The Abandoned Bride's Flash Marriage - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Zachary stepped onto the flight to Joracity, the rain pounding down around him. As the plane climbed smoothly into the sky, the cabin was filled with the resigned sighs of business travelers.
"The bid opening's tomorrow. With this weather, are we even going to make it down in one piece?"
"The captain said we might hit some rough air currents during landing."
Zachary tuned out the murmurs, feeling each second drag on like an eternity. He just wondered, 'Why has Gwennie come back to Joracity? Who's that guy with her? And why wouldn't she see me?'
The plane lurched violently, and the captain's voice boomed through the cabin. "We're expecting some serious turbulence. Please fasten your seatbelts." After a while, he said, "We're preparing for an emergency landing."
With each jolt, the shaking grew worse. Zachary's heart pounded as passengers around him began to pray, some calling their loved ones to say goodbye. He'd never felt this close to death.
In the midst of the chaos, one thought kept pounding in Zachary's head. 'Why hasn't Gwennie come back? We've been together for thirteen years! I've sent her countless texts—each one met with silence. Why has she never responded?'
When the plane finally skidded to a stop, the cabin erupted in relieved cheers.
Zachary's stomach churned with nausea. He stared at his unanswered messages, then left quickly, his face set. He fought back the urge to vomit, sent someone to track down Gwennie, and drove off to find her.
On the brink of death, his mind was consumed by the desperate need to see Gwyneth.
Gwyneth flicked on the TV, hoping to fill the empty silence of the room. She idly flipped to a random channel, and there it was: a reporter, her voice trembling with relief and joy, describing a miraculous escape. "Plane makes an emergency landing. All passengers safe."
Gwyneth couldn't help but smile. Maybe today was a good day somehow.
It was late, and hunger gnawed at her stomach. She ordered takeout, but the delivery call brought bad news. "Security here is too tight. I can't get in."
"Please wait a sec. I'll come down," she said. She hadn't hired a housekeeper yet, so she had to fetch the food herself.
As she reached the entrance of her residential complex, she took the delivery from the courier. Just then, a familiar voice called out, "Gwennie!"
Her fingers tightened around the plastic bag. She knew that voice, that nickname—only Zachary would call her that. She turned. There he was, the man who used to be so sharp and stylish, now crumpled and clutching his stomach, but his eyes were still piercing.
Finally, he'd found her. But Zachary's anger flared as he thought of all the unanswered messages.
He strode forward, reaching for her. "Do you have any idea how long it's been? Seven days, twelve hours, and twenty-nine minutes! Why didn't you tell me you were back in Joracity? Do you know how worried I've been?"
The clock tower in the heart of the complex chimed midnight. Happiness, like Cinderella's gown, began to fade the moment the clock struck twelve. Gwyneth's heart still ached for Zachary, but she instinctively stepped back, pulling away from his touch.
She said flatly, "You've got the time down to the second, but it doesn't matter now. We're done. From now on, our paths diverge. No more connections."
Her stomach growled louder than her regrets. Right now, the warm food in her hands mattered more than this failed relationship. Gwyneth turned to leave, but Zachary's hand closed around her wrist.
She felt a wave of revulsion. This was the same hand that had held Bella, and now it was trying to stop her. Gwyneth yanked free, her voice echoing Zachary's old accusing tone. "When are you going to stop this drama?"
"I came to apologize," Zachary said, his voice urgent as he took a step closer. "We can still make this work. Pick any wedding date you want—I'll clear my schedule, I promise."
"I don't want that," Gwyneth said, trying to leave again.
Zachary's patience snapped. He'd risked everything to find her, and she was still pushing him away. "Gwyneth, why can't you be as reasonable as Bella?"
Gwyneth spun around and slapped him, her eyes filling with tears. "Remember this: the moment you ran to Bella while we were getting married, we were over."
Security arrived, and Gwyneth took a step back, watching Zachary's face twist with disbelief. She gave a bitter laugh. 'What's he so shocked about? I'm just leaving—isn't that what he wants?'
"This guy's a stalker. Please get him out," she said, turning away. Her fingers crushed the bag in her hand.
"Wait, Gwennie—" Zachary called out.
"Sir, if you don't calm down, we'll have to remove you—and call the police," the guards said, pinning Zachary down.
Zachary struggled, but the guards held him back. He managed to break free and took a few steps forward, just in time to catch Gwyneth's eyes before the elevator doors closed. Her eyes were cold and disappointed, and Zachary felt a sharp pain in his chest.
More security arrived and finally escorted Zachary out of the building.
Back in her apartment, Gwyneth placed the steaming takeout on the counter, but she didn't feel like eating.
After a sleepless night, Gwyneth arrived at the PR department early in the morning. Her colleagues couldn't meet her eyes and left her out of even the most basic tasks.
Her eyes turned cold. She wasn't about to take this lying down, so she stood up and began to survey the office.
But before she could get a feel for the place, Quentin's call came through. "Get to my office. Now!"
"Jeez, so dramatic," Gwyneth muttered, covering her ringing ear as she headed straight for the top floor.
As soon as she walked in, Quentin slammed a stack of folders onto the desk. His finger was practically digging into the paper. "What's going on with the Lopez family? Why are they holding up our projects?
"Gwyneth, did you tick off Mr. Lopez? I told you to keep him happy! Is this how you follow orders?"
Gwyneth glanced over the documents. They were all regular bids from the Jenkins Group. But her Bayview Haven project wasn't there. Harrison wasn't targeting her.
She said, "Harrison only approved my Bayview Haven project. The rest? They're not my concern. Maybe you should think about whether you offended him, Dad. Or maybe it's because you upset his wife. I'm just an intern in PR. This isn't my job. Find someone else to handle it."
Quentin's brows furrowed deeply, but she just turned to leave.
Quentin thought, 'Ha, Gwyneth is his wife now! How could she say she can't handle this? It all depends on her will. No, we can't afford to lose more money.'
"Wait!" he said urgently. "Gwennie, we're family. You're part of the Jenkins Group too. You can't just stand by and let the Lopez family destroy us."