Unreturned When the Fog Cleared Chapter 19

Unreturned When the Fog Cleared Chapter 19: Her Wedding

Julian Rhodes kept watch outside Thera Sutherland’s house for the entire night.

The next morning, when Thera and Leo Alcott left the house together, they saw him curled up by the door.

His face was unnaturally flushed, his lips were chapped and peeling, and even his gaze seemed unfocused.

“Thera…”

Hearing the sound, Julian Rhodes struggled to his feet. When he tried to speak, he discovered his throat was in agony, his voice so hoarse it was nearly inaudible.

But Thera acted as if she hadn’t seen him, walking straight past him and heading toward the end of the street side–by–side with Leo Alcott.

Julian didn’t give up. He dragged his heavy feet and followed behind them, keeping his distance but never leaving.

For the next few days, Julian became a shadow Thera couldn’t shake.

When she went to work at the design firm, he would stand downstairs from morning till night.

When she got off work, he would return to his post outside her gate.

In just a few short days, his eyes were bloodshot and a blueish stubble had appeared on his chin. His once–immaculate suit was a wrinkled mess. He was so disheveled he looked like a different person.

That evening, huge drops of rain suddenly began to fall, drenching Julian in an instant.

But he didn’t take cover. He remained standing outside the gate, letting the rain stream down his hair, his body shivering from the cold.

Late that night, his assistant rushed over, a look of panic on his face. “President Rhodes! You have to come back with me, something terrible has happened!”

Julian turned his head slowly, his voice raspy. “What is it?”

“Sylvia Chevalier suffered too much torment these past few days and experienced cerebral hypoxia. By the time she was sent back to the Chevalier family… she was already showing signs of severe cognitive impairment.”

“The Chevalier family has started aggressively attacking the Rhodes Group’s stock price and projects. The company is in chaos, and you must return to take charge!”

Julian froze in the rain, the water blurring his vision.

He looked up at the tightly shut gate, his heart filled with unwillingness, yet he knew the Rhodes Group could not be allowed to fall.

The next morning, when Thera left the house, she saw Julian still standing in the same spot, looking even more haggard than the day before.

He stepped forward to meet her, his voice tinged with exhaustion. “Thera, I have to leave today. Something’s come up at the company…”

Thera didn’t break her stride. She didn’t even glance at him, simply continuing straight ahead.

Julian watched her back, filled with a sense of powerlessness.

He knew that leaving this time might push them even further apart, but he had no other choice.

Julian rushed back and immediately threw himself into handling the crisis

at the Rhodes Group.

Fortunately, the Rhodes Group had deep foundations. Once he returned to take charge, the panicked management team found their backbone, their partners‘ doubts were gradually dispelled, and the stock price slowly

stabilized.

After dealing with the urgent matters, Julian found time to go to the hospital.

Seeing him enter, Yara Rhodes, who was lying in her hospital bed, immediately asked, “Brother, did you find Thera? Is she willing to come

back?”

Julian’s fingertips curled slightly. His voice was low. “She… won’t be coming back.”

The light in Yara’s eyes instantly dimmed, and her eyes reddened. “Brother, I’m so sorry. It’s all because I was so foolish before. I was deceived by Sylvia Chevalier and even helped her bully Thera. If I had just come to my senses sooner, you two wouldn’t have ended up like this…”

“It has nothing to do with you,” Julian interrupted, his eyes filled with self–reproach.

“I was a poor judge of character. I didn’t trust Thera. I’m the one who pushed her away with my own hands. All the blame is mine.”

[Half a month later.J

With the company’s situation stabilized, Julian set out to find Thera again.

He brought the original divorce papers with him.

He wanted to tear them up in front of her. He wanted to tell her that he

was willing to wait for her forgiveness, even if it took a lifetime.

But as soon as he turned onto Thera’s street, Julian froze.

The yard was festooned with decorations, with red lanterns lining the path. A massive banner hung over the gate, reading, “Groom: Leo Alcott & Bride: Thera Sutherland.”

Before he could process what was happening, he saw Leo Alcott in a crisp suit, carefully carrying Thera, who was dressed in a white wedding gown,

toward the bridal car.

The veil on Thera’s head swayed gently. She wore a brilliant smile on her face–a genuine smile, the kind Julian hadn’t seen in a very long time.

“Thera! Don’t marry him!”

Julian snapped. He charged forward recklessly, shouting in a hoarse voice, “I know I was wrong! Don’t marry him!”

Leo Alcott shot him a cold glance.

Instantly, two bodyguards rushed over, grabbed Julian by each arm, and held him firmly in place.

Julian struggled desperately, his gaze locked on Thera in the bridal car.

Thera turned to look over as well, and their eyes met.

But her gaze was as placid as still water–no surprise, no ripple, not even the slightest flicker of emotion. It was as if he were just a stranger passing by.

“Thera… don’t marry him…”

Tears streamed down Julian’s face, his voice thick with despair.

But Thera simply turned away, leaned into Leo Alcott’s arms, and continued smiling and talking with the friends and family beside them.

The bridal car slowly pulled away, followed by the rest of the motorcade. The procession of red cars was particularly striking on the road.

The bodyguards forced Julian to the ground. He could only watch as the bridal car disappeared at the end of the road and the boisterous crowd gradually dispersed.

He collapsed onto the pavement, tears flowing uncontrollably.

So this was the gut–wrenching pain of watching the person you love

marry someone else.

And it was a pain Thera had already endured once, all by herself, when she watched him marry Sylvia Chevalier.

He finally, soberingly, realized… from this day forward, there would no longer be a place for him in Thera Sutherland’s life.