Hotelier Ghost Tycoon

Menorosa County didn't look like a fun place to be. It was like traveling into one of those old photos from one's grandparents' photo album. 

Most old places were preserved well, and the modern additions could only stand away from the shore. The earth was no longer safe for new buildings, so only the old short buildings made up the skyline before the sea. It was another layer of Menorosa's time capsule look.

The luxury SUV drove along the high asphalt road to the newer buildings. Rhodes and Lionel saw the nostalgic skyline—even if they had not seen it before. Their hearts easily welled, but Lionel could only look away to drive. However, if they had been allowed to arrive at sunset, he would have pulled up and admired how the orange sunset glow made Rhodes's mesmerizing image grow more exquisite.

"…that's not Ring Garden…" Rhodes focused on locating their hotel. He was drawn to that strangely lonesome building close to the sea. It was short, at only six floors, but the space around it was too wide. They could simply look past the skyline to see the wide parking spaces around it. It was a hotel, but it didn't look anything close to what Rhodes saw when he looked up their destination.

"Ring Garden's over there." Lionel drove to the right, away from the sea. Rhodes followed the direction of the roads and saw the tall hotel building. It had a flower wreath logo to stand out from the other signboards, hoping to attract eyes away from the sea skyline.

"We should have booked the other one." Rhodes continued to look through the Internet to find relative photos. However, none came up that he could use to match what hotel that was.

Lionel chuckled, his eyes glinting with a slight craving. "If you want a honeymoon here, we can go there. But dammit, Rhodes, that place looks dead. Maybe it's already abandoned. Ring Garden's the only hotel you can book here in Menorosa."

Rhodes only glanced at the driver. "…then book the whole location. You want a fun honeymoon for yourself, right? I'll help you pay off debts after."

The driver immediately grew unhappy. It was true that he might have to rent the whole hotel if it was already abandoned yet not demolished. Rhodes was also right to assume that Lionel couldn't afford to rent such a place for more than a day.

The luxury SUV soon arrived at the Ring Garden Hotel's front parking lot. The passengers also took their suits from the backseat, which were protected by suit bags.

"What are you two up to? Why are you late? It's almost three in the afternoon!" Mrs. Wester grew angry at the delay of the officiant and the groom. Lionel bothered to explain, but Rhodes only came with the stylist waiting for them in the lobby. He didn't greet the supposed bridal and groom's party standing around the same place.

On their faces were strange expressions. They also didn't think of talking to Rhodes. However, the bride's family surely accommodated everyone as if the bride was still alive. The party members proceeded as if Joan was still there to police them.

Everyone soon drove to the only church in the 'modern' district. First Sunday was an events place in disguise. Everyone could tell just from one look. However, its legality was never their problem. After all, the wedding was only advancing because everything had been booked and paid for. It left a bad impression on everyone's tongues. Luckily, the Wester family had a willing person to take the blame.

Rhodes heard the murmurs of the people outside the church's doors. Even if he was also forced to carry on the ceremony, the Wester family told the guests it was Rhodes who insisted.

Regardless, Rhodes looked around the church's exterior. It was regal enough to make a good photoshoot spot. The viewing deck, where the reception would be, showed off the sea skyline they saw earlier. Inside, Rhodes should see the proper interior of a glamorous wedding.

"Rhodes…" An older middle-aged man spoke behind him. Rhodes turned and saw Mr. Wester holding onto a wedding dress in his arms. He gently handed it to the groom. "We'll have to make some adjustments. You have to walk in during the time the bride should. The police hadn't released her body to us yet. This is all I can do for her."

"…whether it was my fault or not, I'm very sorry, Mr. Wester…" Rhodes murmured as he received the wedding dress in his arms. He had a feeling Mr. Wester didn't deserve any form of visible hatred from him. It was only Joan and her mother.

"Please forgive my wife. She lost her only daughter. It's my fault for not taking Joan's complaints seriously." The man continued, attracting Rhodes's gaze to his face. In a rather cold voice, Mr. Wester said, "I should have stopped my uncle from forcing his choices on Joan. My wife and daughter greatly suffered from having you as Joan's husband."

Rhodes stayed quiet. He let the older male leave after a few seconds of silence. He scoffed as he held the wedding dress as if it were a real person. "I'm suffering, too."

The ceremony started. The bridal and groom's party didn't smile or anything. They all looked so uncomfortable and irritated at what they were doing. Instead of a funeral, they held a wedding for their departed friend… all because the groom still wanted to go about it. It didn't matter if Rhodes argued with them. In their hearts, he was responsible for everything that happened.

A person's happiest day had never been so grim. Even those who were merely invited and out of the loop were shocked when Rhodes carried a wedding gown to the altar. The music for the bride's entrance also sounded so haunting as if it was indeed a dead person's procession.

On the white walls were projected images. Earlier, they were still warm images of dancing angels and church bells. However, they turned into a slideshow of Joan's vibrant thirty-year life. However, it was easy to see how Rhodes didn't even have a photo with her in the slideshow. Her family, friends, and ex-lovers were there—the groom was nowhere to be found.

"…we are gathered here today…" Lionel, the officiant, could only look at Rhodes with dismay. His script had been altered for the strange ceremony. Eyes glanced sideways, and lips twisted. Many of the guests cringed at what was happening.

Rhodes didn't care about everything. He just wanted this to be over. It was just that the moment Rhodes blinked, everything grew quiet. He was still in the church, but Lionel was gone. He turned to the side and saw no guests among the seats. When a cold hand held his hand, his skin crawled right to his scalp. He turned to the side and saw a veiled bride next to him.

He whispered, "Joan?"