My Stand-In Groom Is A Secret Tycoon (Audrey)

'He was just buckling my seatbelt. What was going through my mind? Why did I closed my eyes?' Audrey curled up her toes in embarrassment, gripping the marriage certificate so tightly that her knuckles turned a shade whiter. Alistair had already settled back into his seat, and when he caught sight of Audrey's flustered expression, he playfully raised a hand to mess up her soft hair, smirking as he said, "Careful there, or the marriage certificate that just arrived might need a do-over." Still lost in her mortification, Audrey sniffed and glanced down, only to realize she'd practically crumpled the marriage certificate with her grip. She quickly released it and tried to smooth it out, murmuring, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." Sure, everyone else had complimented her for staying cool under pressure, but she always ended up feeling so awkward around Alistair.

Noticing the flush on Audrey's cheeks, Alistair chuckled. "No rush. Take your time I'll give you a moment to settle in."

Audrey's face blushed even more. 'Settle in? Does he mean buckling my seatbelt? Or...?' she wondered.

Audrey had definitely been in love before, but honestly, compared to the cold and arrogant Dominic, Alistair had her completely captivated. He was gentle and funny, making it hard for her to think straight.

Sure, she was still calling the shots in the wedding, but her feelings were totally taken over by Alistair. She realized she couldn't just sit back and let things happen. She needed to reclaim her power in this situation.

Just as Audrey was trying to figure out how to shake off the embarrassment, her cell phone in her bag suddenly buzzed. The ringtone sounded especially loud in the quiet car. She quickly fished it out and saw "Violet" pop up on the screen, immediately answering the call. Violet Monroe, Audrey's best friend, had been studying abroad for the past six months. She was supposed to be back today but had run late, which was why she missed the wedding.

With her vibrant personality, Violet's voice rang through the phone like a bell. "Audrey! I just got to the venue and heard the wedding got cancelled. What happened? Did that jerk Dominic screw up?"

"The wedding is cancelled?" Audrey was taken aback. She and Alistair had just tied the knot and even picked up their marriage certificate.

Violet was fuming. "Dominic said that. That jerk wouldn't even tell me where he was. Otherwise, I swear I'd hunt him down and give him a piece of my mind!

"A wedding that had been planned for ages just got scrapped like that? He better be half-dead and not able to show his face!"

Hearing this, Audrey spoke softly, "So, you called him? What did he say?"

"He claimed you two had a fight and that you were upset, so the wedding's on hold until you cool down." Violet exploded, not holding back in the slightest. "Seriously? That's bullshit, and I don't buy it for a second."

Audrey's face dragged. The blame was all falling on her, and she couldn't let anyone in on how she'd been drafted at the last second.

'Does Dominic really think I'd just be angry for a bit and then march back to him when I calm down? Who gives him that kind of confidence?' Audrey thought.

Audrey chuckled to herself and asked Violet, "Why not?"

"It's not that I don't trust him. I know you too well, and nobody understands how much you've invested in this wedding better than I do.

"The dream wedding you had been dying for was right in front of you. No way you'd just bail because of a fight at this stage. He must have done something truly heartless to hit your breaking point."noveldrama

Hearing about her expectations for the wedding from someone else made Audrey feel a bit down as she reflected on how things had turned out.

Audrey let out a soft sigh, and just as she was about to speak up, the sound of screeching brakes jolted her. Her body lurched forward, and if it weren't for her seatbelt, she probably would have smacked right into the windshield.

Before she could ask what had happened, Alistair next to her said in a low voice, "Sorry, I got a little distracted." Audrey glanced over and noticed his serious expression while driving. He looked kinda tense.

A bold thought flashed in Audrey's mind. 'Is he upset?'