Chapter 27 Runaway groom
The note slipped from Derby’s trembling hand and fluttered to the floor as a dagger dropped in defeat. Emily darted forward, scooped it up, and without hesitation, read it aloud in a clear, ringing voice:
“Enjoy the spotlight, but there won’t be a wedding. —Lucas.”
A gasp rippled through the registry hall like a shockwave. Murmurs exploded from every corner of the hall as guests exchanged stunned glances. Phones came up, whispers turned into questions. The once-celebratory atmosphere turned tense in seconds.
Derby stood frozen for a second, then let out a furious, guttural scream. “Aahhh! You’re going to regret this, Lucas!” Her perfectly done makeup barely concealed the rage twisting her face as she collapsed onto the nearest chair, fists clenched, humiliation swallowing her whole.
Mr. Ashton's face turned red with confusion as he snatched the crumpled paper from Emily’s hand and reread the note, as if his ears were deceiving him. “What nonsense is this?!” He barked. “Where is he?! Where is your son?!” His eyes were glaring as he focused on Lucas's father.
Mr. Westman, equally stunned,
Pulled out his phone, his fingers hovered on the screen before holding the phone up to his ear. “Yes Gabe, gather the boys and find Lucas!” He barked into his phone. “Call him! Track his damn phone! Find out where he went!” When you do, drag his ass down to the registry!”
“Yes, boss,” Gabe responded and the line went dead.
Then he reasoned with the issue and chuckled at the end, “Did the groom run away on his wedding day?” He said almost in a whisper and exploded with laughter. “Oh my damn, I like you Lucas. You're breaking free at last. Your old man might be my boss but what the heck, forcing you into marrying another beauty like yourself?”
He chortled again, “Enjoy yourself wherever you are, pretty boy.” Gabe chortled some more from his side.
At the registry, Emily folded her arms and smirked faintly, leaning closer to Derby. “Looks like your ‘hubby-to-be’ outplayed you. You should’ve known, you can’t trap my pretty brother into marriage.”
Derby shot her a venomous glare. “Shut up, Emily. You don't know anything”
“Oh, I’d love to,” Emily replied sweetly, “but watching this train wreck unfold is just too satisfying.”
There was chaos everywhere and people kept whispering to each other. The two fathers walked around in confusion and shame.
Suddenly, Mr. Ashton turned to Mr. Westman. “This is all your fault, George! You said he agreed to this!”
“Of course, he did!” Mr Westman interjected, “He accepted the suit I bought for him. He smiled, admired it, and even thanked me. That little—” George Westman clenched his jaw as his words hung unfinished.
Just then, cameras clicked. Paparazzi had begun arriving for what was supposed to be a power-family quiet wedding. Instead, they now had a scandal to feast on.
Mr. Aston’s face flushed red in fury. “That ungrateful brat!”
Emily, on the other hand, let out a small, victorious laugh and mumbled to herself, “Told you Dad, no one can be forced into a marriage, not even Lucas.”
Her father, who didn't hear what she said, glared at her for the smirk on her face.
“Where the heck is your brother Emily?” I'm sure you’re aware of this silly drama of his.” Mr Westman blasted angrily.
“Dad, don't bring me into this. I'm not aware of his plan, but I'm glad he made this manly decision.” Emily responded.“
“Are you glad with this? This is a disgrace to us. How can you be glad with such a disaster as this? If you know where he is hiding then come out with it.”
“I didn't know about his plan or where he was hiding, okay.”
Emily, already anticipating her father’s reaction, had discreetly stepped outside the chaotic registry hall. Pulling out her phone, she quickly dialed Gabe. The moment he picked up, she dropped her voice to a hush.
“Gabe, don’t bother looking for my brother. He’s out of the city,” she whispered, fabricating the lie with ease. She knew full well that Lucas wasn’t far—but the last thing she wanted was for anyone, especially their father, to find him.
Gabe chuckled on the other end. “No problem, girl. I wasn't trying to, just pretentiously driving around town aimlessly and giving your dad some false hope. We can stay busy chasing ghosts, you know.”
Emily smirked. “Thanks, Gabe.” The line went dead.
Gabe leaned back in his seat, letting out a low whistle as he stared at the traffic ahead.
After the last incident with Lucas, Gabe had decided to let Lucas off since there was every possibility that some guardian angels were behind him.
“Hmm, pretty boy took an unexpected bold step,” Gabe muttered with a grin, admiration flickering in his eyes.
Back at the registry, Emily turned to see her father’s eyes burning holes into her from across the room. She gave a nonchalant shrug and approached him.
“No one has seen him,” she said calmly. “Not Diana, not Nathan. He didn't show up in his office either. He’s completely off the radar.”
Mr. Westman’s nostrils flared. “He’ll regret this,” he hissed.
Emily just said faintly, “Maybe. Or maybe he’s finally decided to live on his own terms.”
Her father ignored her comment and stormed away, trying to calm the people.
Meanwhile, across town, Lucas, in jeans and a black t-shirt, cruised along the highway, window down with music up. The wind blew his brown curly hair, roughing it up but he had a victorious smirk on his face. His turned-off phone was sitting on the passenger seat.
“Let them clean up that mess. I’ve got my own life to live. No regrets,” he muttered audibly. “They can't use me anymore, and to take revenge on some guy, Alex?. Plan failed" Then he laughed out, his victory palpable. “But if anyone wants to bring it on, then it's game on.” He said with all seriousness.
Little did he know that his life was heading to another dramatic dimension.
Back at the registry, after an hour of restless waiting, the wedding witnesses had all quietly dispersed, whispering among themselves as they left the registry hall. The shame that hung in the air clung heavily to Derby and her father, but it was Mr. Westman who seemed to be spiraling fastest.
Pacing furiously, he barked orders at Gabe, his voice sharp with panic. “I don't want to hear that, keep searching! Check the highway, the airport—hell, check the sky if you have to!”
“Sir, we’re doing all we can…” Gabe muttered, trying to stay calm under pressure. But Mr. Westman wasn’t listening. His mind was on the bridge contract slipping through his fingers, on the scandal, on the humiliation—and most of all, on how to drag his son back.
Meanwhile, miles away, Lucas had checked into a quiet hotel on the outskirts of the city under a different name. He needed distance—space to breathe, to think, to let the chaos cool down.
An hour after settling in, he turned on his phone just long enough to call Emily.
“I’m safe,” he said simply. “Tell no one. I’ll be back when I’m ready.” Then he powered it off again.
Later that evening, feeling more like himself, Lucas strolled down to the hotel restaurant. He ordered his favorite dishes and took his time savoring every bite. A rich dessert followed, and he leaned back in his seat, finally at ease.
“Check, please,” he said with a smile.
When the bill came, he casually handed over his card.
Declined.
He blinked. “Try the other one,” he said.
Declined.
A chill ran down his spine. Frowning, he opened his banking app and tried to initiate a direct transfer. A notification popped up:
"Your account has been frozen due to suspicious activities."
Lucas froze, staring at the message, a sinking feeling twisting in his gut. His earlier peace evaporated, replaced by a rush of disbelief and fury.
“What the hell…?” he muttered under his breath, realizing exactly who was behind it.
“Dad.”