A deafening buzz filled Gus' head as the world spun around him. Amara was dead? That was impossible!

He pulled out his phone and immediately dialed Amara's number. No one answered. The mechanical voice kept repeating the same message over and over.

With shaking fingers, he tried again and again, but all he got was "The number you have dialed is not available".

He hurled his phone to the ground. The irritating sound finally stopped, but where could he go to find Amara? How could something have happened to her?

Gus staggered as he pushed past Nathan, trying to run out the door, but Rose blocked his path. "Gus, this is our wedding. Where are you going?"

She tried to grab him, but he shook her off violently. Derek and Celia stepped forward disapprovingly.

"Gus, stop this! Whatever's wrong, we'll deal with it after the ceremony. You can't embarrass the family in front of everyone!"

Der

Gus' vision blurred as his body began to shake uncontrollably. He stumbled backward several steps, then suddenly lost all strength and slumped against the wall, sliding down to the floor.

He felt something wet on his face. When he raised his hand to touch it, he realized it was his own tears.

"Amara… Amara…"

His voice was hoarse and broken, each word cutting through his heart like a knife. He didn't notice that the airport was filled with others just like him—people consumed by regret.

Some were frantically questioning staff members, others were sobbing inconsolably, and some others kept asking why their loved ones had to die.

No one could answer that question.

He sat there for what felt like hours before hearing a new announcement over the speakers. Following the broadcast's instructions, Gus went to collect Amara's remains—a small container of ashes.

Just as he reached for it, t

Rose wrapped her arm around Gus' with satisfaction as they walked up the steps to rehearse the wedding ceremony. But the moment she turned around, there was a loud ripping sound. The wedding dress suddenly split at the waist, and the entire gown fell apart around her.

Rose screamed and frantically tried to grab the fabric, but she lost her balance and tumbled down the stairs.

"Rose!"

Gus' face went white as he rushed over, catching her and quickly removing his suit jacket to cover her. But it was too late. The rehearsal venue was filled with reporters, and their cameras captured everything in an instant.

By that evening, the incident was all over social media and entertainment news. Headlines like "Manning Corporation Bride's Embarrassing Fall" and "Wedding Rehearsal Goes Horribly Wrong" dominated the news cycle.

Chaos reigned at the hospital. When Amara was forcibly brought to the room by security, Gus stood by the window with a cigarette between his fingers, the ashtray already overflowing with butts.

He turned around, his eyes filled with pain. "Amara, have you lost your mind?"

Amara looked at him calmly. "What?"

"The wedding dress!" He crushed out his cigarette violently, his voice barely containing his fury. "I thought you genuinely didn't care anymore, but you actually sabotaged the dress!"

Amara paused for a moment, then laughed. "You think I did this?"

"Who else could it be?" Gus grabbed her wrist, his grip so tight it felt like he might crush her bones. 

"Destroying someone's reputation is the lowest kind of trick, especially when she's carrying my child. Rose is hemorrhaging badly now, and we almost lost the baby! She has a rare blood type, and the hospital doesn't have enough. You need to donate blood!"

Amara looked at his enraged expression and suddenly found it all absurd. He didn't even bother to ask—he just assumed she was guilty.

She opened her mouth to say, "It wasn't me", but she knew that even if she refused, they'd force her to go anyway. She was leaving soon and didn't want any more complications.

So, she lowered her eyes and said quietly, "Fine. I'll donate."

The blood donation process was lengthy. Amara lay on the hospital bed, watching the bright red blood flow through the tube, drop by drop, like all the love she'd given Gus over the years being slowly drained away.

Outside the room, Derek and Celia arrived in a rush. The moment they entered, they pointed at Amara and began shouting accusations.

"You evil woman! You sabotaged that wedding dress, and now Rosie has been humiliated and hospitalized because of you. We almost lost both mother and child! Are you satisfied now?"

Amara's face was pale, her voice weak. "I didn't touch the dress."

"Shut up!" Derek snapped harshly. "The evidence is right there, and you still have the nerve to lie?"

Celia went even further, issuing a direct command. "Take her away! Teach her a lesson she won't forget."

Gus stood to the side, his hand trembling slightly as he lit a cigarette. But in the end, he said nothing at all.

Amara was forced to kneel on the cold stone floor of the family chapel as they beat her brutally. She bit down hard on her lip to keep from crying out, but tears still fell uncontrollably.

She remembered many years ago when she'd first come to the Manning estate. Gus had taken her hand and proudly told his parents, "Mom, Dad, this is Amara, my future wife."

Back then, Derek and Celia had been so kind to her. Now, they wished she were dead.

When they were done, Amara finally couldn't hold on anymore and lost consciousness. When she woke up, she was lying in a guest room bed, her back burning with pain.

Gus sat beside the bed, and when he saw her awake, his expression was grim as he spoke, "The doctor said the baby was saved, but Rose is extremely unstable emotionally now. I was wrong to think you two could coexist peacefully."

He pulled out a plane ticket and placed it on the nightstand. "My parents want you to go abroad for a while, until after Rose gives birth."

Amara looked at the plane ticket and suddenly smiled. Tomorrow was his wedding to Rose. He was probably afraid she'd cause a scene, which was why he was so eager to send her away.

She said nothing and reached out to take the ticket. Gus visibly relaxed, his tone softening. "Amara, get some rest. When this is all over, I'll bring you home."

Amara turned her back to him and hummed softly in response.

…

The next day, the entire city was watching the live broadcast of Gus and Rose's wedding. Amara's paperwork had also been finalized.

She stood in the airport terminal, dragging her suitcase behind her. Looking down at the ticket Gus had given her, she saw the destination was a quiet little town in Andosland.

She tore the ticket in half and dropped it in the trash. Then, she bought a new one-way ticket to New Maros.

While waiting at the gate, the airport's large screen was broadcasting Gus' wedding. Gus looked sharp in his tailored suit, while Rose was radiant in white, her smile bright as sunshine.

Amara suddenly remembered when she was 16 years old and Gus had shouted, "Amara, I'm crazy about you!" in front of the whole school, his face burning red with embarrassment. 

She remembered her 22nd birthday when he'd gotten down on one knee in the snow, his voice trembling as he asked, "Will you marry me someday?"

She remembered their wedding when she was 25 years old, how he'd lifted her veil with tears streaming down his face, whispering, "Amara, you're the only one I'll ever love."

She smiled softly, turned toward the boarding gate, and never looked back.

…

At the wedding venue, Gus stood on the red carpet, feeling inexplicably restless for reasons he couldn't explain.

"Now, let the bride and groom share their first kiss as husband and wife—"

Gus frowned and asked coldly, "Didn't we agree to skip this part?"

But before the officiant could respond, his assistant, Nathan Covington, suddenly rushed onto the stage. His face was deathly pale as he whispered something in Gus' ear.

Gus' expression froze instantly. He grabbed Nathan by the collar, his voice shaking. "What did you just say? Say it again!"

Nathan's voice trembled. "We just got news that Ms. Pierce's flight to Andosland went down. There were 178 passengers… No survivors."

A deafening buzz filled Gus' head as the world spun around him. Amara was dead? That was impossible!

He pulled out his phone and immediately dialed Amara's number. No one answered. The mechanical voice kept repeating the same message over and over.

With shaking fingers, he tried again and again, but all he got was "The number you have dialed is not available".

He hurled his phone to the ground. The irritating sound finally stopped, but where could he go to find Amara? How could something have happened to her?

Gus staggered as he pushed past Nathan, trying to run out the door, but Rose blocked his path. "Gus, this is our wedding. Where are you going?"

She tried to grab him, but he shook her off violently. Derek and Celia stepped forward disapprovingly.

"Gus, stop this! Whatever's wrong, we'll deal with it after the ceremony. You can't embarrass the family in front of everyone!"

Derek's face showed anger, but Gus paid no attention. His mind was filled with thoughts of Amara. He ha

Chapter 9