From a Wrong Turn to Mr. Right novel Chapter 294

Olivia Bennett let her gaze wander across the ballroom.

The entire hall was dressed in crisp white and fresh green, with clusters of hydrangeas and white roses flanking the central aisle—an elevated white runway stretching through the room like a promise.

Above, a crystal chandelier cascaded light in every direction. Under its glow, the ceiling sparkled like the Milky Way, casting everything in a dreamy, almost otherworldly beauty.

Front and center, a massive LED screen displayed a picture of the bride and groom—Daniel Gill and Lavinia Bennett. They stood on the beach, locked in each other’s arms, the ocean behind them and wind in their hair.

If you went by looks alone, you’d have to admit: they were a perfect match. Handsome, beautiful, like a couple out of a magazine.

Olivia only glanced at the photo before dropping her gaze, her mind swirling restlessly with what was about to come.

A sudden warmth on her hand.

Ethan Carter’s strong, steady fingers wrapped around hers.

She looked up at him.

His eyes were impossibly blue and deep. “You alright?” he asked quietly.

Olivia shook her head, just slightly.

Damian Franklin, standing nearby, offered her a concerned look. “Olivia, if you’re not feeling well, say something, okay?”

“I know,” she nodded, managing a small smile.

Just then, a man in his forties, dressed in an expensive-looking suit and smelling faintly of whiskey, approached. “Mr. Carter! Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Ethan’s brow furrowed ever-so-slightly at Olivia.

The man introduced himself with a practiced handshake. “We met at a charity gala a while back. Small world, huh?”

Ethan’s tone was polite but chilly. “Sorry, my wife isn’t feeling well. We’d like a little privacy.”

The man blinked in surprise, glancing at Olivia, then quickly recovered his composure. “Of course, of course. I’ll let you two be. Next time, drinks are on me.”

He turned and melted back into the crowd.

Daniel’s hands curled into fists. He felt a sharp pang of something he didn’t want to name—jealousy, regret, maybe both. It flashed through his eyes before he managed to hide it.

The host, sensing Daniel’s distraction, nudged him gently as he kept the ceremony moving along.

Daniel forced himself to focus, pushing his tangled emotions deep down.

No turning back now.

He’d made his choice. No matter how much it hurt, he had to see it through.

Still, every so often, his eyes drifted back to Olivia.

Finally, the host turned to him with a broad, expectant grin. “Mr. Gill, do you take Ms. Bennett to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?”

Daniel hesitated, the words catching in his throat.

Three little words—I do—felt like jagged glass lodged there. He couldn’t get them out, couldn’t swallow them down. His voice faltered, and he stood trapped in the moment, bleeding inside where no one could see.