The moment I stepped out of the lounge, Lucas Grant still was waiting outside.
His sharp eyes immediately lifted to my face.
Behind him, Clara stood nervously near the wall, pretending to look at her phone but clearly watching everything.
Lucas spoke first.
"Well?"
I walked past him.
"The wedding is canceled".
For a moment, he didn't react. Then his eyebrows lifted slightly.
"....Excuse me?"
"I'm not marrying Dominic".
Clara's mouth fell open.
Lucas stared at me like I had just announced the end of the world.
"Mr. Blackwood agreed to this?" he asked carefully.
"Yes".
His gaze sharpened.
"He agreed?"
"Yes".
Lucas was quiet for a second longer before nodding slowly.
"I see."
I could practically hear the calculations happening in his mind.
Damage control. Media response. Family reaction.
Corporate consequences.
Lucas Grant was the kind of man who solved disasters for a living.
Unfortunately for him, today's disaster was me.
Clara hurried over.
"Okay", she whispered urgently, grabbing my arm.
"What happened in there?"
"It's done".
Her eyes widened.
"That's it?
"Yes".
"You canceled the wedding and just walked out?"
"Yes".
Clara stared at me in disbelief.
"....You're terrifying".
I smiled faintly.
"Thank you".
Lucas cleared his throat.
"Miss Vale".
"Yes?"
"I strongly suggest you leave the venue immediately".
"Good idea".
"Once the guests realize the ceremony is not happening, the situation may become... complicated".
That was an understatement.
Hundreds of powerful people were sitting in the ballroom right now, waiting for a wedding that would never happen.
Soon someone would notice.
Then the chaos would begin.
Clara grabbed my wrist.
"Let's go before the mob arrives".
We walked quickly down the hallway toward the exit.
But halfway there, the sound of footsteps approached from the opposite direction.
Several people turned the corner. I recognized them instantly.
My parents. And behind them…
Dominic's parents.
My stomach tightened slightly.
Of course.
Someone must have already noticed something was wrong.
My father's expression darkened the moment he saw me.
"Seraphina".
His voice was cold.
"You're not in your wedding dress".
"No".
"And you're wandering around the hotel instead of preparing for the ceremony.
"Yes".
He stopped directly in front of me.
"Explain".
Clara slowly stepped backward like she wanted to disappear.
Dominic's parents stood silently beside him.
His father, Charles Blackwood, was tall and stern, his sharp features almost identical to Dominic's.
His mother, Evelyn Blackwood, watched me with a calm but curious expression.
My father's patience was clearly running out.
"Well?"
I took a slow breath.
"I canceled the wedding".
The hallway fell silent.
My mother gasped softly.
"...Seraphina".
My father stared at me like he hadn't heard correctly.
"You did what?"
"I canceled the wedding".
His face turned red with anger.
"You don't have the authority to make that decision!"
"Dominic agreed".
All eyes shifted immediately.
Charles Blackwood frowned slightly.
"Dominic agreed to cancel the ceremony?"
"Yes".
My father turned toward Lucas sharply.
"Is that true?"
Lucas nodded once.
"Yes, Mr. Vale".
The silence that followed was heavy.
My father ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
"This is unbelievable".
Charles Blackwood finally spoke.
"Where is Dominic?"
Lucas gestured toward the lounge.
"In there".
Charles didn't say another word before walking past us toward the room.
Evelyn followed him.
My father remained where he was, staring at me.
"Seraphina", he said quietly.
"Have you completely lost your mind?"
"No".
"You've humiliated both families".
"That wasn't my intention".
"Then what was your intention?"
I met his gaze calmly.
"To avoid a marriage that shouldn't happen"
My father laughed bitterly.
"You've wanted this marriage for years".
"Not anymore".
"You're being childish".
"I'm being honest".
His eyes narrowed.
"Do you have any idea how much damage you've caused today?"
"Yes".
"And you don't care?"
"I care about my life".
The words came out before I could stop them.
My father froze.
"What did you say?"
"I said I care about my life".
The hallway grew quiet again.
Clara watched me nervously.
Even Lucas looked slightly surprised.
But my father's expression hardened further.
"You sound ungrateful".
"I'm being realistic".
"Dominic Blackwood is the most powerful man in this city".
"I know".
"Women would beg for the opportunity to marry him".
"I'm not those women".
His voice dropped dangerously low.
"You're embarrassing this family".
"Maybe", I replied.
"But I'm not ruining my life to protect your reputation".
The words slipped out before I could filter them.
Clara looked like she might faint. My father stared at me in stunned silence.
Then suddenly–
The lounge door opened and Dominic stepped out.
Every conversation in the hallway stopped immediately.
He looked exactly the same as before.
Calm. Unbothered.
As if canceling the biggest wedding of the year was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
Charles Blackwood spoke first.
"Dominic".
"Yes".
"Is it true that the wedding is canceled?"
Dominic glanced briefly at me. Then he nodded.
"Yes".
Charles frowned.
"You agreed to this?"
"Yes".
"Why?"
Dominic's voice remained perfectly calm.
"Because there's no point forcing a marriage when the bride doesn't want it".
My father turned sharply toward him.
"You're just accepting this?"
Dominic looked at him calmly.
"Do you suggest I drag her to the altar?"
The tension in the hallway thickened. No one spoke for several seconds.
Finally, Evelyn Blackwood broke the silence.
"Well", she said lightly.
"That certainly makes today interesting".
Clara choked slightly beside me.
Charles sighed heavily.
"This will be a public disaster".
"Yes", Dominic replied calmly.
"But it's already happened".
My father looked like he might explode.
"Seraphina", he said through clenched teeth.
"We will discuss this later".
"I'm sure we will".
Then he turned and walked away down the hallway.
My mother hurried after him.
Charles and Evelyn exchanged a glance before following Dominic toward the ballroom.
Soon the hallway was nearly empty again.
Only Clara and Lucas remained beside me.
Clara finally exhaled.
"....Wow".
Lucas adjusted his tie slightly.
"I'll begin handling the media situation".
"Good luck", Clara muttered.
Lucas gave me one last look.
"Miss Vale".
"Yes?"
"I hope you understand that today will be remembered for a very long time".
"I figured".
He nodded politely before leaving.
Clara turned toward me slowly.
"You just canceled the most expensive wedding in the city".
"Yes".
"You humiliated two powerful families".
"Yes".
"You may have started a social war".
"Possibly".
She stared at me.
Then suddenly—
She burst out laughing.
I blinked.
"What's funny?"
"You".
"Me?"
"Yes".
Clara wiped tears of laughter from her eyes.
"I've known you for ten years", she said.
"And this is the most insane thing you've ever done".
I smiled faintly.
"Maybe I've always been insane".
She looped her arm through mine.
"Well, insane bride..."
She glanced toward the hotel exit.
"What do we do now?"
I looked at the bright sunlight spilling through the glass doors.
For the first time in years, my future felt uncertain.
But it also felt....free.
I took a slow breath.
Then I said the words that marked the beginning of my new life.
"Now..."
I smiled slightly.
"....we start over".