She doesn't care anymore if Leroy comes and saves her. If he still has plans to, why isn't he contacting her sooner?
Leroy is undoubtedly aware of the laws here. It was impossible that he would not get worried that she might go to prison soon.
Having this thought, Monique was lost in her world, even after Debbie promised to help her.
She was now in a helpless state because Leroy had made the promise that he was already on the island when she arrived. But then she discovered he would delay his flight as their company had an emergency.
Now, it always played in her mind why Leroy had stopped contacting her. She started having horrible scenarios, like maybe Leroy lost his phone, and worse, he got into a car accident. It is why she wanted to go home as soon as possible to see if Leroy was alright.
It pulled Monique out of her train of thought when her phone rang again. She instantly checked out the caller ID in the hope it was Leroy.
But to her dismay, the caller is Jean, a bridesmaid like her and Dahlia's college friend as well.
"Where are you? Dahlia is looking for you." On the other line, Jean immediately blurted at Monique.
It took Monique aback when Jean sounded irritated. She apologized even if she did nothing for Jean to be angry at her.
"I'm sorry, Jean. I went to the powder room and made a phone call back home. I am on my way back now."
"Please, hurry! Dahlia wanted to take another picture with her bridesmaid before she threw her flower bouquet."
"Okay, I'll be right there!" Monique made hurried steps back to the reception. She was approaching the table she shared with the other bridesmaids when she remembered she had forgotten something.
Her purse!
Where could she have left it?
'How foolish of me! Why did I forget my purse among all the things I could forget?'
Her temporary travel visa and passport were in that purse, along with her other important documents. She could not lose the important documents in her purse or face a more significant problem!
Monique groaned in frustration. Too many things had happened to her today, and just one wrong action—she would land in prison earlier than she should have!
She has to go back to where she was earlier.
Monique turned around and returned to her tracks, forgetting another thing. But then someone pulled her back.
"Where are you going?"
"Jean!" Monique was startled when someone suddenly grabbed her arm. "I… I need to get my purse."
"Dahlia has been waiting for you! Now you're leaving again? What is your problem? Can we finish the wedding first before you wander around?" Jean, feeling annoyed, started pulling her toward the center stage.
Monique tried explaining to Jean, but the woman ignored her and pretended to be deaf. Also, she couldn't retract her arm from Jean's grip.
She could sense that Jean was annoyed at her behavior over the past few days. But of course, she is worried about why Leroy has not yet arrived on Grace Island. She was anxious until now.
Then? How stupid she was! Now, she had a bigger problem.
Monique tried her best to smile in front of the cameras. She pretends to be calm, though deep inside, she feels anxious, eating her chest out upon losing her purse.
"Alright, ladies! Are you ready?" The host made a gleeful announcement. She was babbling about many things, but Monique did not notice her surroundings.
It is why Monique was shocked when the flower landed in her hand when Dahlia threw her bouquet. She was still in a trance, thinking about her purse, so it took a long moment for her to realize what was happening. She would remain in her own world if it were not for the guests' cheering.
"Omg, Monique! You are the next one to get married!" A bridesmaid from Darius' family teases Monique.
Monique snaps herself back to her senses. She looked at the flowers in her hand, then looked up and smiled awkwardly at the crowd, who were teasing her nonstop. Everyone is telling her that she is going to get married next.
But the truth is, she was supposed to get married a few days ago if her groom appeared! But he stood her up!
Thinking about it, Monique's smile disappeared from her lips, and she fought back the tears that threatened to escape her eyes.
"Hey, why aren't you smiling? You look too stunned to catch the bouquet, huh?" Dahlia whispered to Monique, teasing her.
Monique glanced at Dahlia. She smiled and nodded, then said, "Yeah. I am truly shocked."
'From everything that is happening to me at the moment!' Monique almost adds this and tells Dahlia about her troubles. But she changed what was on her mind.
"I wish my boyfriend were here."
"Oh, do you have a boyfriend? Why aren't you introducing me to him? You should bring him with you! You are so secretive! I hate you!"
Monique giggled, trying to act happy but failing to conceal the emotion in her eyes.
"Monique, have you cried?" Dahlia had just noticed that Monique's eyes were a bit swollen. If it weren't for the exquisite makeup on her tiny face, it would be easy to see her eyes were swelling.
"Ah, I did." She didn't deny it, but she prepared for a reason. "I was answering a phone call when something got into my eyes. Oh, my gosh! I forgot something. I need to go back to the powder room. Please excuse me, Dahlia."
"Okay."
Monique was glad that Dahlia didn't ask her why. Dahlia walked toward her husband and entertained the other guests. She took the opportunity to leave the venue and return to where she had possibly left her purse.
Unfortunately, she didn't find it. Monique approached the staff in the palace, but none of them saw a silver purse. Dahlia actually gave them the purse as part of the accessories they would use for her wedding.
Feeling overwhelmed, Monique crouched, placed her head on her folded arms above her knees, and cried, thinking she would go to jail soon.
It was what was playing in Monique's mind when someone tapped her shoulder.
"Excuse me, Miss..."