Chapter 584

Time ticked by, second by second.

Liam Sullivan never appeared.

There was also no word from Ethan Roscente.

Vivian Bennett's heart sank lower and lower.

Oliver Winston glanced at his wristwatch, his brow deeply furrowed.

He gave Vivian a meaningful look, and the two of them quickly stepped into the lounge.

"Liam still isn't here," Oliver said, his voice low. "It's about to start at eight."

He paced back and forth in the room, unable to maintain his usual composure any longer.

Worry clouded Vivian's flawlessly made-up face.

"Contact Ethan Roscente, quickly," she urged.

Oliver immediately dialed the number.

Ethan's voice came through, laced with anxiety. "Twenty minutes ago, Mr. Sullivan had already arrived at the hotel parking lot. But for some reason, he suddenly rushed out, as if chasing someone... We can't reach him now. We're searching."

Vivian's face instantly turned pale.

Oliver tightened his grip on the phone. "Liam isn't an impulsive person. If he came and then suddenly left, something major must have happened. My biggest fear right now is that he's alone and in danger."

Vivian collapsed into a chair.

She gave a bitter, strained smile. "What could possibly be... more important than our engagement?"

Her voice trembled slightly.

Her eyes were already red.

Had the thing she feared most finally happened?

"Vivian, don't think like that," Oliver said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You know better than anyone how much Liam loves you. He would never deliberately not come. Right now, his safety is the most important thing. You need to go out and reassure the guests. Say he went to Europe to pick up the engagement gift, and his flight was delayed due to weather. Tell them he'll definitely be here within the hour. Give me some time. I'll find him and bring him back."

He finished speaking and turned to make arrangements.

He instructed the staff to get their stories straight, murmured a few more words of comfort to Vivian, and then hurriedly left with his people.

Vivian was left alone in the lounge.

She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.

Her face was as white as paper.

Sophia Miller stood to the side, feeling both awkward and deeply concerned.

Encountering something like this on the day of one's engagement was something no one could easily bear.

She could only hope Liam Sullivan had been delayed by an urgent matter and would return within the hour.

But the unease in her heart grew stronger and stronger.

Tonight... it was probably going to be very difficult to end well.

"Vivian..." she stepped forward, wanting to offer comfort.

But Vivian suddenly stood up.

Her eyes held a kind of despair, yet they also burned with a scorching flame.

It was the look of someone making a desperate, all-or-nothing gamble.

She lifted the hem of her gown and walked toward the door, her expression blank.

Sophia hurriedly grabbed her arm. "Where are you going?"

Vivian turned back.

She smiled at Sophia.

That smile was desolate and strange, making Sophia's heart clench.

It was as if Vivian knew something.

As if she had already anticipated all of this.

Clearly in despair, yet she still had no choice but to move forward.

"Vivian..." Sophia grew even more alarmed. "Don't be upset, don't let your thoughts run wild. Liam definitely isn't abandoning you. He just ran into an urgent matter... Wait a little longer. He'll definitely come back. You have to believe in him. He loves you so much. He would never just leave you like this."

Vivian gently pushed her hand away.

Her face was as white as snow. Her lips parted slightly, her breathing as light as mist.

Her back was ramrod straight, like a tree refusing to fall in the wind.

Resilient, yet utterly alone.

"Don't worry," she said softly. "I'm not angry, and I'm not thinking of doing anything rash."