"Brad!" Carla was momentarily taken aback, but quickly broke into a smile. "It's been awhile."
"Indeed, it has." Brad's gaze never once left Carla. "How are you?"
"Good, good." Sensing the storm brewing in Zayn, Carla held his arm in the nick of them and smiled. "We're getting married soon. We hope you can make it!"
"I see. Sure."
Brad's gaze fell on her hand which was curled around Zayn's arm. He resembled a falling star, gradually dimming before winking out completely. How he wished that Carla would one day hold his arm like that.
For many years, he had hoped for his wish to come true, but all to no avail. It seems like it'd be close to impossible for that to happen now…
"We'll send you an invitation once the date is confirmed, " Zayn stated courteously before walking away with Carla.
Carla brushed past Brad's shoulder and left without looking back.
Although he had mentally prepared himself and imagined meeting her again more times than he could count, when both of them brushed past each other at that moment, his heart still wrenched painfully in his chest.
He lowered his gaze and stood rooted to the spot, waiting for the footsteps behind him to fade away.
Picturing Carla's retreating figure, Brad released a pained sigh. Perhaps we're destined to miss out on each other in this life…
Carla felt slightly guilty toward Brad, but she stopped herself from looking back. She knew that a blunt rejection was better than stringing him along by giving him false hope.
"Why didn't you stay to chat for awhile, seeing as he's your old friend?" Zayn asked casually.
"He's probably still there. Why don't we go back and look for him?" Carla pretended to turn back.
"Don't you dare!" Zayn immediately grabbed her and confined her in his arms, pinching her cheek with a slightly annoyed look on his face. "I've been spoiling you too much and you're getting bolder now, aren't you?"
"You were the one acting all sarcastic about it." Carla gave him a chaste kiss and explained, "Brad and I never had anything going on between us. If anything, I'm the one who owes him. I never should've used him as a shield."
"It's all in the past now."
Zayn also felt that he was a tad too reckless before, but of course, he would never admit that aloud. After all, men were prideful creatures.
Carla rolled her eyes at him and changed the subject. "Looks like the wedding's about to begin. Let's go."
Even though she did not approve of Harry and Lena's marriage, the wedding vibes still got to her, so much so she started planning her own wedding.
Mellow, romantic music was playing in the banquet hall, signifying that the wedding ceremony was about to commence.
Samuel and Steven welcomed Zayn and Carla by the entrance, decorously ushering them to sit at the main guest table. The other guests would occasionally smile and greet them earnestly.
Zayn coolly swept his gaze around the hall, but did not catch a glimpse of the man he was looking for, Mr. L.
Since he's already here, why isn't he showing himself?
He can't be attending the wedding just to see me, right?
Zayn's expression was glacial even as he elegantly sipped on his wine.
Seated beside him, Carla quietly watched the wedding ceremony on the stage.
Her mind drifted back to that night four years ago, when she had almost gotten engaged to Harry. At that time, he was also wearing a Whyte suit like this one, looking noble and dignified.
Only, he used to have a pair of crystal-clear eyes. Though he was flawed, he could never conceal his virtuous nature.
But the present him had a wickedly penetrating gaze that chilled her to the bone.
"Lena Chroma, do you take Harry Stayton as your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?" The ceremony was drawing to a conclusion.
"I do!" Lena answered unhesitatingly.
The emcee turned to Harry. "Harry Stayton, do you take Lena Chroma as your lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
Harry's eyes darted to the audience below and found Carla, but he withdrew his gaze almost immediately. Tugging his lips into a smile, he replied, "I do!"
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