Chapter 5 - Missing Paris

Bruce got up and tried to chase after me, but George raised his hand.

"She is a coward and a gold digger," he spoke and stretched his hand.

"Here you go." Bruce dropped the laptop and opened the door to the tent.

"I'm going to the restroom," he said, arranging his shirt.

He walked out and shut the door.

James adjusted his glasses and scrolled for a while, then came to a stop.

"Inside sources show that she is planning on exposing it to the public," James looked strained.

He had been through so much these last few days, covering the scandal of his boss and now another one is about to be leaked.

"She won't do it," George said with confidence as he tapped the keys.

He felt the silence in the room and looked up at James, "She had never wanted to announce our relationship. Now that she is pregnant, she won't want that either," he explained.

"What about the wedding?" James asked.

"It must go on. Mother won't want anything to go wrong," James nodded and left.

George sat straight and removed his eyes from the laptop. He rubbed his head and sighed.

**A FEW DAYS LATER**

**London's POV**

"London, have you seen Paris?" My mother tapped me, waking me from my sleep.

"No..." I replied drowsily as I tried to focus.

"Paris is missing!" I jumped out of bed when I heard the news.

"Mother, that's a prank, right?" I rubbed my eyes, looking around to see Mrs. Elorod rubbing both hands nervously.

"Mother?" I called softly. Mrs. Elorod looked at me and fell to her knees, sobbing. I rushed to her.

"Mother? Mom? Mommy?" I hugged her as she shivered and cried.

"What's happening here?" A well-dressed Mr. Elorod walked in, adjusting his tie.

"Where is that lousy girl?" He asked angrily.

"Mommy, I couldn't find Paris anywhere." Alfred ran into the room, wiping his face immediately when he saw his father.

"What do you mean you can't find Paris? Huh?" He walked to his wife, who was on the floor, and pulled her hair.

I grabbed him, but he pushed me aside, making me fall to the floor.

"London!" Alfred cried, running to me.

I sat on the floor, staring at my bleeding hands, wincing in pain.

"London, are you okay?" Alfred cried, seeing the blood flowing from my hands.

"All of you are useless!" Mr. Elorod yelled, pulling his wife's hair, but she kept silent, gripping the hems of her skirt.

I felt my blood boil as I watched. I got up and pushed my father away from my mother, staining his shirt.

"You... You bitch!" He cursed, staring at his stained shirt.

He walked away, while I ran to my mother, "Mother?"

"Paris, where could she be?" Mrs. Elorod asked, shaking as she held my wounded hand.

"You... You... you... are bleeding." Mrs. Elorod grabbed my hand, noticing the wound.

"I would go and clean it." I got up and walked to the bathroom.

I was drying the wound when a scream from the living room caught my attention.

"Mother!" I ran there and met my father pointing a knife at Alfred, who was too scared to cry.

"London, London, Alfred, please do something." She pleaded, holding my leg.

I sat there confused, a song I usually sang with Paris flashed through my mind.

'There's no smoke without fire and there is no fire with no smoke.

I'm the city of smoke, you are the city of light.

No matter what happens, you are the industrial city while I'm the city of love.'

I stared at everyone, my crying mother who was almost going crazy, my younger brother whose life will never be the same, and my selfish father who doesn't know how to make the right choice.

I stood up and with a bowed head, "I agree to it." My weak voice rang through the air, and everything had peace.

"I agree to take Paris's place," I emphasized.

"Good, good. Now change quickly, the Katz will be here soon." Mr. Elorod was all smiles.

**FEW HOURS LATER**

I walked into the wedding hall in a beautiful dress. I stood before George, who stretched out his hand to receive mine.

"Will you, Mr. George Katz, take Paris to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and health, money and poverty, till death do you part?"

"I do," George monotonously replied.

"Will you, Paris Elorod, take George to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and health, money and poverty, till death do you part?"

I felt my heart skip; I wasn't prepared for this. I looked at the crowd and prayed for the door to open.

"Paris," I muttered under my breath as anger swept through my heart.

"Miss Paris?" the priest called out. I looked at him and then turned to George, who stared at me with ice-cold eyes.

"I do," I replied in a hush.

"You may now kiss," the priest said with a smile.

George leaned, but I placed my hand over my mouth.

"What's happening?" the crowd went into an uproar.

George grew red from embarrassment. I grabbed my veil and covered both my head and George's.

"Awn..." Everyone burst into laughter as they thought both couples were too shy.

At the back of the hall, a lady sat down with a facinator that covered her face.

She had a mocking smile in her eyes, "Let the games begin." She got up and walked out of the wedding hall with a knife dripping blood.

---

George sat down with me, watching the dancers.

His phone beeped; he picked it up and saw a message, 'I'm in your room.' He got up and left.

I was bored watching everyone; I adjusted myself, preparing to sleep when Alfred walked toward me with swollen eyes.

"London, mommy needs you," he muttered.

I looked around and carried Alfred on my lap.

"Why are you crying?" I asked, feeling something was off.

"Paris is at home," he announced.