Thunder rumbled in the distance. My dad told Aria and the others to get in the car first, then looked around.

But he didn't notice anything suspicious.

He called over his assistant.

"Nathan, I don't know whose headstone got struck by lightning, but send someone to clean it up.

"Oh! I can't reach Gianna. She probably called me here as some kind of prank.

"She's probably at the house. After you finish, go check on her. You two were close when she was little. If she doesn't want to attend the wedding, that's fine. But try to calm her down."

"Got it."

Just then, lightning flashed. A torrential downpour began, pounding the ground.

The rain slowly seeped into the pit, mixing with the dirt.

The rain soaked through the towel in my mouth. I squirmed, pressing it against my lips.

I started choking, unable to stop coughing.

"Nathan, did you hear coughing from beneath us?"

"Mr. Perry, don't scare me like that."

"Maybe it's just my imagination.

"The wedding is about to start. Aria and I are heading back to change. I'm counting on you to check on Gianna."

My dad left, and I was filled with despair.

The bodyguards, given the rain and the fact that they were in a cemetery, worked quickly.

They cleaned up in a hurry.

Nathan shouted that the rain was getting heavier, and everyone should get in the car.

I heard someone laughing nearby.

"These women are all middle-aged, still wearing bows like they're young. How ridiculous."

I felt the same way.

It was the bow that had fallen off during the struggle earlier, now buried under some rocks.

"Wait a minute.

"Why does that bow look so familiar?

"Didn't Gianna wear one just like this this morning? Why is it here?"

Nathan's voice grew closer.

"Maybe one of the bridesmaids wore the same kind of bow?"

"Who has bridesmaids wearing bows this big?"

The pouring rain mixed with the mud and seeped into my mouth.

I whimpered loudly.

"Holy shit, there's a sound coming from the ground!"

Just as I whimpered, the thunder suddenly stopped.

In the brief silence, my weak voice became crystal clear.

"Holy shit, is this a ghost rising from the dead?"

"Look at this dirt! It's all soft from the rain. Looks like it was just dug up."

"Nathan, I thought it was strange earlier. If the bride was tricked into coming here, why does she have dirt all over her and in her hands?"

"Exactly, even the bridesmaids were covered in dirt."

"Could it be they came to bury something?"

Nathan quickly made a phone call.

"Help me track Ms. Perry's phone to its last known location.

"What? Her phone is less than two miles away from me?"

Nathan moved around, finally getting closer to where I was buried.

"How about now?

"It's right on top of me?"

Nathan's voice turned hoarse as he knelt on the ground.

"Gianna, are you down there?"

I hummed as hard as I could to respond.

"Oh my god, no way. Oh my god."

Nathan's hands trembled as he dialed 911. With a sob in his voice, he then began frantically digging.

"Guys, come help! There's a good chance Ms. Perry is buried here!"

Everyone was frantically digging through the dirt.

Nathan suddenly spotted a familiar piece of clothing.

His hands shaking, he sent the video to my dad.

The call was answered by the assistant responsible for the video feed, Nathan's apprentice.

He was chewing gum, casually pointing the camera toward the stage.

"What's up, boss? Mr. Perry's in the middle of the toast right now. Can't this wait until it's over?"

Nathan snapped.

"Forget the toast! Put the video on the screen right now.

"What? Are you crazy? If I do that now, Mr. Perry's going to kill me!

"I'm telling you, if you don't do it, you'll be the first one he kills today."

Soon, the dirt covering me got thinner. I could finally start to breathe easier.

After being buried for over ten minutes, I finally saw daylight again.

Nathan was completely stunned when he saw me.

On the other side of the phone, the event was filled with gasps.

Aria stood on stage. Her face flushed with anger as she whined to my dad.

"What's Nathan doing?" she pouted.

My dad glared at Nathan. "Nathan, what the hell are you doing? Have you lost your mind?"

Nathan's voice was shaky with emotion. He responded, "Mr. Perry, it's not me who's lost it. It's the woman standing next to you."

"What are you talking about?"

"I found Gianna."

"You found her, so what? Why are you crying?"

"Grayson, Gianna was buried alive. I just dug her out from the cemetery."

"What?! Say that again!" My dad practically screamed.

The camera turned around.

My face was covered in cuts, my body caked in mud, and I was barely clinging to life.

As soon as my dad recognized me, he collapsed onto the stage.

Helpless, he shouted to the crowd below, "James, bring the car over! Hurry!"

His breathing was ragged.

"Gianna, listen to me. I'm coming right now. You just have to hang on.

"I've regretted abandoning you all those years ago every single day.

"If anything happens to you today, your grandma will never forgive me. I'll never forgive myself."

After saying that, he dropped to his knees, trying to say something to Nathan but choking on his own sobs.

Grayson was always so tough and unshakable.

At that moment, he looked like a lost child.

When James arrived, he stumbled down the stage, running as fast as he could.

"Dad..."

My dad stared directly at me.

Just before I lost consciousness, I extended my clenched hands. I used the last bit of my strength to hold up the damp bundle of ashes in front of the camera.

"Grandma... is here. She already forgave you a long time ago.

"I'm afraid... she can't give you her blessing anymore."