서재
검색
홈 / Romance / Swapping Out the Groom / Chapter 1

공유

Swapping Out the Groom
Swapping Out the Groom
작가: Inkwad

Chapter 1

작가: Inkwad
"Leah, why are you suddenly not looking for Jayden anymore?" my mother asked, clearly shocked by what I had just said.

After all, after Jayden Corrick disappeared during a camping trip with friends, I spent an entire month searching for him—sleepless, worn thin, my body several pounds lighter, my face hollow with exhaustion.

I glanced at the couple still kissing in the restaurant across the street and gave a bitter smile.

I said, "Let's just say Jayden is dead."

Even though she knew I was speaking out of anger, my mother didn't ask for details. Instead, she instinctively tried to comfort me.

My father, quick-tempered as always, was delighted when he heard I was no longer holding on to Jayden. "It's about time you let go! What was ever so great about that guy, anyway? Leah, since you're finally leaving it to us, I will definitely help you find someone better. No need to stay fixated on someone I never approved of to begin with!"

Before I could say anything else, a sudden gasp rose from the crowd. Fireworks exploded overhead in brilliant colors. It should've been a romantic scene. But all I felt was cold.

I looked at the man who had just accused me of being controlling—right after embracing his first love—and suddenly felt my father might've been right.

Even though I had never been controlling with Jayden. Not once.

I knew him through an online chatroom when I was in college abroad. We fell in love, made it through the long-distance phase, and after graduating, I was the one who proposed.

Sophie Muller came back two years ago. I had always known she was his high school sweetheart. Over the years, Jayden never avoided the topic when mentioning her.

I thought we had come far enough that none of it mattered anymore.

But just one phone call—one "I'm back" from Sophie—and his heart flew out the door.

All these years, I gave him complete freedom. All the space he could want. And still, he kept lying to me, again and again.

I begged him to keep some distance from Sophie. I asked him not to lie about "hanging out with the guys" when he was actually out with her, not to go clubbing with those old friends of his.

I had given him more than enough freedom. And yet, he was the one who betrayed us first.

In the beginning, he listened to me. But with time, he reverted—nights spent out, lost in neon lights and noise.

What I didn't expect was that, eventually, he would turn around and call me controlling. And disappear on me right before our wedding.

"If this goes on, I don't even want to go back and marry Leah," he had said.

'But when I proposed, weren't your eyes filled with tears when you said yes? While I spent a month searching for you—were you really that happy, Jayden?' I thought bitterly.

"No regrets. Let's stay one more week. Our parents will cover for us anyway."

'No wonder your parents wouldn't let me call the police. No wonder they stayed so calm and insisted you'd show up. From beginning to end, I was the only one panicking.'

"I don't want to go back and be manipulated by her. I'll show up when she's completely lost it."

'Jayden, I really did lose it. Do you know how long it's been since I last had a decent night's sleep? I even went to a fortune teller, hoping it would bring you back. And sure enough, you reappeared—but with another woman. So this is what it means to be heartbroken.'

I didn't want to keep watching them stare into each other's eyes with such affection. I turned and left without looking back.

Once I got home, I pulled out a burlap sack and my suitcase. I packed up everything of Jayden's from the past six years and dumped them all by the door.
이 책을 계속 무료로 읽어보세요.
QR 코드를 스캔하여 앱을 다운로드하세요
이전 챕터 다음 챕터

최신 챕터

  • Swapping Out the Groom   Chapter 9

    "What the hell is this supposed to mean?" Jayden's eyes widened in disbelief. His father and mother struggled to break free, but the police held them firmly in place."Sorry, Mr. Corrick," one of the officers said, presenting his badge. "You and your parents are being formally arrested on charges of attempted fraud and extortion." He gestured for the others to escort them down.They had never learned much about decency, and now—who knows from where—they had picked up this crude and blatant method of blackmail, only to get caught in their own trap.The three of them were eventually taken away, still shouting as they disappeared down the stairs.Since the idea had originated with the elderly couple, they bore the brunt of the sentencing. They would spend the rest of their lives behind bars. Jayden, though only a participant, received several years as well.Before being taken away, he said nothing. He just glared at me, full of hatred. The look sent a chill down my spine.But life w

  • Swapping Out the Groom   Chapter 8

    With that thought, my tone cooled."Jayden, my financials are a private matter. It's not your place to interfere. And even if I did divorce Nick, there's no chance I'd be with you. What kind of joke are you telling?"How long do you plan on pretending? I really don't love you anymore, Jayden. Wouldn't it be better to end things peacefully?"My rejections, sharp and unyielding, finally brought a flush to his eyes. He choked up, then began the familiar performance."Leah! My family is falling apart! Are you really going to just watch us go down like this? What did our six years mean to you?!""Then let me ask you—what did those six years mean to you? Nothing, right? Not even a cent's worth. You disappeared for a whole month before our wedding to be with Sophie. Who forced you? Everything now—you brought it on yourself. What does any of it have to do with me?"The words left no room for sympathy. Jayden's tears dried up mid-act. He couldn't keep it up anymore. He shot me a vicious l

  • Swapping Out the Groom   Chapter 7

    As soon as I stepped out of the car, I heard him call out to me in the way he used to when we were still in love. The sound alone made my skin crawl. I acted as if I hadn't seen him and walked into the courtyard of the villa.But before the door could close behind me, Jayden stepped in too. He caught hold of my arm and pleaded, "Leah, just give me a minute. Please. After six years together, you won't even hear me out?"I looked at his face—clearly groomed with care—and quietly pulled my arm away. I felt nothing."If you have something to say, say it here."His expression brightened for a moment, then shifted into hesitation."Could you… could you lend me some money? Not much, just a few hundred thousand. I'm really in a tight spot right now. Please, for old time's sake."I gave a slight shrug. "I don't have any money on hand. Everything I have is managed by my husband."He froze. At that moment, the villa door opened. Nick must have noticed the car parked outside for too long

  • Swapping Out the Groom   Chapter 6

    After my family cut ties with Jayden's family and pulled our investment, they laid low for only a short while. Then, together with Sophie, they began canvassing the city for funds.Until now, every contract at Jayden's family's firm had been handled by people from the Devin Group. The jobs were small, yet still rich enough to keep their household comfortable. With the break, our managers left as well, and the company was suddenly hollowed out. Apart from a handful of junior hires, no one remained who could steer the ship. Chaos set in, resignations followed one after another, but Jayden's family convinced themselves they could run things alone. They even decided the Devin Group had been timid—content with "petty profit"—and believed, at last, they could make their own bold decisions.Their calls to former partners were clumsy and presumptuous. A few offended owners phoned me to complain. I told them, plainly, that whatever Jayden and his parents were doing had nothing to do with

  • Swapping Out the Groom   Chapter 5

    "Leah, you're really getting married?! And… and to Nick?!"Jayden's voice cracked from disbelief, like a frayed string pulled too tight. It wasn't just that I'd gotten married, or that the wedding was being broadcast live—what he couldn't accept was that the groom was Nick, the man he'd clashed with for years."Leah, don't—don't joke like this. I'll marry you, okay? You don't have to go this far to provoke me, dragging Nick into your act. Don't you hate him just as much as I do?"Hearing this, I almost laughed.I opened my mouth calmly. "You really shouldn't speak that way about my husband. Just because I hated him once doesn't mean I still do. Jayden, did you honestly think that just because you came back and said you were willing to marry me, I'd go running after you like I used to?"He clearly did not understand my words."Why should I?" I continued. "Why would I marry someone who deliberately disappeared on me?"It was the first time I'd spoken to him in that tone. He panick

  • Swapping Out the Groom   Chapter 4

    Under Jayden's parents' puzzled stares, I no longer bothered with pretense. I nodded plainly. "Yes. I told you before. I'm done with Jayden. He's vanished now anyway, and I don't intend to wait.""Leah! Don't be impulsive. Just wait—I'll find him! You can't possibly throw away six years of love just like that!"I said nothing. I simply watched them leave, the corners of my lips lifting into a slow, mocking smile.Not long after, a video arrived on my phone."Ms. Devin, here's the latest footage." It was from the person I'd hired to keep tabs on Jayden.In the frame, he was walking hand in hand with Sophie down a street, smiling like a man without a care. Then his phone rang. He answered, listened for a moment, and his face fell."What? Mom, you want me to come back right now? What? Leah's engaged to someone else?! Mom, calm down, we'll talk when I get back!"His face drained of color. He turned abruptly, clearly ready to flee. But Sophie grabbed his arm, leaned in close, whisp

더보기

다른 추천

좋은 소설을 무료로 찾아 읽어보세요
GoodNovel 앱에서 수많은 인기 소설을 무료로 즐기세요! 마음에 드는 책을 다운로드하고, 언제 어디서나 편하게 읽을 수 있습니다
앱에서 책을 무료로 읽어보세요
앱에서 읽으려면 QR 코드를 스캔하세요.
DMCA.com Protection Status