“Sir!” Michael called out.
“Miss!” the Rose family butler shouted at the same time.
They both rushed backstage, approaching from different directions. Michael quickly pulled me aside.
“Felix Thompson has picked up Miss Sinclair and Miss Hayes,” he reported quietly. “They’re heading to the airport now. Our team is following
I frowned, glancing toward my grandfather. “What about the airport?” I asked.
“The private jet purchased under Charles’s name has filed a flight plan,” Michael leaned closer. “The destination is a visa–free country, quite far from here.”
I raised an eyebrow. Three days ago, when my grandfather unexpectedly agreed to attend the engagement, I’d sensed something was off. My investigation revealed unusual movements in his accounts and a private jet purchase through his butler’s name.
I’d thought Audrey might be planning a trip, but taking Rachel with her? That complicated things.
“Don’t intervene yet,” I told Michael. “Have our people stay back but keep watching.“-
Glancing at Laurel, who was talking to her butler, I lowered my voice. “When they reach the airport, detain them discreetly. Don’t let that plane take off.”
The Rose family had full custody of Rachel. If Audrey took her from the country without authorization…
Is she trying to get herself charged with kidnapping? I thought. This could ruin her life.
Michael nodded and hurried away, already making calls.
Laurel’s POV
“They’re on their way,” our butler whispered. “Sinclair and your sister have left the building. Our men are following them. What are your
orders?”
I considered the options. “There’s a stretch of road near the airport where the surveillance cameras are down for maintenance. Tell our people to stay close. When they reach that blind spot, I want Audrey Sinclair and Rachel to die in a car accident. Both of them, together.”
The butler’s lips curved upward. “Yes, Miss Rose. The men I’ve selected won’t disappoint you.”
As he slipped away, I took a deep breath and composed my features. I buried any trace of hatred behind a mask of innocence before turning to
Blake.
“Blake darling,” I asked sweetly, “what did Michael want? Everything okay?*
“Company business,” he said, frowning as he watched our butler leave. “What did your butler want? Shouldn’t he be helping with the
ceremony?”
I laughed lightly. “Nothing important. Just a message from Mother about the rings. She wanted to make sure I didn’t forget them.”
I offered Blake the small velvet box containing our engagement rings, using the moment to move closer to him. “Bl Shall we?”
Blake took my hand. His grip was firm but distracted.
十
rling, it’s almost time.
1/2
Chapter 247
The host was already going wild, babbling about our incredible journey and unbreakable bond with the crowd. When he spotted us, he cranked up the volume even more.
‘Look everyone! Here they are!” he shouted into the microphone. “Tonight’s golden couple has arrived!
The room exploded with applause. All these people cheering for us, not one of them giving a thought to Blake’s ex–wife or the knife incident from minutes ago. Just like that, Audrey Sinclair was erased, forgotten.
“And now, the exchange of rings!” the host announced, right on cue.
This was the moment we’d prepared for. Blake’s PR team had made sure every reporter knew to focus on the supposedly incredible rings when the box opened. All those cameras pointed at us, ready to capture what they’d been told would be ‘breathtaking designs.
Blake lifted the lid of the velvet box.
My heart stopped.
Instead of the custom rings Audrey designed, two plastic toy rings with fake diamonds sat on the velvet cushion.
The ballroom went completely silent.
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