Chapter 11 Missing Groom-to-be

• Evan knew he wasn't a match for that man.
• As he glanced at Serena, his eyes reflected something new. Who said she was foolish? Who said she was slow? This woman had already seen through everything without making a fuss.
• But, considering that man had even tracked Evan down for merely passing by the hotel at 4 AM., there was a good chance he'd be able to trace things back to Serena as well.
• What would happen during the upcoming engagement party?
• Evan had a feeling things were about to get very interesting. The engagement party was about to begin, but Liam was still nowhere to be found.
• He couldn't shake the feeling that today's event was going to be unexpectedly ... interesting!
• And what he was most curious about now was how Serena would handle it.
• Time ticked by, and the scheduled hour arrived. Yet Liam, the groom-to-be, still hadn't shown up.
• Oscar's face had darkened, while the expressions on the Laines members were complicated. Some of the other Wren family members seemed to be quietly enjoying the drama.
• Oscar led Serena to the main hall. Head bowed, she stood obediently, seemingly oblivious to the awkwardness of the situation.
• "Looks like Ms. Wren really is as slow-witted as they say. The groom hasn't even shown up, and yet she's just standing there, not even a bit anxious." Leo's eyebrow arched as he observed from the third floor, his eyes flicking toward Damien. "What on earth are you trying to see here?"
• "Maybe she's just not worried," Damien replied, the cold edge in his voice softening slightly as if Serena's calm was somehow pleasing to him.
• If the woman from last night was truly her, then she wouldn't be the least bit anxious.
• From his vantage point, Damien had a perfect view of the entire second-floor hall and everything Serena was doing. But no one down below would be able to spot him. However, because her head was down, he couldn't see her expression, and he had no idea what she might be thinking.
• "Damien, why are you so fixated on this girl?" Leo couldn't help but gulp as he noticed how Damien's gaze never wavered from Serena. The way Damien was watching her was like a hawk zeroing in on its prey, intense and unyielding.
• Thinking about the plans Damien had set in motion, Leo's breath caught in his throat. "Did she do something to offend you? You're really going all out on her."
• He was baffled by Damien's behavior, a series of inexplicable moves that left him utterly bewildered.
• Damien didn't respond, but his eyes narrowed dangerously, a cold, dark gleam flashing within them.
• If it truly had been her last night, he wasn't going to let her off.
• Leo's heart skipped a beat at Damien's reaction.
• What had Serena done to provoke Damien to make someone who was usually so composed and impossible to anger?
• Looking at her now, timid and quiet, it was hard to imagine her doing anything to stir up trouble ...
• So how had she managed to get under Damien's skin?
• Someone, please tell me what the hell happened!
• At that moment, there was a sudden stir at the entrance to the second-floor hall.
• Everyone assumed that Liam had finally arrived, but instead, it was a police officer who walked in.
• The crowd was stunned. What was going on? How had a perfectly normal engagement party turned into something that involved the police?
• From the balcony, Leo shot Damien a knowing glance. The officer had been arranged by him—well, more accurately, per Damien's orders.
• "Are you Ms. Serena Wren?" the officer asked, walking directly up to Serena. His voice was official, his demeanor serious, causing a ripple of shock to pass through the room.
• In an instant, the atmosphere in the hall shifted into something strange and tense.
• All eyes turned toward Serena.
• From above, Damien, who had already been watching her intently, allowed a slow, dangerous smile to curve his lips.
• Now he'd see if she was the one.
• "Yes, I am," Serena finally looked up, meeting the officer's gaze. She blinked in confusion before nodding slightly, as though she was slow to process what was happening.
• Leo clicked his tongue.
• Damien showed no outward reaction, but his eyes remained glued to her, scrutinizing every subtle change in her expression.
• And yet, there was no change. Her face was as blank as before, showing nothing but bewilderment.
• "Ms Wren, can you tell me where you were between 10 PM last night and 4 AM this morning?" the officer asked, following the script that had been carefully planned out.
• Serena stared at him, her face a mask of blank confusion. She didn't answer as if she couldn't comprehend what he was asking.
• In reality, the moment the officer appeared, she had understood exactly what was going on. After all, Evan had been taken to the police station earlier, and now, with this line of questioning, it couldn't be more obvious.
• That man had dragged Evan to the police, and now it made sense that he'd suspect her too.
• She had expected this possibility.
• What she hadn't expected was that he would go so far as to use the police, and to question her in front of everyone on her engagement day no less.
• He was truly ruthless!