Chapter 13: The House That Was Never Theirs

By eight in the morning, the Mercer family knew the wedding was gone.

The ballroom stood half-decorated, the flowers already arranged beneath a ceremony arch that no bride would ever walk through.

Grant arrived first.

He walked straight to the venue manager’s office, still holding the emerald ring box in his hand.

“Reverse the cancellation.”

The manager shook his head.

“Mr. Mercer, Ms. Bennett was the contracting party. She personally authorized the cancellation and paid the required fees.”

Grant placed the ring box on the desk.

“She made a mistake. I’ll handle it.”

“I’m sorry. We can’t reinstate an event that has already been released.”

Eli arrived a few minutes later, looking exhausted.

“Did you find her?”

Grant shook his head.

“Her car is gone. Her phone is off.”

Then Eli’s expression changed.

“Lighthouse Hill.”

They drove there immediately.

The gates were closed.

A security guard stepped forward before they could reach the entrance.

“I’m sorry, sir. You’re not authorized to enter.”

Grant stared at him.

“This is the Mercer family’s property.”

The guard checked his tablet.

“No. The registered owner is Ms. Mara Bennett.”

Grant's jaw tightened.

“I’m her fiancé.”

“That doesn’t grant you access.”

Eli stepped forward.

“We need to collect some personal belongings.”

The guard shook his head.

“You’ll need written authorization from the owner.”

Grant looked through the gates toward the house.

For years, he had walked through those doors without knocking. He had hosted dinners there, brought Sloane there, and casually promised the cottage to someone who had never owned a single brick of it.

Now he couldn't even step onto the driveway.

His phone buzzed.

It was another message from the family lawyer.

The subject was simple: PROPERTY NOTICE.

Grant opened it.

Mara had also revoked every informal permission previously granted to the Mercer family regarding the house.

Eli read over his shoulder.

His face fell.

“She really means it.”

Grant closed his fist around the emerald ring box.

“No.”

His voice was low.

“She’ll come back.”

But inside the locked gates, the house stood silent.

And for the first time, Grant was beginning to understand something he had never considered before.

Mara hadn't walked away to make them chase her.

She had walked away because she had finally stopped waiting for them to choose her.