"Hey, why hasn't the wedding started yet?"
"I heard the groom bolted. Looks like this wedding's a no-go."
In the dazzling hall, guests buzzed about the delayed wedding.
A whispered tipster spilled, "Heard Wendy Tomlinson took off, groom dashed to the airport, tryna catch her, whether he'll be back, who knows!"
That news hit like a bomb, stirring things up!
"What? Mr. Noah Alvarez after Wendy Tomlinson? Ain't today his and Grace Tomlinson's wedding?"
The blabbermouth snickered, "Wendy and Mr. Alvarez grew up together. If not for Grace's meddling, today'd be Wendy and Mr. Alvarez's day. No mess like this."
"Yeah! Grace vanished for seven years, popped back and snatched Wendy's gig, broke a perfect match!"
Some couldn't bear it, speaking up for fairness.
"Can't say that. The Alvarez and Tomlinson families agreed, that Travis would let his real daughter marry the Alvarez family. Now, Miss Grace Tomlinson's back, she's supposed to tie the knot."
Someone waved off.
"But Wendy's still Tomlinson blood! Though her father Anderson is just an adopted son of the Tomlinson family, Travis raised her for years, almost like his own."
"And Grace was fetched from the sticks, a country bumpkin! Heard she's not just ugly, lacks any manners, even Travis and wife couldn't stand her."
"True? If I were Noah, I'd pick well-read Wendy, she's pretty!"
"Poor Grace, groom gone on her big day, so embarrassing!"
"If I were Grace, I'd find a hole and hide!"
...
Second floor, by the stairs.
Grace in a white gown, her delicate face extra pale. She was clutching the railing hard as if holding something back.
She's that "country heiress."
For this wedding, she planned for two whole months, from grand setups to wine choices for guests – all hers.
The hall filled with guests, and even the city mayor showed up.
It was supposed to be a grand wedding.
Her eyes scanned the faces sneering at her, landing on the clock bang in the middle.
Time's up, no sign of Noah...
"Noah's got nerve, late on such an important day! Grace, don't mind those folks saying..."
Belle Rogers, her bestie and bridesmaid, tried to console her when she noticed Grace's odd mood.
Shaking her head slowly, Grace said, "He won't come."
"Did he message you? Why's he not coming? He's trying to run?"
Grace stayed quiet, a faint, faint smile on her lips.
Five minutes earlier, she was all joy in the makeup room, awaiting the wedding, and then Noah's text came.
[Grace, Wendy's left home, she's not feeling good. I can't leave for now, let's postpone the wedding.]
Grace turned her eyes and looked downstairs as if searching for something.
"Where are my parents?"
Belle hesitated, seeming reluctant, "They... went to find Wendy."
Grace's gaze paused.
What they downstairs said was true – she couldn't compete with Wendy.
On this big day, her biological parents, and the groom, all gone to find Wendy.
They left her here alone, a target for ridicule.
The more Belle felt heartache for her, the more she hated the Tomlinson family.
"The Tomlinson family is ridiculous. They abandon their own daughter and fawn over someone else's. Have they lost their minds?"
"And Noah, falling for sneaky Wendy, blind as a bat, total jerk!"
"Grace, don't marry him, we won't, he ain't the right one for you!"
Grace stayed silent, just clenched the staircase rail.
The noise downstairs got louder, and guests were getting impatient.
"When's this wedding starting?"
"Is this even happening? At least give us an answer, leaving us hanging ain't right!"
"What the hell, first time at such a wedding. Jinxed!"
......
Grace pursed her lips, "Belle, can you calm the guests? Just tell them, the wedding was canceled, just let them leave."
Belle hesitated, "Grace, it's really off? Maybe we wait a bit more..."
"If he wanted to come, he'd be here by now."
Grace's tone was flat, with no emotion showing.
Belle went silent.
Her earlier words were outta frustration, only she knew how much Grace wanted Noah, what she gave up for him.
For Noah, Grace skipped studying abroad, and missed her biggest dance contest.
Even gave up her fave dance, learning jewelry design instead.
With joy, she planned this wedding, leaving no stone unturned, just to ensure no regrets.
She'd longed for a home of her own, almost there.
But the man she loved crushed it...
Not only shattered her dreams, but made her the butt of jokes for everyone.
After today, all would know Miss Grace Tomlinson got ditched by the groom, the topic of all Arkadelphia.
And Noah picked Wendy, making her never hold her head high in front of Wendy.
All these were enough to crush anyone, especially a woman with no confidence.
Thinking of this, Belle's eyes reddened with sympathy.
But she understood Grace. Once she decided, no changing.
"Okay, I'll find an excuse to cancel, you go rest in the makeup room."
Grace gave a faint smile and nodded.
Belle headed downstairs reluctantly.
While Belle comforted the guests downstairs, Grace took her phone and went to the small balcony at the hallway's end.
Paused a moment, she dialed a number.
The call got picked up soon, "Grace."