Chapter 226: Safe

The sudden sound of a gunshot rang loudly in the building. Celine’s eyes widened as she stared at Ryan who had the gun pointed to her head.

Ryan frowned deeply, slowly looking down at himself, his shirt was dyed a deep red from the blood that was dripping, he had been shot instead of him shooting Celine, his arm fell slack beside him and the next second a lot of men in military uniforms rushed into the building. Ryan was quickly surrounded, he fell on his knees his own blood dyeing the floor before the men yanked him away.

Celine let out a breath in relief, her plan had actually worked out. Amidst the crowd she could see Tristan approaching her, she smiled brightly at him and he smiled back with his dimples showing.

She had already thought out everything and made a small plan before she decided to go and meet Ryan, which she communicated to Tristan through the letter she left him.

Meeting Ryan was just to distract him, while they would act like they had given in to his demands, she asked Tristan to hold the press conference, in that case, if Ryan was with her at the moment, someone close to him or someone with whom he was working together would come to the press conference to take the papers on his behalf, according to the plan, that accomplice of his would be the key they would use to find the children. Though none of them would have expected it to be Erica.

Tristan had indeed left the press conference with Erica upon her appearance, but immediately they’d left, his people who had been in hiding were quick to capture her, she had threatened them that if she didn’t return on time Ryan would kill the children, even left conditions for Tristan to go away with her along with the children, similar to what Ryan had tried, but of course, Tristan had the most brutal of his men torture the truth out of her, she had been adamant at first, but when they threatened to ruin her face, for someone who valued her beauty more than anything in the world, she quickly spilled everything.

Meanwhile Celine had been with Ryan asking to see her children, she had already come to know that it was a loop, she let him run his mouth, say all sorts of things he wanted about Tristan just to buy time, and when she was sure it would be about time for Tristan to have rescued the children, she no longer held back.

Tristan had initially been about to rush over the minute he heard Celine had gone to meet Ryan, all his thoughts had been chaotic at that moment, but immediately he read her letter he had understood all her well thought out plans, he had quickly begun carrying it all out, and since she had kept the letter for him, no one else had been in on the plan but the two of them and the others were all equally surprised by the turn of events.

The military men all went around to search the whole building for more evidence or anything of Ryan’s acts, the whole place was buzzing, but amidst all that, she could only see him and he could only see her.

Celine ran across the room to where Tristan was, she fell into his embrace. Tristan hugged her tightly letting out a sigh of relief himself, though he had steeled himself and gotten to carry out all the plans, he had been incredibly worried about her the whole time, worried that Ryan would do something to hurt her in his obsessive pursuits.

Mixed emotions filled Celine’s heart as tears streamed down her face, “Tristan… The children, are they really…?” Celine asked breaking the hug.

“Yes, they are safe now, everything will be alright.” He assured her softly before turning around and beckoning to Kaleb in the car.

Kaleb stepped out of the car along with him, Leo and Leah who were both safe and sound, seeing their parents, they quickly ran over.

“Mommy!” Leo called.

“Daddy!” Came Leah’s little voice as they both ran over.

Celine squatted down and pulled them both into her arms, more tears of joy, relief and gratitude trailed down her face. Tristan went on his knees, pulling the three into his arms.

The family of four was finally reunited. It was said that when love was present, everything else could be overcome, whether joy or sorrow. In the end, they would find their strength in one another, and nothing would be able to tear them apart.

—

Months later.

“Hurry, hurry girls, it’s time to go!” Someone peeked into the room where the bridal train were still getting ready.

Hearing the urging voice all the young ladies quickly got up picking up their dresses ready to head out and walk down the aisle.

Natalia sat in front of the mirror staring at her own reflection with sullen eyes.

Today was her best friend’s wedding, finally she would be marrying the man she loved and they would be a happy family along with their two children.

Natalia was so happy for Celine, but though she was happy, she couldn’t bring herself to smile, because there was a gaping hole in her heart, one that has been empty for three years now, three years since the moment he left.

“Natalia why are you still sitting? You’re the maid of honor so hurry up!” Elise urged her coming to pull her up and out of the dressing room.

Natalia felt her heart beating faster in her chest as she was about to walk down the aisle, she couldn’t do this… She couldn’t see him again, would she be able to keep her composure?

But this was Celine’s wedding, her best friend, she couldn’t back out of it when Celine had asked her to be her maid of honor again.

Standing at the wide doors of the wedding hall in one of the best branches of the Crown hotels, Natalia took in a deep breath before taking a step into the hall, she was greeted by an extravagant looking hall, though the decorations were lavish, one could feel the deep love of the couple who were getting married, after all it was said that if two people loved each other deeply, even the onlooking audience would feel it.

Natalia walked in along with the bridal train, she tried her best not to look up, but she did, she couldn’t help it, and immediately she did she saw him, standing among the groomsmen on the altar, there he was, it was as if her heart had already known where he was and her eyes had found him immediately she looked up despite not wanting to.

As she set her eyes on his handsome face, a lump formed in her throat and hints of tears gathered in her eyes.

He was smiling, his usual kind smile that was always on his face, but she knew it wasn’t for her at the moment, her eyes trailed his view to a beautiful young lady in a light peach dress among the front rows of the guests, she was the woman that now held his heart.

Three years… For three years she hadn’t been able to get him out of her heart, every single day her heart yearned for him, but who was she to go back to him or to go looking for him when he had been the one to call it off himself, he had been the one to turn his back on her and walk away despite the fact that she still loved him deeply.

Natalia raised her chin up a bit to push back the tears, then slightly lowered her head, they soon reached the altar and she stood on their side along with all the other bridesmaids.

She could tell he was standing right across from her but she willed herself not to look up, she didn’t want him to see her weakness, she didn’t want him to see the pain in her eyes that was caused by the fact that her heart still couldn’t forget him.

Though she told herself that, deep inside she yearned to take a look, just a single look, she was certain his eyes wouldn’t be on her anyway, she would just take a glimpse and look away. Perhaps that was how pathetic her love for him had made her, perhaps that was how desperately her heart wanted to get to see him. Besides, she was certain his eyes would not be on her at this moment but on the woman he loved, the woman who now held his heart.

Natalia raised her head, her instincts were right, he was standing right in front of her, but contrary to her thoughts, he was staring at her.

As their eyes met, she felt her heart skip a beat, those chocolate brown eyes staring back at her, he smiled subtly, it was a kind smile one would give to their acquaintances or perhaps someone one knew from the past.

That kind of smile made her feel like a stranger to him, she was indeed no one to him now. A painful pang struck her heart, but she managed to muster a small smile back before turning her head to the entrance where the bride was just arriving.

Though her heart was now in pain, she would try to find the joy to witness her best friend’s wedding.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep