Chapter 99 A Wedding on the Horizon

Lucien shed a disarming smile.

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“I was just heading home after a business dinner when Chris misread the GPS and took a wrong turn. I gave him a bit of a scolding, and I guess he got flustered and clipped your car.”

Alden nodded, the exnation washing away his lingering doubts.

“Go on, don’t keep the doctors waiting,” Lucien said, his tone gently nudging.

As Alden walked into the doctor’s office, Lucien pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

A soft, surprised voice answered. “Uncle Lucien?”

“Luna, you may need toe to Cedarwood Medical Center’s ER. Alden was in a car ident,” Lucien said, his voice calm but carrying a weight that demanded attention.

“What? A car ident?” Luna’s voice spiked with rm. “Is he okay?”

“He’s fine, just a minor fender–bender. My driver didn’t see clearly and hit him near Oak Street. No need to panic,” Lucien reassured her.

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Chapter 99 A Wedding on the Horizon

The mention of Oak Street made Luna’s stomach twist.

She knew that was near Kaia’s ce.

But Alden had sworn he was still at the office when the spoken earlier.

“Got it, Uncle Lucien. I’m on my way,” Luna said.

iLucien’s /isuch ia /iigood /iiguy /ifor icalling /ime ito /ilook iafter /ihis inephew/ii. /i

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Soon after, Luna arrived at the hospital—just as Alden finished

his MRI.

Lucien greeted her with a grave expression.

“Luna, I was worried about him, so I called you. I know he might find me hovering a bit much, so I’d feel better if you stayed with him. Let me know when the resultse in, alright? Don’t leave me hanging.”

Chris, standing off to the side, had to bite his cheek to keep fromughing.

Lucien’s iperformance /iiis /iiwless/i.

Luna nodded earnestly, “Don’t worry, Uncle Lucien, I’ll take care of him.”

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Chapter 99 A Wedding on the Horizon

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Satisfied, Lucien gave a curt nod and left, a sly grin tugging at his lips the moment he turned away.

As soon as they were outside, he pped Chris on the shoul

“Nice work today. You’re getting triple pay this month as a bonus.”

Chris exhaled, relief flooding through him.

“Thank you, Mr. Graves. d you’re pleased.”

“Oh, and take the rest of the night off. I’ve got some things to handle,” Lucien added, waving him off.

As Chris drove away, Lucien slipped back into the hospital’s ER, a n already forming in his mind.

b***** /b

Half an hourter, Kaia, fresh from a shower, picked up her phone and opened Instagram.

Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Lucien’s post.

The photos showed a crumpled car and the stark white of the olliER. /li/ol

The caption read: [Got into a car ident. That was close.]

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Chapter 99 A Wedding on the Horizon

Her stomach dropped.

Did this happen on ihis /iway back ifrom /iher ice/ii? /i

She fumbled for her phone and called Lucien, her fingers trembling.

The call nearly went to voicemail before he picked up.

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“Lucien! Are you okay? Did you get in an ident? Are you at the hospital?”

Her questions tumbled out in a rush,ced with worry.

Lucien’s heart warmed at the concern in her voice.

Well, it feels igood /iito /iibe /icared ifor/ii. /i

He cleared his throat, letting his voice dip into a faint, weary rasp. “I’m alright, just a little banged up. Nothing serious.”

“Are you sure?” Kaia pressed, her voice thick with unease. “Do you need me ito /ie check on you?”

Guilt gnawed at her. If Lucien had gotten hurt driving back from her ce, she’d never forgive herself.

Lucien’s lips curved into a smile he couldn’t suppress.

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Chapter 99 A Wedding on the Horizon

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“It’s just a scratch, really. But, you know, the doctor said I should stick to light meals for now, and my chef’s off tomorrow, I could go for some soup,”

“I’ll bring you some in the morning,” Kain said quickly.

“No rush,” Lucien replied, his tone deliberately casual. “Evening works fine. You can just drop by after work.”

“Alright, I’ll leave early,” Kain promised,

After hanging up, Lucien immediately called his housekeeper. “Take tomorrow off. Yeah, a full day.

“Why? Let’s just say I’m in a great mood.”

Back at the hospital, Alden shifted ufortably when he saw

Luna.

He’d been on his way to confront Kaia, and meeting her here had left him feeling exposed.

Luna, relieved to see him unharmed, couldn’t hold back her

question.

“Alden, you were on Oak Street, weren’t you? Were you looking

for Kaia?

“You told me you were workingte at the office.”

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Chapter 99 A Wedding on the Horizon

Alden’s jaw tightened, irritation ring.

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“What’s with the third degree, Luna? I was just passing the gh Who said I was looking for her?”

He turned the tables, his voice sharp. “Are you going to start doubting me like she did?”

Luna’s lips quivered, her expression faltering, “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Then why the interrogation?” Alden pressed, unrelenting.

Tears welled in Luna’s eyes.

She tried to hold back her cry as she said, “I’m just scared, Alden. Scared you’re going to leave me.”

Her vulnerability softened him.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You’re overthinking it. Come on, stop crying. We’re getting married next month, aren’t we?”

The words were as much for her as they were for himself–a reminder that his future was set, and Kaia was no longer part of olliit. /li/ol

Luna nodded, her voice small. “I know. I’m just afraid, Alden. Promise you’ll love me a little more, okay?”

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Chapter 99 A Wedding on the Horizon

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“Sure,” he mumbled, his mind elsewhere.

A pang of bitterness hit Luna.

Even after baring her heart, he couldn’t muster a simple “I love you“.

They sat in the sterile hospital waiting area, each lost in their thoughts, the silence between them heavy with unspoken

doubts.

B

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