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Chapter 7
The moment his words ended, a deafening silence engulfed the wedding venue.
Sophia's radiant smile froze on her face, her complexion draining of color instantly.
The champagne flute slipped from her fingers, shattering on the marble floor.
All thoughts of maintaining the Montgomery family's dignity vanished as she seized the assistant's tie, her emerald eyes blazing with fury.
"Repeat that. Right now."
"Where is Harrison?"
Ethan reached for her arm, his voice laced with concern.
"Sophia, please. Your parents are watching. We'll handle this privately—"
His soothing tone only ignited her temper further.
She shoved him away with surprising strength, dragging the trembling assistant toward an empty alcove.
"What happened to Harrison? He was supposed to be resting at the Montgomery estate! We spoke this morning—he gave me his word!"
Her voice cracked on the last syllable, betraying the panic she couldn't suppress.
The assistant fumbled with his tablet, pulling up the breaking news alert.
"Mr. Harrison boarded that flight, Ms. Montgomery. With all staff transferred here for the wedding, the estate was empty when he left..."
"Security footage shows him departing two nights ago—right after you left with Mr. Bennett."
Her grip slackened as if her bones had turned to water.
For the first time in her privileged life, Sophia Montgomery felt utterly powerless.
"That's impossible," she whispered hoarsely. "He promised to wait. He even... he wished Ethan and me happiness..."
Her words dissolved into the hum of distant chatter.
The assistant hesitated before voicing the unthinkable:
"Ms. Montgomery... could Mr. Harrison have discovered your plans?"
"Given his condition, he wouldn't have traveled unless—"
"Stop." Sophia cut him off sharply, though her hands trembled.
"He would've confronted me. He always does. We resolved the gala incident—he forgave me!"
Her denial rang hollow even to her own ears.
Suddenly she straightened, her voice slicing through the tension:
"Find him. Turn every stone. Search every hospital and morgue if you must."
Her next words dropped like stones:
"I will see him breathing, or bury him myself."
The vow echoed through the grand hall, silencing even the string quartet.