In Her Pond: The CEO’s Obsession

---- Chapter 11 She made sure to emphasize the words "dating show," hoping it might stir something in Hubert. But he wasn't even listening. "Mm. Sounds great." He hurried to pack his things, booked the first flight home, and headed straight for the airport. On the way, a thought struck him. Rose must've thought he was dead. That must be the reason she'd given up and agreed to her family's arrangement. The idea actually eased hima little. When he called Ryan, he said, "Why are you panicking? The second she finds out I'm alive, she'll drop that engagement in a heartbeat." "Uh...

you really think so, Hubert?" "That Liam guy? I couldn't stand him even back in high school. Whenever Rose and I were together, he'd just stand there staring like a creep. Imagine how humiliating it'll be for him if I crash their wedding in front of everyone." ---- But in the end, he couldn't wait that long. The moment his plane landed, he pulled out his phone and called her number. The second she heard his voice, she'd take him back. He was sure of it.

"Rose, it's me..." But instead of her voice, a cold automated message replied: " 'The number you have dialed is no longer in service." That sterile voice sent panic straight through him. 'The engagement news had spread all over Ashford, but the venue itself was kept under tight wraps. He searched everywhere online and still found nothing. It wasn't until the morning of the wedding that, through a few pulled strings, he finally got the exact location. On the way there, Hubert kept rehearsing his grand "wedding -crashing" speech in his head.

He could already picture it-the doors flying open, the cameras flashing, his name shooting up the trending charts as everyone online went crazy over the love story that defied all ---- odds. Maybe he could even stream it live later and turn the hype into a brand deal. The comments poured in: [How the male lead imagines it: he bursts into the chapel, grabs the bride's hand in front of Ashford's elite, and says, " Will you come with me?" The female lead tearfully nods and runs off with him while everyone gasps.] [Reality check: security's so tight he can't even touch the chapel doors.

My guy's about to get tackled before he finishes the first line, LOL.] Stopped at the entrance by security, Hubert shouted at the top of his lungs, "I'm Rose O'Brien's fiancé! Let me in!" The guards, who had been maintaining straight faces, couldn't hold back their laughter. "Everyone here knows this is the wedding of Liam Park and Rose O'Brien. Who let this lunatic out of the asylum?" The crowd erupted in laughter. Humiliation burned across his face as he squatted by the roadside under the blazing sun, waiting. ---- Hours later, the ceremony ended.

The chapel doors opened, and Rose stepped out in a white gown, She appeared more stunning than he'd ever remembered. But the man beside her ruined the sight completely. That man shouldn't have been there. That place beside her was his. He waved frantically from a distance, shouting over the noise. "Rose! Rose!" But the crowd's cheers drowned his voice entirely. Just before stepping into the car, she turned. Her gaze swept briefly in his direction. That was enough-if she saw him, he knew she'd drop everything and come back to him.

But her eyes only flicked past him, calm and unreadable, before she got into the car. She must not have seen him. Even if she was married now, it wasn't too late to take her ---- back.