Chapter 587

Grace Harper's eyes reddened as she walked over to Vivian Bennett and gently took her cold hand.

"Vivian, if you're sad, say it. I'm here with you."

Vivian curved her lips in a daze, her smile as fragile as thin, brittle paper.

"Why should I be sad? I'm very happy now. In an hour, I'll be even happier."

"Vivian, don't be like this..." Grace's voice choked, tears almost falling.

But Vivian maintained that faint smile, her voice light and airy.

"Cousin, why are you saying such discouraging words? You should congratulate me. Weren't the words I just said moving to many people? Everyone believes that happiness that comes late is more precious. I believe it too. Why don't you?"

Sophia Miller stood to the side, her chest feeling blocked, sour and swollen.

She quickly turned to call Oliver Winston, but the receiver only brought the frustrating sound of a busy signal.

Time flowed in the silence, each second feeling both stretched and accelerated.

With ten minutes left, Oliver finally called back, his tone urgent as he comforted her, saying he would definitely find Liam Sullivan.

Vivian listened quietly and hung up.

No ripple of emotion crossed her face. She only turned and called for the hotel manager.

"I want to review the surveillance footage from the hour before the ceremony started."

Both Grace and Sophia were stunned.

The manager didn't dare delay, immediately taking them to the central control room.

The screen lit up, the footage playing frame by frame in reverse.

Vivian's gaze was as calm as if she were examining someone else's story. She only wanted to confirm the answer she had long guessed but was unwilling to face.

"Found it!" Sophia suddenly pointed at the screen. "It's Liam. He drove into the parking garage."

On the screen, Liam got out of the car alone, walking hurriedly toward the hotel's lower level.

He stood before the elevator, clear anxiety etched between his brows.

Just then, another elevator door opened.

Several tall men surrounded a girl, half-dragging, half-pulling her out of the hotel.

The girl struggled. At the moment she was about to disappear from the camera's view, she suddenly screamed, "Help!"

Liam, who had just stepped into the elevator, jolted violently. He shoved the closing doors open and rushed out after them.

Vivian froze completely in place.

The screen was now empty, showing only the cold marble floor of the hallway.

Sophia gasped, her voice trembling. "Luna Clark... That's Liam's first love, Luna Clark? She... she's not dead?"

Her hands shook as she zoomed in on the image. The face was painfully clear.

When she looked back, Vivian was gone.

Sophia's heart sank. She took off running.

Something was wrong. Why did Vivian look so utterly hopeless upon seeing Luna? Why did Liam chase after her without a second thought, abandoning their engagement?

Everything was in chaos.

Tonight's engagement was probably truly over.

She rushed back to the banquet hall, only to see Vivian already walking onto the stage.

Vivian's face was calm, calm as stagnant water. Her eyes were empty. No amount of rouge could cover the pallor beneath.

The bright, radiant smile from an hour ago was now gone without a trace.

True despair is when you can't even pretend anymore.