.
"Julian..." Lillian forced down the panic rising inside her and asked softly, "What happened..."
