Left at the Altar, Like I Wanted

Mason's POV

It was time for us to exchange rings, and I had just taken out the one belonging to my bride, Susie Smith.

However, her childhood sweetheart, Jeremy Cadwell, barged into the scene in an all-white suit. "Susie! I'm here to steal you away!"

His eyes were bloodshot, and his hair was a mess, as if he'd just escaped some kind of disaster.

Hundreds of guests turned to look at him.

Without a moment's hesitation, Susie wrenched her hand free from mine. She gathered the train of her white wedding gown, which trailed more than two yards behind her, and hurried toward the edge of the stage.

"Jeremy, why are you here?" she asked.

Jeremy climbed the steps and grabbed Susie by the wrist. "Susie, you promised me we would have a wedding of our own."

Susie's eyes welled up with tears, but she made no move to pull away.

Mom and Dad were seated at the main table, their faces livid. Mom clutched her chest, her hands trembling.

Susie led Jeremy over to me. She explained, "Mason, Jeremy's depression has relapsed. He is very emotionally unstable today."

I looked at her silently.

"You know he's against marriage. He'll never get married. His biggest regret is that he'll never get to experience what it's like to have a wedding ceremony," she said.

I slowly closed the ring box in my hand.

Susie frowned and continued, "Why don't you step off the stage and take a break? Let me go through the ceremony with Jeremy first. Once we've fulfilled his wish, we can continue with our own wedding."

I asked in a low voice, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Her expression shifted, and her voice turned cold. "Mason, he is sick. Can't you be a little more understanding?"

I had heard those words countless times during the three years we had been together.

When Jeremy had stomach pains in the middle of the night, she had left our bed to take him medicine and told me to be more understanding.

On his birthday, she had left me behind with a high fever to watch the fireworks at the amusement park with him, telling me to be more understanding.

And now, at our own wedding, she wanted me to step away so her childhood sweetheart could experience what it was like to be the groom, right in front of all my relatives, friends, and colleagues.

However, I didn't get angry. I didn't confront her or argue with her like I used to. I simply removed the boutonniere pinned to the left side of my chest. Then, I walked over to Jeremy and pinned it to his white suit.

Finally, I patted his shoulder. "Congratulations on your wedding."

Turning around, I took the microphone from the emcee and announced to the stunned guests below the stage, "Attention, everyone! I'm sorry to have kept you all waiting. The bride has made special arrangements for today. She has swapped grooms."

I handed the microphone back to the emcee, who looked ready to burst into tears.

I looked at Susie on the steps, her expression suddenly frozen, and smiled. "I wish you both a happy married life."