Chapter 755

Were they closing already?

Harrison rose from the stiff courthouse bench, her legs numb from hours of waiting for Nathaniel. The bustling crowd had dwindled to nothing, yet he still hadn't appeared.

She turned to the clerk with pleading eyes. "Just one more call?"

The clerk sighed sympathetically. "We'll stay a few more minutes. If he truly wants this, he'll come. But if not..." Her voice trailed off meaningfully.

Harrison swallowed hard. "Okay."

Her fingers trembled as she redialed Nathaniel's number.

The line rang endlessly before that same robotic voice taunted her. "The number you have dialed is currently unavailable—"

The clerk arched a brow. "Still nothing?"

Harrison shook her head, throat tight.

Another employee approached. "We're locking up now."

Nodding mechanically, Harrison gathered her purse. "Thank you for waiting."

As she stepped into the bitter evening air, fragments of whispered conversation followed her.

"Waited all day for that no-show fiancé. Pathetic."

"Men who miss their own wedding licenses don't deserve second chances."

"Pretty girl like her? He's a fool."

The biting wind mirrored the ice spreading through Harrison's chest. Just when she'd dared to hope for a fresh start, Nathaniel had shattered it all.

Then—her phone chimed.

Her heart leapt. Nathaniel?

But the screen displayed Rosalind's name instead.

Disappointment curdled in her stomach as she answered. "Hello?"

"Did you get the license? Congratulations!" Rosalind's cheerful voice grated.

"Not yet."

Silence. Then— "What? Where are you? I'm coming!"

Nathaniel's skull exploded with white-hot pain as his luxury sedan idled at a red light.

Darkness swallowed him whole.

When consciousness returned, night had fallen. He sat up slowly, head throbbing. The medical mystery could wait—today was supposed to be his wedding license day.

Harrison. Was she still waiting?

Tires screeched as he raced toward the courthouse.

Thirty frantic minutes later, he pounded on the locked doors. "Harrison! Are you in there?"

A staff member appeared, frowning. "Sir, we're closed."