The guests erupted into confused whispers.
"Kingsley, I thought you said your conversation went well."
Spencer turned to face Amelie and furrowed his eyebrows. "I...I thought it did. I mean she really loved Blake I don't know why the wedding is off."
They felt a tap on their shoulders and turned to face Maria who had an unimpressed look on her face.
"Yo, I just talked to Blake's mom and apparently Madeline Lockhart is the one who called off the wedding."
"What?! Why?!" Spencer asked.
Maria shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. But she's gone AWOL. No one knows where she is."
Someone called out Maria's name and she excused herself before leaving Spencer and Amelie.
Amelie exhaled and shook her head. "Poor Blake. His entire family is here. This must be so humiliating for him."
"I have to go find her."
Amelie whipped her head around and scoffed. "What?!"
Spencer ignored her and looked around. He spotted Jamal and Priya talking to the groom's parents. Maybe Jamal would know where his daughter was.
What happened? Why did Madeline cancel the wedding?
"I- I have to go."
"Spencer!"
Spencer stood up and looked around. Jamal had disappeared and now he didn't have anyone to ask where Madeline went.
Amelie held him back as he was about to leave. Her face was furious.
"Spencer! Are you serious right now? You talked to her already! She doesn't need you right now."
"I'm sorry but I have to go make sure she's okay."
"Spencer, if you walk away from me right now I don't know if I can ever forgive you."
Spencer let out a strained breath just as Priya walked past them. This was his chance. She would know where Madeline was.
"Amelie, I'm sorry. I really am."
Before she could object any more, he pulled his arm out of her grip and chased after Madeline's stepmom. He could hear Amelie calling after him. He prayed this wouldn't cost him their relationship but he had to find Madeline. They were friends now and friends made sure each other was okay. No ulterior motive. He just wanted to make sure Madeline wasn't crying alone somewhere.
"Priya! Wait!"
Priya twisted around, her ocean-blue dress swirling behind her. "Spencer? Oh, wow, it's been, what, like five years? How are you darling?"
"I'm good. I just need to find Madeline. Do you know where she is?"
Priya shook her head grimly. "I'm afraid not. No one does. Her father is worried sick. She has been looking forward to getting married for so long so I can't imagine what changed her mind..."
Spencer ran his fingers through his hair. "Do you have any idea where she could be?"
Priya looked around to make sure no one was listening before beckoning Spencer to come closer. He leaned in as she lowered her voice.
"Try her old childhood room. The code for the gate to the house is one-five-zero-three. Her father and I were going to check there next but if she is there I'm sure she would much rather speak to a friend than her parents. Just make sure she's okay, yeah?"
Spencer nodded rapidly. "Thank you so much, Priya. And congratulations on the baby," He said, pointing at her stomach.
"What baby?"
Spencer froze and bugged his eyes. "No-I mean-sorry-I just thought- well because you're- you know-"
Priya interrupted his rambling by bursting into laughter. "Sorry, love, that was a terrible joke. I'm seven months along. Anyway, shoo shoo. Go find Maddie."
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Spencer was blasted with nostalgia as he pulled up to Madeline's childhood home in his blue Aston Martin. It hadn't changed one bit. The last time he was there was on Madeline's last day in Manhattan before she went to rehab. That's when they had their first kiss.
He pushed open the door and entered the white marbled hall. "Maddie? Maddie, are you here?"
He looked into every room, searching for her. He was beginning to lose hope as he climbed up the stairs to the third story. But then he heard it. A faint crying sound coming from Madeline's old bedroom.
"Maddie? Are you here?"
He slowly pushed open her door and found her curled up on her bed. Her hair was out of its curlers and her wedding dress was still on her, a stark contrast to the silky teen bedsheets and purple fur pillows.
"Spencer?" She sniffled, looking up at him with puffy eyes and slowly sitting up.
He wordlessly walked over to her and hugged her tightly. Placing a kiss on her temple, he squeezed her tightly as she buried her face in his chest and continued to sob uncontrollably.
"What happened?" He asked her softly.
"I couldn't marry him."
Spencer's phone rang but he silenced it. "Why? Did he hurt you?"
"No, no. I...I can't talk about it. But... oh god, did you see him? Did he look okay? He promised me he would be okay. We didn't break up but I hope he can forgive me. Oh no, is everyone talking about me? My dad and Priya are probably so pissed. My dad... his last wish is to see me get married. I....I messed everything up! Oh God, Spence. I-I- I can't breathe. It's too tight. I need to get out of this dress!"
She clawed desperately at her back trying to pull loose the ties of the corseted bodice but she couldn't do it alone. Spencer gently held her hands to stop her.
"Stop. I'll do it."
With one simple tug, the back of her tight bodice came undone and Madeline could wriggle out of her dress. Spencer bent down to pick the dress up and hung it on the back of hook on her door before grabbing her an oversized t-shirt and sweatpants from her walk-in closet. When he returned to her room, he found her in the same foetal position except this time she was only wearing her bridal lingerie. He slowly helped her change into the t-shirt and sweatpants before they both laid down together. Spencer wrapped his arm around her. Her sobs had died down but she had become resigned to silence which felt even more heartbreaking.
His phone continued to relentlessly buzz in his pocket and he knew it was Amelie.
"You can answer you know."
"It's fine, it's only Amelie. She wasn't too happy with me leaving her."
Madeline's face fell. "Oh no. God, I ruined everything! Leave me. Go see Amelie. I don't want you to get in trouble with her..."
Spencer shook his head as he switched off his phone.
"No. I got you."
After a long pause, Madeline broke the silence.
"Spencer?"
"Yeah?"
"Promise me that no matter what happens in the next few months you'll always have my back."
Spencer smiled. "Of course, Maddie. Forever"
He continued to gently rub Madeline's shoulders until he heard her exhausted, quiet snores.
âââ
Spencer woke up to the sound of people downstairs. He rubbed his eyes slowly, disorientated by his strange surroundings. However, once it all came back to him, he slowly got up, carefully peeling his arm from around Madeline. He switched on his phone to see that it was four AM. Crap. Amelie was probably pissed as hell.
He carefully slipped on his brogues and made his way downstairs with his tie and suit jacket draped across his arm.
He found Priya and Jamal talking downstairs amongst themselves.
"Hi, guys."
They turned to him swiftly, evidently shocked he was still there.
"Oh, Spencer, how is she?" Priya asked.
"She's okay. She didn't really tell me why she didn't marry him. But, she'll be okay."
"Thank you for staying with her, son. You don't have to leave so late. You can stay in one of our guest bedrooms."
Spencer shook his head politely. "I should go. My girlfriend is waiting for me. But it was good to see you both."
Priya opened her arms and embraced him in a hug. "We hope to see you soon."
"Definitely."
Jamal patted his shoulder. "You were always a good friend to her."
"Not always. But I will be from now on."
âââ
Spencer returned to the hotel, dragging his feet from exhaustion. He scanned the room card, ready to face Amelie.
But the room was empty.
Amelie's bags were gone and the room looked untouched. Spencer cursed to himself and immediately took out his phone, ready to call her. However just as he was about to press the green call button, he realised she was probably sleeping. It was the middle of the night after all. She was probably at their apartment. He could just drive there and talk to her in the morning. He would even sleep on the couch. Just as long as he got to see her.
He checked out and drove home. The drive was dangerous with how droopy his eyes were from exhaustion but he finally made it. He was ready to just lie down and doze off.
He found a video message sent from Oliver so he opened it, not ready for its contents. The video was hazy but he could just about make out Nora flashing a diamond tattoo on her ring finger and flicking a wedding veil out of her face.
"We just got married baby!" Oliver slurred.
Huh? Spencer had to replay the video and pinch himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming. He didn't even know they were back together. And he never thought Nora would be the type of girl to elope. Spencer groaned because he knew that was another problem he would have to fix because, knowing Nora, she would probably stick with Oliver even though he was a huge jackass. Poor Nora.
Spencer felt even more anguished and exhausted after watching that video. He opened his bedroom door quietly so not to disturb Amelie. However, when he entered his bedroom, expecting to find Amelie asleep, he found nothing but an empty bed.
"Oh, fuck."
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