Chapter 7

Edward ultimately didn't cancel the wedding.

He was confident Claire would show up.

He knew just how much Claire had been longing for this day, so as long as he used the wedding as bait, he believed there was no way she would refuse or give up.

So he made a big show of inviting guests and spreading the word about the wedding everywhere.

He was just waiting for Claire to come crawling back on the wedding day, ready to be his obedient little puppet all over again.

At the reception, he shamelessly held Sophie's hand and strutted across the stage with her, making everyone whisper and wonder if he was about to swap out the bride.

It wasn't until the Foster family elders showed up that he finally let go of Sophie's hand, and someone showed her to her seat.

Sophie might've been annoyed, but since she was convinced Claire wouldn't show up, she just went along with it and sat down without much fuss.

With all the guests already seated and the bride nowhere to be seen, people started murmuring and gossiping throughout the crowd.

The Foster family elders looked more and more uncomfortable.

Edward's grandfather, Harry Foster, spoke up, "Where's Claire? Is she really going to be late for her own wedding?"

Edward stood on stage, looking a bit uneasy, but he quickly explained, "She's still getting her makeup done. She'll be here soon. I'll go check on her."

Just as he was about to hurry out of the party hall, a voice suddenly called out from the crowd.

"Who here is Mr. Edward Foster?"

When Edward turned to look, the guy hurried over and handed him a bunch of stuff. "Mr. Foster, Ms. Linwood hired me to deliver these to you."

Since he'd told Claire the wedding time, she left him a little gift before she left.

When Edward heard the delivery was from Claire, he hurried over and grabbed the package, a glint of mockery in his eyes, acting like he was calling all the shots.

He was sure Claire couldn't stand missing the wedding, but was too shy to show up in person, so he thought she sent this just to make her presence felt.

Feeling all proud of himself, he tore open the package, only for his face to freeze the moment he saw what was inside.

It was the Foster family's gold pendant, the token that proved Claire was accepted as their daughter-in-law, a family heirloom Harry Foster had personally given Claire.

But now, she was returning it to them.

Inside the box, along with the pendant, was a farewell letter.

In the letter, she wished Edward and Sophie a lifetime of happiness together, with a big, happy family.

It was supposed to be a blessing, but as Claire wrote those words, the bitterness in her heart was impossible to hide.

Yet after letting it all out, she felt a strange sense of relief, like she was finally free, with nothing left tying her down.

The letter slipped through Edward's fingers, and the gold pendant tumbled to the floor with it.

Harry recognized it instantly, slamming his cane down hard. "What the hell is going on here? Edward, are you really that shameless, calling all these people just to watch you get left by that girl in front of everyone?"

As he spoke, his eyes flashed coldly at Sophie. "Just what did you two do to push her this far?"

But Edward tuned it all out, ignoring both Harry's furious demands and Sophie's pleas for help.

He just couldn't believe Claire'd really leave without saying goodbye.

Edward pulled out his phone and dialed her number.

But all he heard was the voice saying the number was no longer in service.

Refusing to accept it, he kept calling that familiar number over and over, but every time, he got the same response.

"No, she wouldn't really leave me. I promised her a wedding. Why would she still walk away?" Edward muttered under his breath.

"She's just upset with me, that's it. Yeah, she's angry because I didn't choose her that day, because I let her fall into the ocean and go through all that pain," he told himself.

Muttering under his breath, Edward snatched someone else's phone, his hands trembling as he dialed her number again.

But all he heard was the same automated message: the number was no longer in service.