- 7.
Orion moved swiftly, perhaps fearing my health would deteriorate further.
Our wedding was extravagant, almost like a fairytale event. The media were abuzz, curious about how Orion’s bride had changed in just a month, and why his former fiancée, Celeste, was now wanted throughout the city.
Yet, Orion suppressed all rumors, ensuring only blessings reached my ears.
On our wedding day, when Orion saw me in my gown, his eyes turned red. He couldn’t look away, as if trying to memorize every detail.
I laughed and adjusted his tie, “Orion, what are you daydreaming about?”
Orion snapped out of it, holding my hand and gently kissing my forehead, “Nora, you’re so beautiful, I can’t look away.”
I playfully glared at him, with a hint of shyness in my voice, “When did you become so smooth? Hurry and pay respects to Uncle and Aunt, or we’ll miss the auspicious time for the ceremony.”
“I’ll wait here. Once the ceremony is over, you can look at me as long as you want.”
Orion seemed momentarily lost, staring into my eyes as if seeking reassurance, “Will you really wait for me?”
I put on a nearly perfect smile, “Of course, Orion.”
As I watched Orion leave, my smile slowly faded.
My phone buzzed with a message from the private investigator: “Miss Nora, Celeste has been spotted near South Cemetery. Should I notify Mr. Orion or call the police?”
I replied quickly, “No need.”
Soon after, Quentin emerged from another room, relying on a white cane, “Sister, are you sure about this? You used to love him so much…”
Looking at the hibiscus flowers in the room, I was transported back to the summer when I first met Orion.
The hibiscus flowers were out of season, forcibly made to bloom. Their fragrance
was bitter.
Just like Orion and me now, seemingly reunited but with fractures like delicate porcelain.
What I seek now is only what should have been mine.
The time when Orion was supposed to pick me up for the wedding car had passed, yet he hadn’t arrived. Instead, a team of police rushed in, “Miss Nora, something happened to Mr. Orion!”
When I arrived at the hospital in my white bridal gown, Orion was already in surgery.
The police informed me that on his way to South Cemetery to honor his parents, a car deliberately hit Orion. The driver was Celeste, who had been in hiding.
After escaping Orion, Celeste harbored deep resentment towards both of us. Seeing the wedding that should have been hers now mine, the disparity and jealousy drove her to seek mutual destruction.
But she didn’t anticipate that due to my health, I didn’t go to the cemetery. So when she realized only Orion was in the car, Celeste was first in disbelief, then laughed maniacally through blood.
By the time the police arrived, Celeste’s breath was faint. Yet she crawled towards the unconscious Orion, “Orion, in this life… as a human or a ghost, I’ll cling to you…”
After saying this, Celeste’s breath ceased.
10:25 AM
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disbelief, then laughed maniacally through blood.
By the time the police arrived, Celeste’s breath was faint. Yet she crawled towards the unconscious Orion, “Orion, in this life… as a human or a ghost, I’ll cling to you…”
After saying this, Celeste’s breath ceased.
Hearing this, I felt no stirrings in my heart, only quietly watching the light in the operating room.
I don’t know how long I waited, but eventually, the light went out.
The doctor emerged, shaking his head at me, “The patient suffered a skull fracture, we couldn’t save him. I’m sorry.”
Looking at Orion’s body covered with a white sheet, I hoarsely asked the doctor, “Did he leave any words for me?”
The doctor shook his head, “The patient was unconscious on arrival, and with a low will to survive, there were no last words.”
I tugged at the hibiscus embroidered on my wedding dress, my eyes vacant as I nodded, “No last words… that’s fine, no last words…”