Adrian knew his sister's dressing room was empty before he turned the doorknob. Usually she'd have soft music playing in the background while she got dressed, and the usual chatter from her maids would fill the air.
Something cold mixed with dread crawled up his spine when he pushed the door open and was met with complete silence.
"Lily?" he called softly, but there was no answer.
He immediately rushed into the room, his eyes frantically scanning the entire space.
"Lily? Come on, the guests are waiting."
Even Adrian could hear the fear dripping from his voice. It was his sister's wedding, and the bride herself was clearly missing. The panic was starting to set in.
"Adrian," he heard his adoptive mother call from behind. "Tell Lily she has to come down now. It's rude to be late to your own wedding."
"Aunty…" he turned to her. "I can't find Lily."
Her brows furrowed, "What do you mean you can't find Lily?"
She brushed past Adrian and met the empty room. "But I left her right here with the stylist. Her hair and makeup was already done. Maybe she's in the bathroom, have you checked?"
There was no need to but Adrian walked over and pushed the door open. "She's not here." His eyes scanned the space, almost missing the piece of paper that was on the sink.
His heart drummed heavily in his ears as he picked it up. It was a chaotically written letter, but he could tell it was Lily's writing.
Adrian,
I'm sorry.
I'll be long gone by the time you read this. I tried to convince myself that I could stand there, smile, and marry someone I didn't love for the sake of mom and dad. But I can't live like that. Not when it feels like I'm handing over the rest of my life for a deal I never agreed to.
I know this marriage means a lot to them, to the company. I know how much pressure you're under just by being connected to this. That's why I'm asking something I probably don't deserve to ask.
Please don't come looking for me.
This is the first decision I've made myself, so I need to see it through. I hate myself for burdening you with this, but I also know you're the only one of us that's not a coward. If anyone can fix this, it's you.
Thank you for finding me, for not letting me feel alone. No matter what happens, you're still the only family I've ever truly had.
—Lily.
Adrian blinked severally so he could keep his tears at bay as he turned to their mother. "She's not attending the wedding."
Ms. Eveyln froze. "What did you just say?"
Adrian waved the letter in the air. "Lily ran away, she doesn't want to get married to a man she doesn't love."
The older woman clutched her chest. "What does love have to do with anything?" she whispered. "She has to get married, we already talked about this!"
This was another subtle reminder to Adrian that he and Lily weren't really from their world, where the rich married for alliance and partnership.
"What am I supposed to do now? The guests are already waiting…her father will be furious. Oh, everything is ruined!" She cried.
Adrian was more concerned about Lily's safety. She wasn't like him that grew up in the streets, she was more sheltered. How was she going to survive out there?
"We can delay the wedding and say she's feeling unwell. At least try to buy time while I look for her."
"Don't you get it? She needs to walk down that aisle right now or everything is ruined," Evelyn cried. "All the reporters outside, the paparazzi waiting for the slightest bit of gossip to use and destroy my family. There's so much at stake." She looked at him like he was a stranger. "I don't expect you to understand."
He bowed his head slightly. "Of course."
Evelyn looked at him briefly before storming out of the room.
Adrian sighed, loosening his tie. He was already dressed in the tuxedo he'd been given because no one trusted him not to show up with his usual leather jacket and boots.
He ran a hand over his face in frustration. He couldn't think of any place Lily could've possibly gone.
All the weeks leading up to the wedding had been stressful and tiring but she had smiled through it all. She hadn't given the faint hint that she didn't want to get married.
Not that he blamed her.
Getting married to a man like Rowan Hale was enough of a nightmare to last a lifetime. Everyone in the entertainment industry knew how arrogant and obnoxious he was.
Heck! He hated the man, and his seemingly endless supply of well polished suits. He never seemed to have a hair out of place, not even when he'd attended the rehearsal dinner. Men like that could never love you.
He stuffed the letter in his pocket and left the room. He was about to turn the corner when he heard hushed voices.
It was no doubt Mr. Harrington, their adoptive father, and Mr. Hale, Rowan's father.
Adrian pressed his back to the wall and listened.
"What do you mean she ran away? Can't you control your own daughter?" Mr. Hale was furious.
"No one could've suspected she would do such a thing," Mr. Harrington replied. "We have to fix this."
"No, you have to fix this. What am I supposed to tell the investors? We've been planning this deal for years and now you want to ruin it?"
Mr. Harrington sighed. "What if he marries her brother? I mean technically we're still family."
Adrian could hear the displeasure in Mr. Hale's voice when he spoke.
"You mean the streetrat?"
Adrian flinched like he'd been physically hit. He wasn't supposed to hear that. I mean, at this point he should be used to it.
"What other choice do we have? They can get divorced in a couple years. But right now? We need this deal. Talk to him, the guests are beginning to ask questions."
—
Adrian already knew what Ms. Evelyn was about to say when she found him right outside the wedding hall.
"Addy," she drawed out.
Usually she never said his name in such a loving maner. He plastered a smile on his face and answered.
"I've spoken to Rowan's family and they've refused to back down from the wedding." There was guilt in her tone as she spoke. "You know how important the union between the two families is."
Adrian kept his gaze on the ruffle of flowers that had been designed as a hairpin for her. It was in true Evelyn fashion that she looked magnificent. Always.
He had to give it to the woman, she always dressed the part.
"I know, Aunty. Lily was excited too, I don't know what could've happened for her to do this. Are you sure that bastard—" he caught himself. "Mr. Rowan, didn't do anything to upset her?"
She looked confused, she hadn't even considered that.
"Rowan is a fine young man with very good upbringing—" she paused as if to say 'Unlike you'. "It's tragic enough that he has been standing at that altar for the past one hour all by himself. We're very lucky he's understanding."
Adrian almost scoffed at that. Arrogant was more the word suited for me.
"What happens now? Will the wedding be cancelled?" Adrian prompted.
"Oh no, darling." Her eyes were hopeful when they met his. "You'll have to take your sister's place."
That was the only solution they could come up with?
"I can't." Adrian's voice was clipped. "If the news gets out it could cost me my career. I just auditioned for a role and any scandal right now will ruin my chances of getting it."
"Rowan is an actor like you too, even more famous," Ms. Evelyn retorted, the sweetness draining from her voice. "If he's willing to put up with this, so should you."
"He agreed to marry me?"
She nodded. "God bless his heart, he's very understanding of the situation. You should thank him later."
Adrian laughed. "Rowan hates my guts as much as I hate his. There's no way he agreed to put a damn ring on my finger."
"No one in their right sense will," Ms. Evelyn muttered under her breath before clearing her throat. "We took very good care of Lily all these years, you can see this as a way to pay us back for our goodwill."
She put a hand on his shoulder. "After all, we're family."
Adrian grimaced on the inside. Right. They only remembered he was family when it played into their plans and politics.
But he couldn't also deny that he was grateful they'd adopted Lily and taken really good care of her when they were separated as kids. And if this was a way to show how grateful he was…
He closed his eyes with a gulp. "I'll do it. I'll marry Rowan fucking Hale."