Chapter 656


    "Mr. Pendleton," Esther said, her voice filled with fury.


    Had she made a mistake trusting Jolene''s words about Chadwick? Could he really be this cold,cking


    empathy for others'' misfortune?


    Would Chadwick go to such lengths to save Jolene, who was desperate? Or did he have hidden


    motives from the start?


    Was that why he had reacted so strongly when he found out Jolene was pregnant?


    Chadwick removed Esther''s veil and taunted her, "Already ying the dutiful wife, trying to control


    me?"


    "Mr. Pendleton, you don''t have to pity the ident, but—"


    "Pity? Why should I?" he icily interrupted her. "The world is full of suffering. If I pitied everyone, would it


    ever end? Enough of this nonsense. Let''s not ruin my happy day!"


    Esther took a deep breath, suppressing her anger.


    Meanwhile, Chadwick impatiently tapped the car window.


    "Tell them to clear the way. It''s my big day," he demanded.


    He would have taken a helicopter if he had known about the traffic.


    "Understood, Mr. Pendleton."


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    Perhaps due to Chadwick''s influence, the intersection cleared quickly. They arrived at the venue on


    time.


    Bridesmaids guided Esther and Mandy to the bridal suite. Mandy removed her veil, gasping, "I can''t


    breathe in this."


    Esther folded her veil neatly and set it aside.


    Pouring herself some water, Mandy offered, "Would you like some?"


    "I''m fine," Esther replied, filling her own ss.


    The morning''s chaos was making her restless, intensifying her anxiety. She found herself gulping down


    a ss of lemon water without realizing it.


    Mandy folded her veil and ced it beside Esther''s. She asked, "Is your neck hurting too?"


    Esther hadn''t noticed the weight of her solid gold and pearl nes until Mandy mentioned it.


    "A simple wedding would have been easier without all this fuss," Esther mused.


    Lost in thought, she considered that the extravagance wouldn''t matter if the wedding fell apart.


    "I could use some fresh air. Care to join?" Mandy asked.


    Esther shook her head without a word.


    As Mandy left the room, Esther received another text from Bradley.


    Bradley: [Come out now, or else!]


    Esther hesitated, then deleted the message.


    Suddenly, drowsiness overwhelmed her. She rested her chin on her hand and reclined on the sofa,


    hoping for a brief rest.


    At that moment, a middle-aged woman entered, tossed Mandy''s gothic veil over Esther, and quietly left


    through the park''s back door with the unconscious Esther. She ced Esther in an inconspicuous


    ck sedan.