Adrian loosened his tie slowly. He seemed thoughtful, though not distressed. Just distant in a way I couldn’t immediately interpret.
“There is something I must attend to briefly,” he said, his voice unusually subdued. “You should rest while I step outside.”
The words were simple. Calm.
Yet something beneath them unsettled me.
“What could possibly require attention tonight of all nights?” I asked gently. I wasn’t accusing—just confused.
His smile was faint. Too faint.
“It will not take long,” he said. “I promise I will return soon.”
The door closed softly behind him.
The click of the latch echoed louder than it should have.
At first, I told myself not to overthink it. Perhaps it was a last-minute logistical issue. A family matter. A detail left unresolved. Weddings create loose ends. Life intrudes even on sacred days.
