Separate Weddings, Separate Lives novel Chapter 12

"Ms. Graham said you should go ahead with the wedding, Mr. Cromwell."

Gregory Voight's expression was a little strange, but Thaddeus visibly relaxed the moment he heard those words.

That meant Louisa was here. She had come, and that was enough.

Danica got out of the car, her nerves stretched tight. She was afraid that Thaddeus would turn around and abandon her at any given second.

The wedding was unprecedented in scale, and even the slightest mishap would turn her into a laughingstock. No matter what happened later, she had to see this ceremony through first. Everything else could wait.

She pulled a bridesmaid aside and had her pass a message to her parents, urging them to speed things up and get through the formalities as soon as possible.

Without anyone needing to prompt him, Thaddeus had already instructed his people to begin.

The music started. As the host's smooth, pleasant voice echoed through the venue, Danica walked forward with the bouquet in her hands.

Thaddeus wasn't looking at her, though. He was scanning the crowd.

He needed Louisa to see this moment with her own eyes. He wanted her to witness it because this was the explanation he was giving her.

"And now, please welcome your bride," said the host.

Thaddeus' gaze never even settled on Danica. Instead, it swept anxiously through the crowd again and again.

Most people didn't understand what was happening, but Danica knew exactly who he was looking for.

"Teddy," she called out, breaking the awkward silence as she ran toward him. "I told you I wanted to be the one to run to you during our wedding."

Her boldness drew a wave of cheers from the audience. She threw herself into his arms, then pressed her lips close to his ear.

"Everyone's watching. If anything goes wrong now, it won't be good for the Cromwells or the Watsons."

Thaddeus finally stopped searching for Louisa and lowered his gaze to look at Danica. Even beneath layers of makeup, her pallor was unmistakable, and panic flickered uncontrollably in her eyes.

She was terrified, and this was only the beginning.

He steadied her and turned to the host. "Give me the microphone."

"Looks like Mr. Cromwell wants to say a few words himself," the host joked as he handed it over.

A week ago, the letter she had been holding wasn't anyone else's. It had been hers.

The microphone slipped from his hand and hit the floor. The sound boomed through the speakers, rattling the entire hall.

"Where is she?" Thaddeus asked, his voice tight as he looked at Gregory.

"I'm sorry, but I have no idea," Gregory said honestly. "She gave me the letter yesterday and told me to hand it to you if you went looking for her today."

"And if I didn't?" Thaddeus asked under his breath.

"Then I was supposed to give it to you after the wedding."

Thaddeus took the letter, but he didn't open it. Instead, he tore it to shreds.

"I refuse to accept her resignation."

He flung the scraps into the air. Paper drifted down like snow as he turned and walked out.