CHAPTER 22Aurelia
Aurelia
The ceremony happened so fast, and she was still reeling from Owen’s ridiculous antics, the bizarre vows, and the recording camera. She scarcely had time to process any of it before it was over.
And then, without warning, Levi’s face was right in front of hers, closing the distance for a kiss. Panic flared.
This was a mistake.
She wasn’t ready.
Unfortunately, her instincts kicked in.
Just as Levi’s breath brushed her lips, she twisted her head to the side at the last second…and right into the path of Owen’s phone.
He recorded the whole thing.
Owen let out a victorious cackle as he captured Levi’s lips grazing her cheek, and the exact moment Levi realized what had happened.
Levi stepped back abruptly, his posture stiff, his gaze fixed somewhere, anywhere , that wasn’t her. A red flush crept up his neck, spreading across his cheeks as his jaw ticked.
No one else seemed to notice his reaction. But she did.
And it was her fault.
Her breathing grew shallow, emotions beginning to overwhelm her senses. She took a slow step backward, trying to steady herself.
Owen had already moved in, pulling Levi into a celebratory bear hug, laughing loudly.
She took another step back.
The ceremony had become a spectacle—exactly what she had asked not to happen. Owen treated the vows like a colossal joke. And she…she had no idea how to respond, caught off guard and put on display.
Aurelia’s chest tightened painfully. The room began to close in as the full force of humiliation pressed down on her.
Another step. The entryway loomed closer now.
Then Levi’s voice echoed in her head, “I hope she gets here soon so we can get this over with.”
Not even enough time was cleared up on his calendar for their wedding.
Her gut twisted.
This wasn’t a celebration.
She reached the doors as her vision blurred with unshed tears. No one noticed her retreat.
No one noticed her at all.
She cracked open one of the courtroom doors and slipped through, a silent sob breaking free from her lips. Another followed as she clutched her bouquet to her chest.
With trembling hands, she dropped her bouquet, slipped off her heels, one in each hand, and bolted down the corridor.
Sunlight exploded across her face as she burst through the main entrance, the summer heat searing the soles of her feet against the stone steps.
She didn’t stop.
She wouldn’t stop.
Her car was in sight. So close.
But just as she reached it, a pair of strong arms, clothed in navy, wrapped around her, halting her flight.