Chapter 4
Third Person’s POV
On his wedding day, Kayden lingered in his tuxedo, feeling strangely reluctant to join the procession. Some inexplicable force pulled him toward Gabriella’s room.
Finding it empty sent an unexpected jolt through him. He pushed away his unease, convincing himself she must be at the venue helping with preparations.
Today was supposed to be perfect – marrying the woman he’d always wanted, with their baby on the way. His dream life was falling into place. Yet something felt off.
Then he saw Charlotte in her wedding dress, and everything else faded away. She was stunning – everything he’d imagined during all those years of wanting her.
He wasn’t alone in his appreciation. Ryan, her lifelong friend, couldn’t take his eyes off her. But Kayden wasn’t threatened by some broke pretty boy with smooth talk and nothing else to offer.
Making a point, he pulled Charlotte into a kiss right in front of Ryan before escorting her to their waiting car.
Throughout the ceremony, he kept noticing Gabriella’s absence. He told himself she was just avoiding the wedding, too heartbroken to watch him marry someone else.
The next day, he and Charlotte left for their honeymoon in Bali, Gabriella’s absence already forgotten in their newlywed bliss.
Two weeks later, returning home, something felt different. When the housekeeper mentioned Gabriella had left the country on his wedding day, memories of giving her money for a “finding herself” trip vaguely surfaced.
She’d be back in two weeks, he assumed. He’d have to sit her down, tell her to get better at hiding her feelings. Charlotte needed peace during her pregnancy, and he wouldn’t let anyone – especially not Gabriella – upset his wife.
Two weeks passed. Nothing. Another two weeks. Silence.
Finally unsettled, he tried calling her – his first attempt since she’d left. The number was disconnected.
The truth hit: she was really gone. No goodbye, no forwarding address. Just… vanished.
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Chapter 4
It stung his ego. How dare she cut him off so completely? But then he rationalized- of course she had to leave. He was married now, with a baby coming.
Whatever. He had everything he wanted. Gabriella’s absence didn’t matter.
Actually, he thought, trying to convince himself, it was better this way. More peaceful.
But the empty silence in her wake felt anything but peaceful.
