Chapter 34: I Will Not Attend His Wedding

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: I Will Not Attend His Wedding

"Madeline Quinn!" Jake Abbott and a few of Julian Fletcher’s friends rushed forward to stop her.

But Zeke Shaw was right behind her.

Zeke Shaw frowned. "Quiet down."

’The police are lying in wait everywhere, just waiting to see if I’ll show up.’

’How amusing. I’m right here beside all of you.’

’Too bad no one can see me.’

"Julian Fletcher, you’re the one who killed her! She’s not coming back!"

But the seconds ticked by, one after another.

There was still no sign of me. The area around the hotel was even surrounded by people Julian Fletcher had arranged in advance.

Nothing. Still nothing.

For some reason, Julian Fletcher seemed to lose control. He abandoned Erin Whittaker and the guests and turned to leave.

"Julian..." Erin Whittaker followed him, her eyes red. "All the guests are here. My family is here. You can’t do this. You promised me..."

"I’m sorry, Erin. I can’t marry you." Julian Fletcher took off his boutonnière and turned to leave.

"Julian Fletcher!" Erin Whittaker stared at his retreating back, resentful. She gritted her teeth, clenched her fists, and screamed uncontrollably, "Julian Fletcher, you will never find Cecilia Caldwell! She’s already dead!"

The moment the words were out, Erin Whittaker seemed to regret them. Her face went pale, and panic filled her eyes.

Julian Fletcher stopped and turned back to look at Erin Whittaker. "What do you know?"

Erin Whittaker was breathing heavily as she tried to change the subject. "I just... I misspoke. Julian, please, stop this. Let’s just go inside. My parents are waiting..."

Julian Fletcher’s expression darkened. He strode right up to Erin Whittaker. "You know something, don’t you!"

"Talk!" Julian Fletcher seemed to lose it, grabbing Erin Whittaker by the shoulders.

’I’d never seen Julian Fletcher be so aggressive with Erin Whittaker. For a moment, it was actually a little jarring.’

I stood to the side and sneered.

’Of course she knows. Of course she knows I’m dead.’

"On the nights of the 13th and 14th, we had Cecilia Caldwell go to Hollow-tree Alley in that red dress. So why did she show up in Street Alley on the 15th?" Julian Fletcher’s voice was low, his tone interrogating.

’I don’t know what he’s found, but I’m surprised. Julian Fletcher actually suspects Erin Whittaker?’

"I... I don’t know." Erin Whittaker took a nervous step back.

Julian Fletcher clenched his fists, staring at Erin Whittaker with a scrutinizing gaze. He didn’t say a word.

Zeke Shaw and Madeline Quinn kept waiting, waiting for me to show up.

"Cecilia Caldwell will definitely show. She’s so shamelessly in love with Julian... there’s no way she’d miss this..." Jake Abbott was still muttering under his breath.

’They’re all convinced that someone like me, who loved Julian Fletcher to the core, would definitely show up to crash his wedding.’

’But what puzzled me was this: if this was Julian Fletcher and Erin Whittaker’s wedding, why was only her family here? None of Julian’s relatives showed up, not even his mother.’

"Julian... nothing." A few of Julian Fletcher’s friends came over and shook their heads. They said they’d scanned the entire area but hadn’t seen me.

The scheduled time for the ceremony was almost up, but I still hadn’t appeared.

"Julian, it’s almost time. Why haven’t you two come in? Our friends and family are all waiting," Erin Whittaker’s mother said, stepping out from the banquet hall entrance.

Erin Whittaker looked at Julian Fletcher with a guilty, pleading expression. "Julian, please. I didn’t know my sister was going to tell our whole family about the wedding. Now all my relatives know, and they’re here. My hands are tied."

"I told you, this wedding was only a ploy to find Cecilia Caldwell!" Julian Fletcher said, his voice grim.

Zeke Shaw glanced at Julian Fletcher and signaled his team to pull out.

Waiting here any longer was pointless.

’Cecilia Caldwell isn’t coming.’

The truth was, from the moment my fingernail was found on that body, the police already knew I wasn’t coming back.

But Julian Fletcher insisted I wasn’t dead, so they were just going through the motions for his sake.

"Julian Fletcher... She’s not coming back. Are you happy now...?" Madeline Quinn’s face was ashen. The conviction that had driven her collapsed in that instant.

She trailed dejectedly behind Zeke Shaw, walking one step at a time. "She’s not coming back. She’s not coming back."

"Captain Lowell! We found Asher!"

The police had raided and searched for Asher all last night but couldn’t catch him.

Yet today, he’d just shown up at the wedding.