The silence was almost overwhelming. Marceline leaned back in the chair, letting her eyes drift across the cityscape visible through the windows. The view was stunning, but it also made her feel incredibly small and isolated.

Her phone's shrill ringtone shattered the quiet, and she fumbled in her purse to find it. The caller ID showed Cora's name, and she felt a mix of relief and apprehension as she answered.

"Celine, honey, how are you doing?" Cora's familiar voice carried both concern and excitement. "I just saw the news about you and Cross on three different channels. The reporters are calling it the 'wedding of the decade' and—"

"I'm okay,...