Dead at Heart (Ariel and Jayson) novel Chapter 876

Ariel could tell Janice no longer intended to marry Wade. Still, it was another matter entirely for Wade to abandon the wedding venue at such a moment.

With a frigid look, Ariel said mockingly, "Mr. Garner, shouldn't you set your priorities right? What could possibly drive you to make such a rash decision?"

Wade's lips were pressed into a thin line. Alicia had been in an accident. He hadn't wished for this, but it had happened nonetheless.

Janice pulled her hand free. "Is it Alicia again?"

Wade's silence was answer enough.

Janice snickered. "Sure. You can leave."

Her response came swiftly—no fuss, no tantrum, none of the protests she might have made in the past. Wade felt a hollow ache inside him, panic rising, but he had no time to dwell on it. Alicia had injured her leg, likely the same one damaged years ago in an incident caused by Janice. He felt compelled to check on her.

"Wait for me. I'll be back soon," Wade promised as he stood.

Knowing she had no choice but to stay, Wade was confident Janice wouldn't mind his temporary absence; the wedding was, after all, due to start in less than two hours.

Wade quickly left the room and went downstairs, carefully avoiding the milling crowd. Along the way, he ran into Bradley, who immediately asked what was happening.

Bradley was stunned by Wade's explanation of the situation. "Janice was being so cooperative?"

It seemed completely unreal that she hadn't made a major fuss.

Wade's expression was grim as he unbuttoned his sleeves and got into the car. "Yeah. Jan is mature when it matters. I owe her this time. I'll make it up to her after the wedding."

Bradley shared the same thought. Janice only had eyes for Wade. She had endured their long-distance relationship since their engagement, patiently waiting for him to return from overseas.

In Bradley's mind, no one's love for Wade ran deeper than hers.

She lowered her head, sniffled, then smiled faintly at Ariel, who watched with concern. "I'm alright. It's better this way. He and I don't owe each other anything anymore."

Ariel's heart ached. The once bubbly, cheerful Janice looked utterly defeated by love.

Her phone lay beside her, but she had no intention of calling Wade. "It's alright. We'll stick to the original plan," she repeated, offering no further explanation.

Finally, the ceremony began.

Janice stood at the door. Beside her, Nicholas looked sharp as he adjusted his suit and tie.

Expressionless, Janice stared at the grand doors ahead. She already knew that her groom would not be waiting behind them today.