Chapter 604

Rosalind stood frozen, her breath catching in her throat. The scene before her seemed impossible. Everett was actually marrying Genevieve!

This couldn't be happening.

Julian's mocking voice cut through her shock. "Still don't believe me? That's Everett Sinclair and Genevieve Blackwood's wedding ceremony!"

Rosalind took an involuntary step backward, shaking her head in denial.

Inside the grand hall, the master of ceremonies stepped onto the stage. "Distinguished guests, we sincerely thank you for joining us today to witness the union of Mr. Sinclair and Ms. Blackwood. Without further ado, let the ceremony commence. Please welcome our bride and groom."

The lights dimmed dramatically as the familiar strains of the wedding march filled the air. Genevieve, her arm linked with Everett's, began her graceful procession down the aisle. They reached the altar together, bathed in soft golden light.

The officiant turned to Genevieve first. "Ms. Blackwood, do you take Mr. Sinclair to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

Genevieve's cheeks flushed pink as she answered, "I do."

Then the officiant addressed Everett. "Mr. Sinclair, do you take Ms. Blackwood to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

Rosalind felt her heart shatter into a million pieces, each shard cutting deeper than the last. Never in her wildest nightmares had she imagined Everett would actually go through with marrying Genevieve.

He was really doing this.

Julian's cold laughter echoed beside her. "See for yourself now? Convinced? While you've been caring for his blind mother and sick sister, he's been planning this elaborate wedding with another woman. He's played you for a fool!"

Was Everett truly a deceiver? Was this wedding real? Rosalind couldn't accept it. With trembling fingers, she pulled out her phone - she needed to hear his voice, needed him to explain.

Julian scoffed. "Why can't you just accept the truth? Why cling to this fantasy?"

"This is between Everett and me!" Rosalind snapped, her voice sharper than she intended. "Stay out of it!"

Julian's fist clenched at his side, a sharp pain lancing through his chest. For the first time, he truly understood - Rosalind's heart belonged completely to Everett Sinclair.

She was utterly, irrevocably in love with him.

Rosalind dialed Everett's number with shaking fingers.

Inside the venue, just as the officiant turned to Everett for his vows, his phone vibrated insistently in his pocket. Pulling it out discreetly, he saw Rosalind's name flashing on the screen.

Rosalind was calling him.

Genevieve's grip on his arm tightened. "We're in the middle of our vows. Don't you dare answer that."

Everett stared at the phone, torn.

"Who is it?" Genevieve demanded, her voice barely above a whisper but laced with steel.

Instead of answering, Everett pressed the answer button.

Outside the grand doors, Rosalind watched through the glass as Everett raised the phone to his ear. Her grip on her own phone turned white-knuckled as she demanded, "Everett, where are you right now?"

Her pulse pounded so loudly she could hear it in her ears. She prayed desperately for honesty, for some explanation that would make sense of this nightmare. She needed the truth, no matter how painful.

She shouldn't have to stand here like some pathetic outsider. True love was built on trust and transparency, wasn't it?

Everett's lips pressed into a thin line at her question. Of all times for Rosalind to call... He hesitated for several heartbeats before answering, "I'm... occupied at the moment. Is this urgent?"