Seeing his aging face filled her with a pang of sadness.
Fighting back tears, she reassured him, âEven after the wedding, Iâll always be your granddaughter.
Iâm not going anywhere.
â
They continued their conversation as the car pulled up to the hotel entrance.
It was a five-star hotel under the Prosperity Group.
The area bustled with activity as final touches were applied for the wedding.
No one noticed Stellaâs arrival except for the observant manager, who quickly approached them.
âMrs.
Clark,â he greeted.
âAny instructions?â
Stella shook her head.
âJust brought my grandfather for a quick look.
Please, continue your work.
Donât worry about us.
â
The manager acknowledged Clint with a nod and stepped back.
âOf course.
Please let me know if you need anything.
â
With that, Stella led Clint on a walk through the beautifully decorated venue.
The elaborate arrangements spoke volumes about Matthewâs thoughtfulness, and Clint couldnât help but feel a sense of reassurance.
Back then, the elderly people of the two families arranged this marriage for Stella and Matthew.
Reaching this point was more than a little challenging.
Clint squeezed Stellaâs hand.
âThis wedding is going to be magnificent,â he said.
âSeeing how devoted Matthew is puts me at ease.
â
Stella nodded.
âHeâs put a lot of thought into it.
He even helped design parts of the venue himself, and heâs been overseeing everything on-site for the past few days.
He only had to leave today because of urgent matters at work.
I feel incredibly lucky to have him.
â
A radiant smile spread across Stellaâs face whenever Matthewâs name was mentioned.
Clint beamed with satisfaction, and then glanced at the wedding photo of Stella and Matthew displayed on the stage.
A mist welled up in his eyes.
âIf your mother were here to see thisâ¦â
The moment the words left his lips, Clint regretted them.
He worried they might dampen Stellaâs spirits, and quickly tried to mend the situation.
âHere I am, rambling on a happy day.
As long as Iâm alive, remember, Iâll always be there for you.
â
Stella didnât seem fazed.
She thought of Bella and declared firmly, âGrandpa, I truly believe Mom is still alive.
I will find her.
â
Her gaze was resolute.
Clint wanted to advise her to let go, but feared upsetting her.
He simply said, âDonât stress about it too much.
Enjoy today.
Itâs more important than anything else right now.
â
Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a loud shout.
The formerly bustling venue was thrown into a frenzy.
âSomeone fainted! Get help!â
Stellaâs eyes darted toward the commotion.
âGrandpa, please stay put for a minute,â she said, turning to Clint.
âIâll go see whatâs happening.
â
âDonât worry about me, dear,â Clint replied, a touch of worry creeping into his voice.
âGo check it out right away.
â
Stella navigated through the crowd and spotted Doreen lying unconscious on the floor.
Taking charge, she pushed people aside and instructed, âTake her to the hospital immediately!â
The manager rushed off to handle the situation.
Once Doreen was on her way, Stella called Matthew to explain the emergency.
âGrandpa is still here, and I canât really leave him.
Could you ask Cordell to help out at the hospital and keep me updated?â