Xavier’s face shifted under the flickering light, a flash of guilt passing across his features before vanishing without a trace.
He retorted, “Joanna may have saved my life once, but Rowan gave me a second one. My loyalty will always belong to him.”
Rowan remained silent, unmoved by Xavier’s words. But the moment.
Joanna’s name came up, something flickered across his face–an
emotion he couldn’t quite hide.
He raised a trembling hand and motioned for Calvin to come closer. His lashes fluttered, eyes slowly lifting to meet Calvin’s gaze. “You…
you really don’t know where Anna is?”
Calvin’s jaw tensed. He was about to speak when the door suddenly
burst open.
Someone shouted breathlessly, “We found her! We found Joanna!”
Rowan’s entire body jolted.
Xavier surged to his feet. “Where? Tell me where she is!”
The man doubled over, trying to catch his breath, sweat dripping from his brow and hitting the tile floor.
“In Andarre!”
Rowan froze, his fingers unconsciously tightening around the
bedsheet.
His voice was hoarse, threaded with a mix of hope and disbelief.” Book the flight. Now. We’re leaving.”
Xavier’s brows drew together as he tried to reason with him. “Rowan, listen to me. We already know where Joanna is. She just went home- she’s not going anywhere. It won’t make a difference if we wait a little longer. Let yourself recover a bit first, then we’ll go.”
But Rowan’s chest tightened with unease. Xavier didn’t know
Joanna’s past.
She would never willingly return to that place. Not to that house she
hated.
“We’re leaving now!” He struggled to rise, only to be brought down
again by a fresh wave of pain.
Just then, the man who had delivered the news hesitated, his
expression suddenly shifting. “Rowan… there’s something else. She’s getting married.”
Silence fell over the room. Rowan’s mind went completely blank.
“What? That’s impossible!” Xavier was the first to react, his voice
sharp.
Rowan looked like he had been struck by lightning. His lips parted, but no words came.
Xavier grabbed the man by the collar, his eyes burning with fury. “You sure? You’re saying Joanna is the one getting married?”
The man’s voice trembled as he nodded. “Yes… It’s definitely her.”
Rowan’s voice came out in a whisper, cracked and hollow. “That’s impossible… I’m her husband. Anna wouldn’t do this.
“She’s just trying to get back at me. That’s all this is… It has to be…”
But panic had already begun to creep into his eyes.
Calvin watched Rowan’s expression and deliberately spoke up. ” Rowan, it’s not impossible, you know. Joanna didn’t know about the
fake marriage certificate back then. But now she does. And legally speaking, she’s single.”
Rowan’s expression froze for a moment.
He had forgotten.
He was the one who asked someone to forge the marriage certificate
with Joanna. And that very same afternoon, he had accompanied
Hattie to register a real marriage certificate.
It felt like something ripped open in his chest. The pain was sharp and unrelenting. “Xavier, book the flight. I’m going back.”
Xavier knew he couldn’t win against Rowan and reluctantly went to
make arrangements.
Before leaving, he cast one last look toward Calvin.
Calvin didn’t flinch–he met Xavier’s stare head–on, unapologetic.
The plane soared high above the clouds, but Rowan’s mind never
settled.
Meanwhile, in Eldorra, Jonna had barely had a second to breathe. The night before the wedding had been nothing short of chaos.
George took on nearly everything, afraid she might wear herself out.
Eventually, Joanna was left simply watching him run around, his feet barely touching the ground.
George knew she didn’t have many close friends in Andarre. That was why he didn’t set up a traditional wedding party with bridesmaids or
groomsmen.
Watching him so meticulously plan everything filled Joanna with a wave of guilt. Because she knew that this wedding wasn’t going to go.
perfectly. There was bound to be a disruption.
Later that night, George walked into her room with a cup of milk.
She was in the shower, so he left it quietly on the desk after murmuring a few reminders.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. “Mr. Schuman, Mrs. Schuman’s already leaked the news. With all those guests tomorrow, what if something happens? How are we going to explain it?”
George lowered his gaze. “Double the security. Keep her safe.
“But Mr. Schuman, this is the wedding you’ve been waiting for. If it
gets ruined, wouldn’t that be too…”
The line fell silent.
Just when Austin thought the call had dropped, George finally spoke.” We’re not her. We haven’t lived her life or carried what she’s had to carry. Whatever she wants to do, I’ll stand by her.”
Behind him, Joanna stood silently, her eyes slowly lowering as she quietly slipped away.
