I Do

Chapter 2

I Do

(Ella’s POV)

Hayes stood in front of me, his eyes searching my face like he wanted to save me but had no idea how. The whispers behind us grew louder as my parents stepped closer.

My mother’s voice shook. “Ella, what are you doing?”

My father looked like he was ready to drag me out of the church. “If Lucas isn’t here, we’re leaving. Say the word.”

Everyone waited for me to fall apart.

Instead, I looked at the minister.

His eyes widened. “Miss Evans… or Mrs… I mean… should we pause…?”

“Start,” I said quietly.

The word cut through the silence.

Hayes inhaled sharply. “Ella…”

I didn’t look at him. I kept my gaze steady on the minister.

“Start,” I repeated.

My father stepped forward. “Ella, you’re in shock. You don’t understand what’s happening.”

“I understand perfectly,” I said. “We’ll talk later.”

Ruby tried to grab my hand. “Ella, please. Think this through.”

“I’ve already thought about it.”

That was a lie. I hadn’t thought about anything. My mind was a storm. My heart was in pieces. But I refused to fall apart in front of an audience who came to watch a perfect wedding.

No one would see me break. Not today.

The minister looked between Hayes and me like he hoped one of us would stop this. Neither of us did.

He cleared his throat. “We’re… gathered here today…”

Hayes looked stunned, frozen in place. Then slowly, like he was forcing himself to move, he straightened his shoulders.

I didn’t look at him directly, but I felt his eyes on me.

The minister continued, voice shaking slightly as he went through the vows. When he turned to Hayes, there was a moment of heavy silence.

“Do you, Hayes Flynn, take Ella Evans to be your lawfully wedded wife…”

Hayes blinked, disbelief flickering across his face. He looked at me. Really looked. His voice was softer than I’d ever heard it.

“I do.”

My heart kicked. It wasn’t supposed to react. Nothing about this was supposed to feel like anything.

But it did.

The minister turned to me. “And do you, Ella Evans, take Hayes Flynn…”

I kept my chin lifted.

“I do.”

It came out steady. Almost too steady, like the words weren’t mine. But they were. I didn’t pull them back.

The rings slipped onto our fingers. My parents looked pale. Guests whispered wildly. Someone even gasped dramatically when Hayes hesitated before leaning in.

He paused just long enough for me to feel the warmth of his breath.

Then he kissed me.

It was barely a kiss. A soft press of lips, careful and brief, like he didn’t want to take anything I didn’t offer. But my chest tightened anyway. My hands trembled. For a moment, the world tilted.

Then it ended.

The minister announced, “You’re now husband and wife.”

The words echoed through the church like a secret shouted into a canyon.

Hayes took my hand, cautious at first, then firmer when he realized I wasn’t pulling away. We turned and walked down the aisle together.

My father said my name. My mother asked if I was out of my mind. Someone whispered that Lucas was a coward. Someone else whispered that Hayes was a saint. Or a traitor. Or both.

None of it mattered.

I walked.

Hayes stayed close beside me.

Outside, the bright daylight made everything feel too sharp. Cameras clicked. Reporters shouted. I ignored all of them.

Hayes guided me into the waiting car. His hand slid away as soon as the door shut, like he was afraid to touch me longer than necessary.

The door on his side closed a moment later. Silence filled the small space.

He stared ahead for a long moment before speaking.

“Ella… why did you marry me?”

I didn’t look at him. “Why did you marry me?”

His throat worked like he couldn’t find the right words. “I stood there because Lucas asked me to cover for him. I didn’t know he wasn’t coming until this morning.”

I kept my gaze on the window. “Then why didn’t you stop it?”

“Because you told the minister to start,” he said quietly. “And because you looked like you were going to fall apart if someone did stop it.”

That made something twist inside me.

He hesitated. “But you… Ella… you knew I wasn’t him. You knew something was wrong the moment you saw me. So why did you go through with it?”

I turned then, meeting his eyes.

“I didn’t want to give Lucas the satisfaction of watching me break.”

Hayes stared at me, stunned. “You think this is about pride?”

“It’s about dignity.”

He exhaled slowly. “Ella, Lucas is my best friend. Or he was. I don’t know anymore. But I’m not him. I’m not the man you were supposed to marry.”

“I know exactly who you are,” I said softly.

He looked shaken.

The car fell silent again. The world outside blurred. My thoughts swung between rage, betrayal, confusion, and something else I didn’t want to name.

Hayes watched me for a long moment before speaking again. “Ella… there’s something else. Something I should tell you.”

My pulse jumped. “Then tell me.”