Chapter 158 - Something Happened.

A smile like a blooming flower. That's what Alice would describe Zirui tonight. When girls would choose white for their church weddings, Zirui had rebelled a little and gone for a blush pink wedding gown. And Alice had to say that it matched the girl's personality perfectly.

Seeing Alice staring at her with a smile, Zirui smiled back and raised an eyebrow,"Are you already imagining your daughter's marriage."

"Ha! No! Rather I am enjoying a little sister's wedding and her happiness."

Zirui blinked away the small tears and said,"Yeah! I like having a big sister! Big brothers are boring!"

"Hey! I am the one driving you to your wedding. If you think you can get away with that, let me tell you Mou Zizi. You can drive yourself to the church!" Protested Mou Shantao who had just walked into the door.

Listening to his aggravated voice both the women broke out in laughter and Zirui pointed at him and said,"See! Boring and no sense of humor. And to add to that they are alsinover protective to an extreme! And big brothers have this disgustingly horrible belief that they are always right."

Once again the girls both laughed at the poor boy's expense before he finally grimaced and said,"Are we going to continue this here and let the groom wait at the church? It's almost time you know. Also, your husband looks as if he is going to barge in carry you out himself if you don't leave with him. It's not like I don't know how to drive. I can drive the two of you there. But he is insisting that he will drive."

Alice smiled benignly not in the least hit affected by the irritated tone and announced,"Since he is not going to leave me here, I can just go to him. I'll see you both at the church then. And you, Zirui, remember what I told you."

Zirui nodded and smiled back. She had been in a panic, this morning and almost gotten cold feet about the wedding. To calm herself and ask for some sage advise which had been next to impossible amongst her overly excited relatives, Zizi had asked Alice to meet her in secret. 

She shook her head now at Alice's reaction as she had caught the woman the moment she entered and declared,"Alice! I think I love Kieran!"

Alice had looked at her as of she was crazy and even commented,"We'll, is that why you are panicking? It's a good thing that you love your fiance and would be husband. Now, you would have a reason to panic if you loved someone else.."

This, seeing Alice standing calmly while she felt as if she was in the middle of a storm, Zirui shook her head and explained how she had refused to confess her love to Kieran and even to herself. She said how he was willing to accept her as she was and how she had simply had an epiphany this morning that what she felt for Kieran was nothing but love. She had wanted to immediately go to him and confess but then her family had been telling her how it was bad luck for the bride and groom to meet before the wedding. So finally with Alice's help they had decided to give Kieran a surprise. Zirui had contacted the priest and added a little something in their wedding vows and then during the dance and reception, Zirui would confess her love to Kieran in front of everyone.

Alice walked out of the door and shook her head to see Adam pacing around the car. Crazy.. "Hey! I might look like I am ready to pop but there are still a few months left for your princess to arrive. Why are you so hyped about not even letting other people drive me around?"

"No way! I am the only one who is going to drive my queen and princess around. And I don't trust that Shantao..what of he makes a move on you?"

Alice giggled at her husband and then pointed to her football sized belly and said," He has eyes you know. Even if he is the biggest playboy, a pregnant woman is a big turn off."

"Ha! Who said so? Let me tell you I find you extremely attractive."

Smiling, Alice pecked Adam on the lips and said,"And I find you just as attractive. Now, lets go to the church or we will be reaching after the bride."

Since the church was small, both the bride and groom had booked a few rooms at a little distance from the church in order to be able to get there easily. Within a few moments, Adam parked the car in the decorated courtyard of the church. Touches of the girl's spunky personality could be seen even in the courtyard as the place was decorated with pink rose flowers bound with silvery threads. It was just the right touch of girlish and magical.

The groom's cousins and the bride's cousins acted like ushers guiding everyone to their seats. 

But as Alice and Adam took their seats, Alice looked around to great Kieran's mother. Aunt Nyra had been so happy when she had met her at the rehearsal and she had talked so much about her mother that Alice could hardly wait to listen more. But astoundingly, Aunt Nyra was not there. and neither were any of the elders from the Rowen family.

A frown marred her face and she was about to get up and ask one of the cousins about this but just then Felix and I.M walked in and it took a few minutes as Adam caught up to date with everyone. Alice glistened half-heartedly as Apollo explained that Gyeom would not be coming as he had a shoot. 

Alice's instincts were clamouring like bells as she felt there was certainly something amiss. This restlessness was not missed by Adam who finally leaned in close and asked," Are you alright?Do you need to go to the washroom?"

Nodding her head, Alice immediately stood up and excised herself. Just as Adam would have followed her, she threatened in a whisper,"Adam Parry. If you follow me to the washroom, I will kill you."

Sitting back down with a thump, Adam sulked and watched Alice go. It's not like he was going to follow her into the washroom. Just till the door..

Sigh.. Alice walked out of the church towards the washrooms and that is when she found Aunt Nyra. She was talking to an older man and making many agitated motions. Knowing that her instincts were never wrong, Alice approached the woman and what she heard made her almost wish that she was wrong.

"You have to help find Kieran. Convince him to come back."

Just then the older man glanced her way and his expression changed as if he was a thief who had been caught red-handed. Seeing his expression, Aunt Nyra turned around and looked at Alice with a haggled expression. Catxhing sight of her, a range of emotions crossed Aunt Nyra's face before she walked to her and clutched her by the arms,"Alice. You have to talk to Kieran. He has gone away and is not returning. I am unable to even contact him.. I don't know what happened. He was fine till this morning."

Alice tried to console the woman and said,"He must have had gotten cold feet. It's quite natural. Where is he now, do you have any idea?"

Aunt Nyra shook her head but the older man cleared his throat and passed a paper to her,"The master has already left the country. He had left a letter for the young miss." 

"What do you mean he has left the xountry. The airport is at least an hour away from here. Just how long ago did he leave? And he already booked the tixkets.?"

"The master booked the tickets last night, madam. None of us knew. We discovered too late..."

Alice felt her heart stop beating for a moment. she had no idea what to do. A missing groom. Just then she noticed Shantao's car pulling into the courtyard and her heart started to panic.

He had not just gotten a momentary cold feet and tried to run. He had actually thought this through and abandoned Zirui. Her phone started to ring and she looked down..in a panic she answered the call,"Adam! Come out right now. There is a big problem!"

Adam who had just called Alice since it had been a while since she went, immediately excised himself when he heard her worried voice. She had gone to the washroom. Why was she in the courtyard? Had something happened? Was she alright?"

Zirui and Shantao had also noticed the three people standing there and walked towards them. As Alice took in the glowing smie on her face, Alice could only curse her childhood friend in her heart. How could he have done this to the woman he claimed to love?