Don’t Fall for the Billionaire Lover
Chapter 598

Linda glanced at the officiant and declared with unwavering determination, "Let's get this show on the road. If the groom's a no-show, we'll just have the bridesmaid step in and handle the whole shebang."

The officiant was caught off guard. He'd seen his fair share of last-minute jitters from either the bride or the groom. Typically, when things went south, the ceremony would get scrapped, and they'd come up with some excuse to cover it up. But this was his first encounter with a bride so cool and collected, insisting on going ahead with the bridesmaid standing in for the groom.

Still, as the saying goes, "The customer is always right." So, he made his way to the center of the stage. With the microphone in hand, he energetically announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, I now declare the wedding of Antonio and Ms. Linda... officially underway!" The officiant was smooth and eloquent on stage, but the crowd below was stunned. A solo bride ceremony? How on earth was that going to pan out? Even Tara and Gordon thought Linda was stirring up trouble. It seemed like she was set on embarrassing the Moncada family. But with the situation already in motion, they were powerless to stop it.

The ceremony kicked off, following the officiant's lead step by step. Finally, they reached the ring exchange. The officiant spoke into the microphone, "May the bridesmaid now bring forward the rings for both the bride and groom."

Now, having just one person to exchange rings with was a bit of a head-scratcher. The audience felt like they were witnessing a theatrical spectacle. They craned their necks eagerly, and some even edged closer to the stage. A crowd had gathered at the foot of the stage. Some women, with their kids in tow, watched the scene unfold. The kids clapped and jumped around, chanting, "The bride's all alone, the groom's on the run."

The adults, there for the entertainment, let the kids sing loudly without interruption, enjoying the show Yet, Linda remained unfazed by the chatter around her. She stood alone on stage, clad in her wedding gown, her veil as white as snow. A spotlight from above cast her in a glow, like a white lotus blooming in a serene pond.

Meanwhile, Chloe heard the officiant call her name, summoning her to the stage. As the bridesmaid, delivering the rings was her sole duty for the day. Despite her worry for Connor, she had to step up.

Chloe was baffled, though. Where

had Lucas disappeared to? Why hadn't he shown up today? And why was Linda so intent on holding the ceremony without him? Was it some deep-seated belief she held onto? Not understanding fully but respecting her choice, Chloe picked up the velvet box containing the rings and headed to the stage.

With each step towards Linda, the lights and shadows transformed the aisle into a runway. A spotlight illuminated her from above. As she walked, bright red roses bloomed beneath her feet, as vivid as flames. At that moment, the entire banquet hall dimmed, leaving only three spots aglow: the stage with the bride, Chloe making her way, and a tree wrapped in evening primroses. The interplay of light and shadow felt like time itself was either speeding past or rewinding.

As Linda watched Chloe approach with the rings, tears finally glistened in her eyes.