The officiant flinched at the loud bang, and the last few lines of the vow faded into a barely audible whisper. 

But at the exact moment the doors were thrown open, Eleanor's voice rang out through the microphone, clear and bold.

"I don't, because... there's someone else I'd rather marry."

Her words echoed through the hall like a dropped match in a room full of fireworks, igniting an uproar of gasps and chaos.

While Aaron stared, utterly stunned, Eleanor tossed aside her bouquet and kicked off her heels. Lifting the hem of her dress, she took off running—barefoot, fearless—straight toward the man who had promised to crash the wedding.

Leon had been waiting for this moment. As the rose petals swirled in the air and every eye in the room was directed at them—including the furious glare of the man he despised—he swept his bride-to-be into his arms. Then, they made their escape.

The pi

Eleanor never imagined her runaway adventure would end here. Sure, she had agreed to be with Leon after he crashed the wedding, but in her mind, they were supposed to spend a little more time getting to know each other first.

So, when she saw how quickly he moved into action, she hesitated and finally voiced her concern. "Are we really getting married right now?"

Leon laced his fingers with hers, his tone filled with certainty. "What else would we be doing?"

"Don't you think this is a bit rushed?" she asked, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.

Leon leaned down so their eyes were level, the corners of his lips curling into a knowing smile, like he could see straight through her. 

"I'm just worried that if we wait, you might find someone else to run away with you from another wedding. Then, wouldn't I be left with nothing after all the trouble I went through?"

To Eleanor, that was a 

Aaron gave in to everything she asked for. Later, they stayed up all night, sorting through every photo they had ever taken, every gift they had exchanged, and every little memento from over 20 years together.

Each time they pulled something out, Aaron would have a soft smile, lost in nostalgia.

"Nora, this scarf—you knitted it yourself, remember? I never even wore it once because I didn't want to ruin it. Look, it still looks brand new!"

"This journal... I wrote it back in high school. You bawled your eyes out when you read it—do you remember that?"

"And these plane tickets... I kept every one. Three countries in two days—you were so tired you could barely keep your eyes open."

Aaron spoke with so much joy and excitement, completely unaware that the woman sitting right across from him hadn't smiled even once all night. 

By morning, they had filled dozens of boxes, and the living room was packed with memories. 

Since the bride and groom weren't supposed to see each other before the ceremony, Aaron had to head back to the Ford residence. Before he left, he held Eleanor in his arms for a long time, reluctant to let go. 

He whispered, "I don't want to leave you. But it's okay... Just a few more hours and I finally get to bring you home, Nora. Promise me something, okay? Promise me you'll never leave me—for the rest of our lives. If you do... I swear, I won't survive it."

She let him hold her, her eyes lowered, saying nothing. She couldn't make that promise, not when this was their final goodbye.

Once the sports car pulled out of the driveway, the butler, Alfie Brown, stepped forward and asked what to do with the boxes.

Without looking up, Eleanor walked upstairs and replied flatly, "Burn them."

The wedding, which had been meticulously planned for nearly three months, opened with fireworks and applause. Under the gaze of hundreds of guests, Patrick Sutton proudly walked his daughter down the aisle.

Many of the women in the audience whispered to each other the moment they saw Eleanor's wedding dress. 

One commented, "With the Fords and the Suttons coming together in a wedding like this, I thought she'd go for something custom, something extravagant. But this looks kind of plain, doesn't it?"

"What do you know? Ms. Sutton's a ballerina. She probably likes the minimalist, elegant vibe."

The murmurs reached Aaron's ears, but he didn't care. He couldn't take his eyes off Eleanor as she walked toward him.

Her hair was neatly pinned up, a floral crown replacing the traditional veil. Her satin gown was vintage and simple, falling just above her ankles, and her pearl-dotted heels had barely any lift—comfortable, graceful, effortless.

When Eleanor had first picked the outfit, Aaron had a few opinions. But standing here now, under the lights and among the carefully arranged decorations, she looked flawless.

The radiant swan he had always admired on stage was finally stepping off the spotlight and into his life. His heart pounded in his chest—he had waited so long for this moment.

Aaron reached out and took Eleanor's hand from Patrick's, leading her up to the center of the stage under the spotlight. Then, the officiant began speaking, his voice clear and formal as he read through the vows.

One part of the ceremony flowed into the next until it was time for the rings. Eleanor picked up the wedding band and gently slid it onto Aaron's finger.

As the officiant read the vow, Aaron felt like he was floating, high on adrenaline and emotion. He could not wait another second and blurted out, "I do."

Aaron's voice shook with emotion, so much so that the crowd laughed softly in amusement. He smiled too, a mix of nerves and happiness flashing across his face. Next, he picked up the second ring, and the officiant continued with the following vow.
 
"Ms. Eleanor Sutton, do you take Mr. Aaron Ford to be your lawfully wedded husband—to love and remain faithful to him, in wealth or poverty, in youth or old age, for as long as you both shall live?"

But the expected "I do" never came. The hand she should have extended quietly dropped to her side.

The air froze for a moment, the silence deafening. Guests exchanged puzzled glances and shifted their eyes toward the bride.

Meanwhile, Aaron's heart skipped a beat. He quickly looked at her, only to realize she wasn't looking at him at all—her gaze was fixed on the entrance.

He followed her eyes but saw nothing but darkness.

Sensing the tension, the officiant cleared his throat and repeated the vow. "To love and remain faithful… in wealth or poverty—"

Before he could finish, the heavy doors at the back suddenly burst open.

The officiant flinched at the loud bang, and the last few lines of the vow faded into a barely audible whisper. 

But at the exact moment the doors were thrown open, Eleanor's voice rang out through the microphone, clear and bold.

"I don't, because... there's someone else I'd rather marry."

Her words echoed through the hall like a dropped match in a room full of fireworks, igniting an uproar of gasps and chaos.

While Aaron stared, utterly stunned, Eleanor tossed aside her bouquet and kicked off her heels. Lifting the hem of her dress, she took off running—barefoot, fearless—straight toward the man who had promised to crash the wedding.

Leon had been waiting for this moment. As the rose petals swirled in the air and every eye in the room was directed at them—including the furious glare of the man he despised—he swept his bride-to-be into his arms. Then, they made their escape.

The piano melody of "Here Comes the Bride" still played on loop in the hall—but the bride was long gone. A

Chapter 9