I Was Almost a Wife

During our third year together, I caught Logan Mercer cheating.

The moment I heard that sugary, flirty voice on the other end of the line, I knew our wedding was off again.

Logan gave me the same apologetic look, and we slipped right into the scene we'd both rehearsed far too many times.

Looking helpless but determined, he said exactly what I knew was coming. "Sorry, Ellie. Jan hurt her wrist. I need to check on her."

I glanced down at the clueless guests waiting before the altar and forced a tight, bitter smile.

"The wedding's about to start. Must you really go see her now?" I asked.

I barely got the words out before Logan's brow furrowed in annoyance.

"A wrist injury could end a pilot's career. I'm Jan's only instructor. Her safety's on me. And honestly? The wedding can wait. Do we really have to turn this into a fight?"

I looked at Logan's icy expression and felt a tremor ripple through my chest. He was never one to talk much. But when it came to Janice Doyle, the words came easily.

At first, I figured he was just doing his job. He was her instructor, after all. It made sense for him to be a little more attentive.

But eventually, I saw it for what it was—favoritism.

I fought to hold back the tears stinging my eyes. My voice barely rose above a whisper, thick with desperation. "But this is the 18th time, Logan. I can't keep waiting. Please, just get through the wedding before you leave."

The guests had started whispering, all of them wondering why I looked so devastated on what was supposed to be the happiest day of my life.

Over the murmurs, Logan's voice turned sharp. "It's just a wedding. We've pushed it back before. One more delay won't kill anyone. But if we don't deal with Jan's hand now, her career as a pilot will be over. Are you ready to cover that kind of fallout?"

Like a sulking kid, he yanked the groom's boutonniere off and tossed it to the floor. Then, he walked out without even a backward glance, leaving the officiant frozen in stunned silence.

That was when I realized how pathetic I'd been in this whole relationship.

I actually thought begging might work, that maybe he'd finally change his mind for once. But reality kept slapping me in the face, making it clear Logan couldn't care less about how I felt.

I held myself together just enough to see the guests out, choking back the emotions that were threatening to burst out of me. But the whispers still found me.

"So Ellie was just some pathetic simp all along. And here we thought she'd scored a hotshot pilot boyfriend."

"Yeah, turns out Logan wouldn't even marry her. She practically begged for this mess."

I managed a wry smile. Those same words had become routine in the three years I'd been with Logan.

Everyone called me a simp. Even Mom and Dad were utterly disappointed in me. But I kept holding on, convinced that Logan loved me. That was the only reason I couldn't let go.

Only now did I see that they had all been right.