Chapter 346

By eleven o'clock in the morning, Eleanor was still nowhere to be seen.

Inside the grand venue, murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"It's getting late. Where's Enigma?"

"Something's off. Just look at Mr. Stewart's face."

"These elites-always some drama."

Nolan stood at the entrance, his earlier smile gone,replaced by a sharp edge of worry.

He checked his watch again. The hands had already swept past eleven.

Pulling out his phone, he dialed Eleanor's number once more. Still no answer.

Eleanor was never one to break her word.

If she said she would be there, she would.

Had something happened to her? The thought gnawed at him. Restless, he shoved the bouquet into Erick's hands and started forward, intent on leaving.

Just then, Elora glanced down at her phone. A fresh message from Ady made her pulse quicken. When she saw Nolan bolt,panic surged through her.

She rushed over and grabbed his arm. "NNolan,it's probably just traffic downtown. Eleanor's likely stuck in it."

He didn't stop. His jaw was set. Thinking fast, Elora added, "The photographer's asking for you. Why not take a few pictures while you wait?"

Photos? Without Eleanor? Nolan's first instinct was to brush it off.

But Elora pressed on, her voice gentle yet insistent."Patience, Nolan. Share your love story with the camera. If you leave now and Eleanor shows up to find you gone, she'll think you abandoned her."

That pierced through his panic.

What if he left at the exact moment she arrived?

Nolan forced himself to breathe, easing the storm inside. Reluctantly, he let Elora lead him to the photographer.

He didn't notice the gown she wore-white,flowing.

Elora clung subtly to his side, her posture soft, almost intimate, drawing the room's attention.

And with a practiced smile, she tilted herself just enough to catch the cameras.

Whispers swelled like wildfire.

"Wait, wasn't Enigma supposed to be the fiancée?Who's this?"

"I know her. That's Elora-Nolan's childhood friend.The one said to be involved with him lately!"

"Does this mean Enigma's been tossed aside?"

"Looks like it."

"My God... The fiancée is Elora!"

...

Among the crowd, Betsy's face went rigid. Her cheeks flared, then drained pale, before her expression hardened into fury.

Her glare cut straight to Ryland, who looked just as stunned. Rage spilled from her voice. "I knew none of you could be trusted." She spun on her heel and stormed out, unwilling to witness more.

Ryland's chest tightened. "Betsy, wait! It's not what you think!" he shouted, chasing after her.

Forget Nolan-Betsy was his priority.

But inside, time dragged on.

Nolan's hope withered into anxiety, and that anxiety dulled into emptiness.

Daylight bled into dusk. Dusk gave way to night.

By then, the reporters were gone. The guests had all slipped away.

Only silence filled the vast ballroom.

And there sat Nolan, alone on the cold edge of the stage,bouquet long discarded, waiting still.