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Eight Years to Goodbye
Eight Years to Goodbye
Author: Grogan

Chapter 1

Author: Grogan
The moment Natalie Carter ended up with the bouquet, my best friend Lauren Walker's smile vanished.

She was even angrier than I was. Leaning close to my ear, she whispered through gritted teeth, "That Natalie did it on purpose! Before the wedding, I specifically told everyone the bouquet was meant for you!"

I gently interrupted her.

"Lauren, today is your big day. Little things like this don't matter."

"But you've waited eight years just to marry Mason!" she said anxiously. "And now you're carrying his child. If you still don't have the wedding soon—"

"It's okay."

I turned my head calmly and looked toward Mason Ryder.

Natalie, holding the bouquet, was sitting right beside him.

The distance between them was far closer than what a secretary should reasonably keep.

Most of the guests were friends who knew both Mason and me well. Their eyes drifted toward me—curious, sympathetic.

Lauren grew even more upset and squeezed my hand tightly.

"Madison, I looked into Natalie earlier. She's a calculating gold digger who specializes in seducing rich men! She's been trying to get close to your boyfriend for months. You need to be careful…"

"Lauren, you're the most beautiful bride today. Don't worry about me." I squeezed her hand back and gave her a faint smile. "Besides, I'm not planning to marry Mason anymore. I haven't even told him I'm pregnant."

My words were so shocking that Lauren's eyes widened as she stared at me in disbelief.

After a long silence, she finally remembered that the wedding ceremony still had to continue.

When the wedding ended, Lauren hugged me tightly.

"Madison, if you need any help, just tell me. I support whatever decision you make."

"What decision?" After she left, Mason walked toward me, calm as ever. "What were you two talking about just now?"

Out of habit, he reached out and draped an arm over my shoulders. I shifted slightly to the side and avoided the gesture.

"Nothing."

He didn't seem to mind my reaction. With a soft laugh, he said, "Are you angry? Natalie caught that bouquet first, after all. She's a young girl—of course, she dreams about weddings. Catching the bouquet was just her way of borrowing a little luck. Didn't we agree we'd wait for the next time?"

He leaned closer, stroking my hair as he patiently tried to soothe me.

"Why care so much about Lauren's bouquet? When we get married, I'll prepare an even more beautiful one for you. You can have as many bouquets as you want."

Silently, I curled my fingers into my palm and looked straight into his eyes.

"Can we get married this month then? Lauren and I made a promise when we were kids—whoever married first, the other would marry right after. We would be each other's bridesmaids and witness each other's happiness."

The air seemed to freeze.

Mason's hand, which had been brushing my hair, paused midair. A few seconds later, he chuckled lightly.

"You're still taking childhood jokes seriously? I'm the CEO of the Ryder Group. A wedding can't be thrown together so hastily. Don't rush. I promise you—it will be the most perfect wedding."

Bitterness surged quietly in my chest. Every time a conflict arose, he would make promises about "next time," about that future wedding.

Eight years had passed, and I was still waiting for the day that promise would come true.

But now, I had decided to go home. I wouldn't wait any longer.

The car moved silently through the night before stopping in front of my villa.

Mason unfastened his seatbelt, apparently assuming the tension between us had already passed. Out of habit, he leaned toward me, trying to kiss me.

I raised my hand and pressed it lightly against his shoulder.

"I'm tired, Mason."

He froze and stared into my eyes for a few seconds. Finally, he patted my shoulder gently.

"Mm. Being a bridesmaid is tiring. Get some rest. Natalie said she couldn't get a taxi and is still at the venue. I'll go back and pick her up. It wouldn't be safe to leave her there alone."

I nodded calmly, but Mason didn't move right away.

He seemed to be waiting for me to respond the way I usually did—telling him to drive safely, or complaining that he was leaving me home alone so late at night.

But instead, I simply opened the car door and stepped out.

Watching the car drive away into the distance, I wiped the tears that stung my eyes and dialed my parents in Montelvia.

"Mom, Dad… I agree to fulfill the marriage arrangement and marry Devon Ryder…"
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  • Eight Years to Goodbye   Chapter 8

    After that meal, my father never returned to that restaurant again.Once more, Mason lost all news of me.Still unwilling to give up, he continued to linger near the estate where I had stayed during my pregnancy.The next time we met was a year later.By then, I had already given birth. Lauren and I were sitting at a small café on a street corner, near the window.The moment Mason spotted me through the glass from the street, his eyes lit up with sudden joy. Without a second thought, he rushed into the café."Madison!"I met his gaze directly, the faint smile on my face fading."Mr. Ryder. Long time no see."My cold distance was like a bucket of icy water, dousing most of his excitement and anticipation.Beside me, Lauren stared at him with open vigilance."Can we talk alone? Just five minutes." Mason's voice was hoarse. His eyes flicked toward my now-flat stomach before he asked urgently, almost pleading.I hesitated for a moment, then nodded to Lauren.After she stood an

  • Eight Years to Goodbye   Chapter 7

    Busy with the ceremony, I noticed nothing of the commotion that had taken place in that corner. My attention was completely consumed by the lively guests and the endless details of the wedding rituals.Before the ceremony even ended, exhaustion set in. My lower back and waist ached.Fortunately, Devon stayed by my side the entire time—gentle and composed, supporting me with quiet attentiveness as we greeted guests and handled the unexpected moments that kept arising.After the ceremony, he knelt down, removed my high heels, and began gently massaging my feet.Looking at this warm, considerate man—someone I had only met a few times—I felt both grateful and guilty."Thank you," I said softly. "After I give birth, I'll explain everything clearly to both of our families, just as we agreed. Then, we can end this marriage."Devon's hands paused for a moment.A few seconds later, he looked up at me and smiled, handsome and calm."There's no rush," he said. "I was the one who volunteer

  • Eight Years to Goodbye   Chapter 6

    "Devon?"Mason stood frozen, as if nailed to the ground. His blood roared in his ears. His entire body trembled, and his vision began to blur."What?"The staff member who had stopped him earlier looked at him in astonishment. "That gentleman is the real groom. I knew something was off—what kind of groom arrives this late?""Security! Get over here! There's a fraud pretending to be the groom who snuck into the wedding!"The staff member hurriedly called for security through his walkie-talkie, standing defensively in front of Mason.But Mason paid no attention to the shouting around him. His eyes were locked on me—and on the arm I had looped through Devon's.No. Impossible."Madison!" Mason shoved the staff member aside and rushed forward recklessly, determined to reach me.But someone stepped in front of him even faster. It was Lauren. Her face was filled with fury."Get out of the way!" Mason snarled at her, trying to move past her toward me. But Lauren stepped forward and s

  • Eight Years to Goodbye   Chapter 5

    Mason froze for a moment.An invitation?He didn't have one.Wait—why would he need an invitation? He was the groom.Frowning impatiently, Mason said, "I'm the groom of this wedding.""The groom? May I know your name, sir?"The staff member looked puzzled and pulled out the guest list to check, but Mason pressed it down with one hand."My name is Mason Ryder, CEO of the Ryder Group. If Madison Blake of the royal family is getting married, I am the only Mr. Ryder who will be the groom."His tone was cold and authoritative, leaving no room for doubt.The staff member was clearly intimidated by his certainty and looked at him nervously."You're Mr. Ryder—the groom? My apologies. I'll take you into the venue right away."With a dark expression, Mason walked into the wedding hall. Seeing the beautifully decorated venue filled with guests, a mixture of frustration and irritation stirred in his chest.This wedding should have been organized by him.The proposal, the wedding dress

  • Eight Years to Goodbye   Chapter 4

    A week later, after finally finishing a string of business matters, Mason opened our chat window.The screen was still frozen on the last message he had sent me: [I told you, I won't rush into marriage. Calm down and think things through. When you stop pressuring me, I'll come home.]When he realized I hadn't replied, his brows drew tightly together.He knew me well. Even after arguments or silent treatment, I was always the first to reach out, asking when he would come home.But this time, he had been gone for an entire week, and I hadn't sent a single message.A faint uneasiness crept into his chest.Just then, his assistant suddenly grabbed his phone and shouted, "Mr. Ryder, look! Ms. Walker posted photos on social media! Today is Ms. Blake's wedding! The Black family even invited a lot of guests!"Mason immediately snatched the phone.In the photo, I was wearing a wedding dress, holding a bouquet as I stood before a window with billowing curtains, looking elegant and beauti

  • Eight Years to Goodbye   Chapter 3

    In the days before my departure, I quietly took care of everything that needed to be done.I sold the house we had lived in together at a reduced price.On the day I handed the keys to the real estate agent, I discovered a stack of project documents from Mason's company in the study.After hesitating for a moment, I decided to deliver them to him.Just as I reached the door of his office, I heard laughter and conversation coming from inside. Not only were Natalie and Mason there, but so were a few of his close friends.I was about to knock when one of them spoke."Mason, the others already know you and Madison argued at the wedding. They've been secretly asking me if the two of you broke up."Natalie caught sight of me standing at the doorway. Her voice sounded apologetic, but the look she gave me was openly provocative."Mason, it's all my fault. It was my first time attending a wedding, so I didn't know the customs. I shouldn't have grabbed the bouquet and caused a fight betw

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