Chapter 9

Nathaniel froze. "What did you just say? She posted on social media, saying she’s getting married today?"

Snatching his friend’s phone, he stared at Sylvia’s post. For a moment, his mind went completely blank.

Impossible. She was getting married? To whom?

Just then, a car pulled up at the curb.

Stepping out was none other than Sylvia herself, dressed in a wedding gown.

The sight of her hit Nathaniel like a thunderbolt, his face instantly draining of color.

Standing frozen in place, he stammered, “Sylvia, what are you doing here?”

Sylvia stepped forward, her lips curling into a mocking smile as she faced him.

“I could ask you the same thing—what are you doing here?”

Her gaze shifted to Vivian, who stood beside him. Vivian was wearing Sylvia’s wedding gown, holding her bouquet, and standing in the place that was supposed to be hers.

Vivian’s face turned pale the moment she saw Sylvia. She had never expected her to show up, let alone dressed in a wedding gown.

“I—” Nathaniel struggled to form an explanation.

“Sylvia!” Vivian suddenly burst out, tears streaming down her face. “You’ve known all along that I’m marrying Nathaniel today, haven’t you? Is that why you showed up in a wedding gown? Are you trying to steal him from me?”

Her voice cracked as she cried harder. “Please, I’m begging you. Don’t ruin my wedding. I don’t have much time left. I’m dying! Once I’m gone, Nathaniel will be all yours. Can’t you just let me have this one thing?”

Vivian collapsed to her knees, sobbing so pitifully that onlookers began to gather, whispering amongst themselves.

Seeing the spectacle unfold, many in the crowd assumed Sylvia was the homewrecker trying to disrupt their wedding.

But Sylvia found it all laughable.

“I really love Nathaniel. But I have cancer. My only wish before I die is to marry him. Please, I’m begging you. Let me marry him.”

Finally, Nathaniel could no longer bear it. He leaned down to help Vivian up.

“Vivian, don’t do this. Sylvia is very understanding. She’ll let you marry me,” he said softly, before turning to Sylvia and reaching for her hand.

“I’m sorry, Sylvia. I didn’t mean to keep this from you. Vivian’s condition is getting worse. I can’t just stand by and refuse her dying wish. Be good and go home for now. Once this wedding is over, I’ll come back to you.”

Sylvia yanked her hand away from his grasp, her expression cold and unyielding. “Nathaniel, what makes you think I’m here for you today?”

“Sylvia, stop being unreasonable. Let’s just get through today. I know I owe you an apology. When I get back, you can do whatever you want.”

“Exactly,” one of Nathaniel’s friends chimed in, suddenly appearing out of nowhere. “Come on, don’t make this harder than it has to be. Just let Nathaniel and Vivian have their moment.”

“Yeah, Sylvia,” another added. “Nathaniel’s still have feelings for you. What he’s doing is just showing he’s a responsible man. You’ve always been understanding. Just let this go and head home.”

Sylvia looked at the group of men standing before her, all of them trying to convince her to quietly walk away from this humiliation.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips.

Understanding? They wanted her to be so “understanding” as to let her boyfriend marry another woman while she stood aside with a smile.

Unfortunately for them, Sylvia wasn’t that kind of woman.

“I’ll say it one more time. I’m not here for you.”

With that, she turned on her heel and started toward the entrance of the chapel.

Vivian stepped in front of her, tears streaming down her face as she broke down completely.

“Sylvia Garner, are you really going to ruin this for me? Are you just going to stand there and watch me die?”

As the words left her lips, Vivian lifted the hem of her wedding gown and, in a fit of desperation, ran straight toward one of the nearby pillars, ready to slam herself against it.