Chapter 211 The Nuptials That Never Were
The Nuptials That Never WereThroughout the entirety of the night, Sophia had spent the entire night hopingyearned for a glanceeven the slightest acknowledgment from Anthony, but. Yet, he seemed distant throughoutremained aloof, his presence at the event. Only when Brenda, his mother, spoke merely physical. His interaction was limited to him did he nod politelythe sporadic nods and occasionally offer a brief replyresponses he offered to his mother, Brenda. Otherwise, he was completelywholly disengaged, his body present but his mind somewhere else—somewhere Sophia couldn’t know or reach.
Despite sensing Anthony's detachment all evening, Sophia’s anticipation didn’t wane. She was drawn to him, not because he was an heirwandering to places unknown and unreachable to Sophia.Despite the palpable disconnection that Anthony emanated throughout the evening, Sophia's anticipation remained undiminished. Her attraction to him was not rooted in his status as the Eilish fortuneheir, but for who he was as a person. rather in his character.
She had met plenty of wealthyencountered her fair share of affluent bachelors—, most of them either arrogant or lost in thea world of models and inheritors—but few possessed the handsome bachelor status of Anthony. He exuded the grace of true Old Money from every pore.
Sophia had decided in her heart that she would only marryinheritances. However, Anthony in this lifetime.
After dinner, seeing no signwas a rare breed. He radiated the elegance of interestauthentic Old Money, an allure that was irresistible to her.Sophia had resolved within her heart that Anthony was the only man she would ever marry.After the dinner, with no signs of reciprocation from Anthony, she musteredgathered her courage. "Anthony, maybeperhaps we could exchange contact information?"
she suggested."Sorry," was all Anthony replied.
his curt response.Sorry? Was that a rejection?
He wouldn't even share his contact details?
information? Sophia was stunned, and her expression soured visibly.
taken aback, her face reflecting her shock and disappointment.Brenda chimed in, sensing the tension, intervened with a warm smile, trying to smooth things over.. "Sophia, dear, why don't you come over to the housevisit us at our home in a couple offew days?" She genuinely likedheld a genuine fondness for the girl, and besides, their families had long-standing been business ties.associates for generations. Even if they couldn't become family through marriagea marital union was off the table, there was no need for things to get ugly.
animosity."Sure, Aunt Brenda," Sophia repliedresponded, her mood lightening somewhat.
spirits lifting slightly.On thetheir way backhome, Brenda asked Sophiainquired about her thoughtsSophia's feelings. "I find you quite likable, Sophia. What do you think?"
she asked.Anthony, gazing outengrossed in the scenery outside the window, was unenthusiastic.
showed no interest.A couple offew days earlierprior, when Brenda brought up the idea of had suggested matchmaking, she expected Anthony to reject it, but surprisinglyhad anticipated Anthony's refusal. However, he had silently consentedagreed. Brenda could guess why he hadn’t objected, thoughspeculate about his reasons, but she didn't voicechose to keep her thoughts to herself. Instead, she simply suggestedadvised, "Since things didn't work out with Layla, maybe tryperhaps you should consider giving other girls a chance. You might discoverfind their strengths."
It wasn't that Anthony found the appealing."Anthony's disinterest in other girls lackingwasn't due to their inadequacies; he justsimply hadn't tried to getmade an effort to know them.
SittingEarlier, as he sat in the booth earlier, he had felt like a zombie. His presence was there, but his soul had drifted elsewhere.
shell of a man. His mind and heart were filled with body was present, but his spirit had wandered off.His thoughts were consumed by Layla, causing him to losehis focus multiple times.
to waver repeatedly.If Layla were presenthad been there, he wouldn't behave been so listless. They had plenty in commonshared a multitude of commonalities—childhood memories, future dreams...
of the future...His rapportconnection with Layla was one of extremeprofound comfort due to, rooted in their shared values and perspectives.
Regrettably...
Anthony knewwas well aware that life was full ofriddled with regrets, but this particular one felt far too overwhelmingly significant.
He was still saddened bymourning the loss of something he never quitetruly had; he had never truly possessed her.
"Would you welcomebe open to having Sophia and her mother over for dinner in a few days?" his mother asked.
"Whatever you arrange is fine," replied Anthony, with no responded, his words lacking any real enthusiasm, just mouthingmerely echoing the expected response.
"It's not importantabout whether I welcome them. What's important is whether you do, Anthony. You know I'dI would never force you into anything, and that includes romantic relationships. If Sophia isn't to your liking, there are others..."
"Let's just go with her," said Anthony, with interjected, showing no desire to meetinterest in meeting other women.
"Hmm," Brenda notedacknowledged his lack of interestenthusiasm without much hope, but. However, she didn't wantwasn't ready to give up. Layla was a good match, but there were plenty of even more outstandingother exceptional women from wealthy families.
After droppingHaving escorted Brenda off atsafely home, Anthony said he needed to workhad claimed a late night at the office but was in order. However, he found himself unexpectedly showed up at a bar instead.
Halfwayveering off course and into a dimly lit bar.Seated at the counter, Anthony was halfway through his drink, Anthony couldn't help but when a self-deprecating chuckle at himself sarcastically.
Apparently, once the heart truly gets involved, escaped his lips. He realized, with a touch of irony, that he was no different from any other man, only able to numb himself through the very end.
The drink felt bitter as it went down his throat.
The figure of Anthony, unspeakably lonely.
Nora had just finished some when matters of the heart were involved. He too sought solace at the bottom of a glass, numbing his emotions until they were but a distant echo.As the bitter liquid slid down his throat, a profound sense of loneliness enveloped him. He was an isolated figure, adrift in a sea of his own despair.Meanwhile, Nora had just concluded a round of drinks with her girlfriends. Her irritation hadn't been soothed by the The alcohol; in fact, it worsened. As she walked had done little to alleviate her irritation; if anything, it had exacerbated it. As she stepped out of the lounge, she unexpectedly saw was taken aback to see her brother.
Coming acrossThis was the first time she had encountered Anthony in a bar was a first.
. The personcommon thread that drovehad driven both of themsiblings to seek solacerefuge in such a placealcohol was the same woman, Layla.
ALayla, a name that made Nora instinctively clenchgrit her teeth in annoyance.
She furiously clenched her Her fingers.
She didn’t want to see Anthony heartbroken curled into a tight fist as she battled her fury. Unwilling to witness Anthony's heartbreak over a woman whom she despised, so she leftNora made a hasty exit from the bar.
HerAs she stepped outside, her phone rang at that momentbuzzed in her pocket. It was a call from Holland.
Nora didn’t wanthad no desire to answer the call fromspeak with their father, but, after closing her eyesa deep breath and squeezing out a fainta forced smile, she answered, “"Uncle.”
When ."Her expression, when she opened her eyes again, her expression was complicated.
a complex mix of emotions."I'm sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavailable. Please try again later..."
Each morning, Layla's first task each morning was to call, but it had been six days and Samuel was still. However, for six consecutive days, he had remained unreachable.
The A sense of unease inbegan to gnaw at her, consuming her heart steadily grew, like the darkness devouring her heart.
a creeping shadow.She felt lost and out of sortsdisoriented, far from being in a working state.
to work. In the afternoon, after finishing somerunning errands with Alice, she was persuaded by Alice to go backreturn to the Holland Group to pick upcollect some things.
items.Layla parked the car and waited downstairs to wait.
Once again taking out her phone, she . She glanced at her call log. In , her heart sinking at the sight of the 39 unanswered calls over the past six days, she had called him 39 times.
."Samuel... where are you? Nothing bad happened to you, right?" Layla was fraughtLayla's voice trembled with worry when suddenly. Suddenly, a familiar figure came outemerged from the entrance of the Holland Group's entrance.
Group.Samuel!
Layla blinked her eyes in disbelief. It was him. It was him.
It really was him.
She was ecstatic, pushed the Overwhelmed with relief, she flung the car door open, ready to rush out of the cartowards him when suddenlyanother figure appeared, a woman emerged from behind Samuel, laughing and hooking hislinking her arm.
through Samuel's.Layla felt like she'd as if she had been struck by lightning, frozen in place. She froze, her mind a blank.
canvas of shock.Nora? How could it be her?
Nora?Her face paleddrained of color as she stared intently atwatched the two of them, pair, expecting Samuel to shake off Nora's arm, but. But he didn't. Nora looked up at him with a sweet,, her smile radiant smile, clearly in the throes of a passionate romance.
smitten.No, this was different from before.
.A sixth sense echoed the thought chilling premonition whispered in Layla's ear, and she begancausing her to shiver uncontrollably.
As if under a spell, suddenly her body seemed to snapSuddenly, as if jolted awake, and she urgently grabbed her phone, dialing the and dialed Samuel's number while, her eyes remained fixed on Samuel.
From a distance, she saw him take out his phone, glance at it, and then hang up.
"Sorry, the person you are calling is currently unavailable."
It wasn't a missed call; he had actively chosen to disconnect, to sever the connection.
He had hung up on her.
Nora glanced at his screen and saw the name, couldn't help butcaller ID, a smug smirk with satisfaction.
playing on her lips. Samuel opened the back door for Nora, and with the airgrace of a CEO's wife, she flashedbestowed him a sweet smile and gotbefore sliding into the car. Samuel then drove off., leaving Layla was still in the same position, stiffly holdingclutching her phone, the monotonous drone of the busy tone droning onechoing in her ear.
She was stunned.
in shock.Why was this happening?
Had Samuel been with Nora all these days? Had they gone on a business trip together?
Or could it be not just a business trip butworse, a vacation together?
?Was he not takingignoring her calls because he was with Nora?
Her mind raced with numerous guesses.
was a whirlwind of speculation.No, that couldn't be it.
Layla shook her head.
, refusing to believe it. She knew all toohow well how good heSamuel had been totreated her. He had rejected Nora so definitively; there was no way he would go behind Layla's back with her.
betray Layla.Despite the "fact right in front of her eyes," Layla kept trying to convince herself, refusing to believe what she saw. She needed to have confidencedamning evidence before her, Layla clung to her faith in their relationship.
They were about to get marriedengaged, after all. Their wedding was setscheduled for the 28th of the month.
Grasping atHolding onto a sliverglimmer of hope in the darkness, Layla forced herself to stay calm and calleddialed the wedding planner,. "How's the wedding preparation going?"
"Layla? Oh no, Layla. The wedding has been canceled, didn't Samuel inform you?" asked the manager,The manager's puzzled voice echoed in her ear.
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