Chapter 4

"Don't go to the wedding photo shoot tomorrow," Marielle said.

Dorian looked toward the calendar. He'd written WEDDING PHOTOS in big letters beneath tomorrow's date.

He didn't know why she wanted to cancel, but it hardly mattered. He'd already called off the wedding. He would have had to invent an excuse to cancel the photo shoot himself.

"All right. I'll call the photographer."

Marielle blinked. She'd expected questions, maybe another argument. He'd spent weeks comparing vendors and paid extra to secure this particular photographer on short notice. He'd wanted their pictures to be perfect.

Why was he agreeing so easily?

"Don't cancel the booking," she said. "Elias knows he'll probably never get married. He wants to take wedding pictures with me, just once, so he can feel like he had that experience. We'll use tomorrow's appointment. You and I can take our pictures later."

Her tone was as casual as if she were discussing dinner. Once again, she'd made the decision before speaking to him.

Dorian lowered his gaze, hiding his contempt.

Later?

She didn't know he had fourteen days left in Ellerton. There would be no later for them.

"Fine," he said, and went to bed.

Marielle watched him leave, unsettled. He hadn't protested or demanded an explanation. None of the arguments she'd prepared were necessary.

Then Elias called, and she forgot about Dorian's strange composure as she hurried to the balcony.

The following morning, Dorian was eating toast when Marielle put on her shoes.

"Elias and I are going away for a few days after the photo shoot. He's always wanted to visit Saltcliff Island. I'll go with him."

She continued, "Keep our wedding simple. I won't have time for rehearsals or decorations. Handle whatever needs doing, and don't bother asking me about the details."

"All right," Dorian said after swallowing his toast.

Simple indeed.

There would be no wedding pictures, no guests, no officiant.

And no groom.

His indifference bothered her enough that she added, "After the ceremony, we could honeymoon overseas. I remember you've always wanted to go."

In the past, he'd have started planning immediately. He'd begged her to travel with him before, but she always refused, saying trips were tiring and she didn't enjoy them.

Now he just ate his breakfast.

What honeymoon could there be without a wedding?

Marielle glanced at the clock and hurried out. "We'll talk when I get back."

Dorian picked up the calendar and drew a thick X through WEDDING PHOTOS.

Thirteen days left.

After breakfast, he began packing and clearing out their apartment.

There was a photo album containing fewer than five pictures of them together. A projector covered in dust. Matching pajamas they'd never worn.

He'd chosen almost everything in the apartment himself. Over five years, he'd turned an empty space into a warm home, little by little.

But now that he examined it, he realized Marielle had never used half of what he'd bought.

She'd always insisted that dating someone didn't mean surrendering her independence. Matching clothes or couple's belongings made her feel tied down.

Dorian folded another item into a box.

Once he left, these things would only annoy her. Better to remove them now.

Along with every reminder of the life he'd imagined they'd share.