Chapter 11

The car sped toward the wedding venue as images of Trisha flooded into Cyril's mind—her perfunctory smiles, the distant look in her eyes when she gazed at him, her drunk murmur of "Ethan" at the bar, and even those moments of passion when her expression would suddenly cloud over. Details he had deliberately ignored now surged like a tidal wave, tightening around his chest. "Faster! Go faster!" Cyril urged the driver, the gnawing dread nearly consuming him. Finally, the car screeched to a halt at the hotel entrance. Cyril rushed into the hall only to find the venue plunged into silence. Guests exchanged confused glances while the officiant stood awkwardly on the stage. When the officiant spotted Cyril, he exhaled in relief and hurriedly ushered him forward. Cyril turned toward the officiant beside him and asked quietly, "What's going on? Where's Trisha?" The officiant thoughtfully took off the microphone, and lowering his voice, answered, "Mr. Decker, why are you only here now?