She's Not Coming Tomorrow

Eventually, Carl simply told Rosalyn to get some rest.

But she didn't—she had plenty to do.

After handing over the tasks she had on hand at work, she compiled and sorted all the documents, including Carl's itinerary.

At the pantry, she heard her colleagues gossiping that Carl had rented every electronic billboard in Cromwell to livestream his wedding.

The next day, Rosalyn had sorted all her possessions into boxes and donated what she didn't need to charity.

She then overheard one of the volunteers talking about the Hammonds inviting all of Cromwell to a public banquet celebrating Eric's wedding—anyone could attend, and without even bringing gifts.

And on the third day, she traveled to Mount Eternity, spending six hours grinding off her and Carl's names that they had sculpted on the Timeless Stone.

By the time she was done, her fingers were bleeding.

Later that night, she saw Carl and Zoe being interviewed together, where Carl promised a breathtaking wedding ceremony.

On the fourth day, the day before the two weddings, Rosalyn arrived at the wedding hall as Carl and Zoe rehearsed.

Zoe was even eagerly inviting Rosalyn on stage, chirping, "Ms. Jones, you'll stand behind me so I can throw my bouquet to you. That way, you'll inherit our blessing and find a partner soon."

Rosalyn did as she asked and watched as the entire wedding was rehearsed, with Carl reading the wedding vow to Zoe and putting the ring on her finger.

Still, as Zoe closed her eyes, waiting for a kiss, Carl didn't kiss her.

Instead, he had turned to Rosalyn to find her staring at him in turn, calm and composed.

He found her such a stranger this way, and there was this nagging but unknown feeling in his heart, coupled with unease and panic.

"Alright, the rehearsal is done. I'm tired," Carl said just before the kiss.

Part of Rosalyn wished she could see them kiss—it would only make her heart grow colder toward Carl. She wouldn’t see it tomorrow, though; she wasn’t coming to the wedding.

"Carl…" Zoe pouted unhappily because she really wanted to kiss Carl as Rosalyn watched—so that she wouldn't hold on to any false hopes.

However, Carl ignored Zoe and called out, "Rosalyn, over here."

"Yes, Mr. Grant?" Rosalyn asked formally.

He stared at Rosalyn as he loosened his necktie, clearly having things to say but not knowing how to say them.

Eventually he merely threw her his necktie. "Get me a new one."

Once he was out of earshot, Zoe promptly went up and snatched Carl's necktie away, growling coolly at Rosalyn, "I don't want to see you tomorrow. Don't you dare show your face at my wedding."

She saw how Carl was looking at Rosalyn earlier and knew that Carl must have refrained from kissing her for Rosalyn's sake.

She wanted Rosalyn to come to her wedding before so that Rosalyn could watch them be happy and back off.

But now, she regretted the idea—she was really worried that Rosalyn would pull something.

Rosalyn smiled faintly as she saw the panic on Zoe's face. "Well, that's one less bridesmaid for you."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about a thing," Zoe threatened viciously. "Either way, you'd better not show up, or you'll be humiliated."

Rosalyn nodded quietly, remembering Zoe at the boutique the other day, and hooked her finger at Zoe. "Sure, but there's something I need to tell you."

"What?" Zoe blurted.

Though reluctantly, she tamely walked toward Rosalyn when the latter suddenly reached out and grabbed her.

Zoe's eyes widened as she felt a sharp pain thrusting into her hip. "How dare—"

"Ms. Quayle," Rosalyn spoke out loud, drowning out her voice. "Allow me to wish you all the best with Mr. Grant, and may you start a happy family soon."

And with every word, she thrusted the needle deeper into Zoe's waist, just as Zoe had done to her the other day.

The Last Time I'll Cry for You

[Are you still going to marry me tomorrow?]

Rosalyn glanced at Julia, who was sound asleep, when she received the text late at night.

She then replied: [Here's my address—come pick me and my grandmother up tomorrow. Just don't come if you change your mind.]

[See you tomorrow, my bride!]

Just seeing the reply left Rosalyn with swelling bitterness inside.

She would be a bride soon too, but her groom was an internet friend whom she had never met.

It wasn't like lost love had pushed her over the brink—she just didn't want Julia to worry for her or be disappointed.

Moreover, even though she hadn't met her internet friend before, they had been chatting online for ten years.

Since a human only lives a few decades, someone willing to spend ten years with her was enough to win her trust.

-

It was midnight when Carl called.

Not wanting to disturb Julia, Rosalyn went outside to answer the call. "Is there anything else, Mr. Grant?"

Carl was left rubbing between his brows on the other end of the call—she seemed to say that a lot lately.

"Why aren't you home?" he asked.

For some reason, he had been feeling irritable and uneasy.

As such, he drove to the house where he and Rosalyn had lived for six years, but the bedroom was neat and tidy.

She wasn't there.

Rosalyn could tell where he was, but she didn't know if he had noticed that her possessions were already gone.

"I'm with Grandma," she admitted.

Carl looked around the dark room.

He entered without turning on the lights because he was worried about waking Rosalyn up, but now, he needed the endless darkness to stay calm.

He sat on the couch, noticing for the first time how eerie the house was when it was this silent. "What are you doing over there?"

Hearing that, Rosalyn knew right away that he never noticed that she had left with her things.

So he didn't even care that much—if he did, he would've noticed that her clothes were missing from the closet and her toothbrush was gone from the bathroom.

The rest of the house would have no sign of her, for that matter.

Still, it suited her fine—she wouldn't have any problems during her wedding tomorrow.

"Didn't you say you'll bring Grandma along?" Rosalyn asked, ignoring his question.

Carl was silent for a few beats. "I'll definitely send someone over."

"No, it's fine. I'll come with Grandma… I'm sure you'll be busy tomorrow," Rosalyn said, understanding as ever.

"Rosie," Carl called out her name, his deep voice clearly fighting back swelling emotions. "Y-You have to come tomorrow, do you understand?"

"Why me?" Rosalyn asked, staring above at the stars.

She noticed just then that they were especially beautiful tonight as there were plenty of them covering the entire night sky.

Carl sighed softly. "Just come as you promised, and you'll know why tomorrow."

But she wouldn't go tomorrow—and he would lose her forever.

So she didn't want to know whatever he was going to say.

"Carl," Rosalyn called out to him just then, her expression calm and neutral. "All the best."

Carl could cry for some reason when he heard those words.

Rubbing his face to stop it, he said, "I'd rather you tell me directly tomorrow."

Rosalyn raised a brow—was he trying to prove something to Zoe?

But Rosalyn was reluctant to think about it at this point.

Shivering against the night breeze, she sighed. "I'm sleepy. I'm turning in."

She hung up, still looking up at the ocean of stars overhead when her eyes closed, a single tear trickling down the corner of her eye.

"This is the last time I'll cry for you, Carl Grant."

The Two Fleets Wedding Limousines

The next day, the sun shone as brightly as the stars the previous night.

Rosalyn was woken by the warmth of its glow and immediately saw Julia smiling at her beneath its rays. "Oh, Rosie—how relaxed can you be, sleeping so soundly on your wedding day?"

Rosalyn hid her face in Julia's arms, yawning lazily. "Please, Grandma. I'm sleepy."

Julis sighed disapprovingly. "Oh, just wake up already! Your wedding car has even arrived!"

Rosalyn's head jerked up, and she looked outside where Julia was pointing and saw a row of black luxury cars parked everywhere in the nursing home front yard.

Her internet friend… had really come to marry her?

She stepped out of Julia's room and found a man standing there with his back to her, followed by a huge entourage.

His dark suit was tailored to fit him to a tee, and his cufflinks glinted against the sun.

He really oozed nobility from head to toe.

Julia huffed right then. "Oh, Rosie—just go already!"

At her voice, the man slowly turned, and Rosalyn's heart must have skipped two beats when she saw his face. "You?!"

-

At nine in the morning on Central Avenue in Cromwell, two convoys were advancing along the two five-lane highways.

Naturally, one was Eric Hammond's, while the other was Carl Grant's.

They were Cromwell's most eligible bachelors, with one having the most influence, while the other the most money.

No media outlet could sleep since they were both getting married on the same day, and they camped out at scenic photo spots and livestreamed the convoy's journey nationwide.

Both convoys were a marvel too—one would have trouble finding the end from the front as there were over a hundred cars, each of them decorated with flowers and ribbons.

The two fleets of wedding limousines were proceeding on their respective lanes but eventually stopped near each other at Central Square in the middle of Central Avenue.

As the limousines met, the brides wound down the window to exchange bouquets—a gesture of offering each other blessings.

Still, news of Eric's wedding was sudden that no one knew who the bride was, so most long-range lenses were focused on his limousine in an attempt to get a glimpse of the bride's face.

The only person who wasn't interested was Carl.

He couldn't sleep after that call with Rosalyn last night, and he felt like he was floating, his mind in a complete daze.

He really didn't care who Eric would marry—all he wanted to know was whether Rosalyn would be at his wedding.

He didn't see her at the wedding hall before he went to pick up Zoe, and she was never late for work.

But she simply didn't show up.

He tried to call her, but his calls weren't getting through.

He sent someone to find her, but they told him she had left the nursing home.

Now, he was screening the local news in case there had been an accident.

Meanwhile, as everyone watched in anticipation, the window of Eric's limousine was slowly lowered, and a face covered in a white bridal veil could be seen.

The journalists began to snap as many photos as they could with their 8K cameras, as the face was still visible.

On the other hand, Zoe was close enough that she didn't need high-definition pixels to see the face under the veil.

It was such a familiar face that her heart skipped a beat in shock.

Rosalyn Jones?!

Was she seeing things?!

Why was she in Eric's wedding limousine and wearing a bridal gown?!

However, as Rosalyn held out her bouquet, Zoe did the same, albeit stiffly.

She tried to say Rosalyn's name and ask questions.

Still, she was in shock, and Rosalyn spoke first after they exchanged their bouquets. "All the best!"

It didn't matter what had happened between them in the past—Rosalyn would put everything behind her after today.

Be it Carl or Zoe, love or hate—it was all in the past now.

That was when Carl, who had been keeping his head down, blinked and looked up in surprise.

All the best?!

Was that Rosalyn?

Why was he hearing Rosalyn's voice?!