"Adam, the vendor handling our wedding venue just called. They said something came up with the venue and asked us to come to their office this afternoon."
"Do you have time, Adam?" Natasha asked her fiancé.
"What kind of problem? I thought everything was already settled. We've already chosen the venue, the color theme, the flowers, even the wedding concept."
"The decoration design draft should've been sent to us yesterday," Adam said.
"I know. They apologized for the delay, but because of this issue, they want to meet us in person," Natasha explained.
"What time?" Adam asked. "I have a heart bypass surgery scheduled at five. It's been planned for a month."
"I don't think it'll take that long. It's only half past eleven now. Whatever they need to discuss should take an hour at most," Natasha said.
"All right, then. Get ready. Wait for me in the front lobby. I'll get the car from the basement," Adam said.
"Okay. I'll change quickly and meet you there."
After changing her clothes, Natasha hurried toward the main lobby, where Adam was already waiting for her.
"Should we go straight there, or do you want to have lunch first? It's already lunchtime," Adam asked.
"Let's go there first. Our wedding is only a month away, and now there's already a problem with the venue."
"We can have lunch at the hospital cafeteria later," Natasha said.
"But you have acute gastritis, Nath. What if your stomach starts acting up again?" Adam asked worriedly.
"I just ate some bread before we left. It should at least keep me going for an hour."
"If everything gets sorted out quickly, we can find a nearby restaurant and have lunch before heading back. How about that?" Natasha suggested.
"All right, I understand. We'll eat as soon as we're done dealing with the wedding venue," Adam decided.
"Let's go."
Adam drove his Audi at a moderate speed, steady and calm as he weaved through the heavy traffic of the capital.
"Your phone is ringing," Natasha said when she noticed Adam's phone vibrating on the dashboard.
"I'm driving. Check who it is. If it's something from the hospital, just answer it," Adam said.
Natasha nodded and reached for his phone.
But the moment she saw the name flashing across the screen, her expression instantly changed.
Marissa.
Of course it was Marissa. Who else could make Natasha's expression turn that cold?
Natasha raised the phone toward Adam, who was still driving, showing him the name flashing on the screen.
"Oh... Marissa. Let me take it," Adam said.
He immediately slowed down and pulled the car over to the side of the road.
"Hello, Ris. What's wrong?" Adam asked gently.
"Big Brother Adam, can you help me? I fell down the stairs at campus. Can you come pick me up? My ankle hurts so badly. I think I might have broken it."
Even though Marissa's voice was faint through the speaker, Natasha could still hear how spoiled and clingy she sounded whenever she called Adam.
Soft, broken sobs came through the phone, making her sound utterly helpless.
"Stay there. I'll be there as soon as I can," Adam said immediately.
The concern in his voice was unmistakable.
He quickly ended the call and placed his phone back on the dashboard.
"Nath, I'm sorry, but it looks like I can't take you to the vendor's office anymore. Can you handle it yourself? I'm sure you can sort everything out."
"Marissa fell down the stairs at her campus. She said her leg hurts badly. I have to go there," Adam said, his voice filled with panic.
"Can't you just send an ambulance?" Natasha asked. "I'm not trying to be difficult, but this is about our wedding, and we're already running out of time. Besides, you're not an orthopedic doctor. There's not much you can do for her there."
"You don't understand, Nath. Marissa is a spoiled girl. She can't handle anything on her own. Her entire family is overseas, and she's living here by herself."
"Our families are very close. Who else is going to look after her if not me?" Adam said.
"And what about our wedding arrangements?" Natasha asked quietly.
"Please handle it yourself for now, Nath. I know you can do it. There are plenty of taxis around here. Just take a taxi there."
"All right. Whatever you think is best, Adam," Natasha replied shortly.
There was anger, jealousy, and disappointment hidden in Natasha's voice.
Unfortunately, Adam was too caught up in his panic to notice any of it.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'll call you as soon as I'm done with Marissa," Adam said.
Natasha didn't answer.
She simply gathered her bag and stepped out of the car.
"Be careful on the way, sweetheart," Adam called after her before driving away.
But this time, Natasha didn't respond with the warmth she usually did.
Adam's Audi disappeared into the distance, leaving Natasha standing alone by the side of the road.
She pulled out her phone and opened a taxi app.
But just seconds before she could press the booking button, a Maybach suddenly pulled up right in front of her.
The window slowly rolled down, revealing the person behind the wheel of the luxurious German sedan.
"Brother Noah," Natasha greeted him when she saw the man sitting behind the wheel.
His face was almost identical to the man who had left her just minutes ago.
Noah Ashford.
Adam Ashford's twin brother.
"So it really is you, Nath," Noah said. "I saw you standing by the side of the road looking completely lost. Where are you headed?"
"I'm going to the wedding organizer's office, Brother Noah."
"Why are you alone? Where's Adam?" Noah asked.
"I was with him at first, but Marissa suddenly called him. So Adam told me to go there ahead of him by taxi," Natasha explained.
"Get in. I'll take you there."
"Aren't you busy, Brother Noah? I'm worried I'll be bothering you," Natasha said.
"Not at all. I just finished a meeting with Arthur and Orion at One Sky Company. They've already gone back, and I was heading home too."
"So giving you a ride won't be any trouble."
"All right, then. Thank you, Brother Noah," Natasha said.
She opened the door and got into Noah's luxurious sedan.
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