Chapter 1: The Wedding He Missed

“Weren't you supposed to marry Vanessa today? Aren't you worried she'll be angry if you don't show up?”

“Everyone knows she can't live without him. Even if she finds out you ditched her for Nat, she won't dare complain.”

“Exactly. Vanessa isn't as important as Nat. Adrian's looked after her since they were kids…”

They meant Natalie Ashford, who had grown up in Adrian's family as his sister.

Vanessa Bennett stopped outside the private dining room.

Inside, Adrian's friends were laughing at her. She stood listening, still dressed for the wedding he hadn't bothered to attend.

She pushed the door open.

The conversation stopped.

“Vanessa…” Someone set down a glass.

Adrian sat beside Natalie. Vanessa glanced down at her pink dress. She'd spent the morning getting ready for him.

She let out a bitter laugh.

“So this is why you couldn't make it to the registry office?”

Adrian got up and came toward her.

“We can register our marriage anytime. Nat just got back from abroad. As her brother, the least I could do was throw her a welcome party.”

“We chose today because it was our anniversary,” Vanessa said. “Did you forget, or did you just not care?”

They'd planned to celebrate both anniversaries on the same date. She'd been waiting at the registry while he was here.

Adrian reached for her arm.

“Don't start this again. I'll explain when we get home.”

Vanessa pulled away sharply.

Natalie spoke up. “I'm sorry. This is my fault. I didn't know you were going to the registry office today.”

Natalie looked up, her eyes filling with tears. “Please forgive me. I really do wish you and my brother all the best.”

“All the best?” Vanessa scoffed. “Would you stop acting? If you really wanted that, you wouldn't have come back.”

Adrian's expression hardened. “Don't be rude.”

“But it's fine for you to leave me waiting while you have a party with her?”

“Watch what you say.”

“Then tell me why you chose this over our wedding.”

“There's nothing going on between us,” Natalie said, beginning to cry. “If I'd known coming home would cause this, I would have stayed away.”

Her voice broke. As she began to sob, the others turned on Vanessa.

“That's going too far. They're like siblings. How can you be jealous of that?”

“Exactly. Nat left the country three years ago because you couldn't stand her. She sacrificed so much for you two. Are you going to start again?”

“Careful, Vanessa. Adrian might get sick of you and dump you.”

She'd put up with his friends for Adrian's sake. Even now, none of them seemed to think he'd done anything wrong.

“She's been hanging on to him all evening, but I'm the one being unreasonable? Fine. You can all carry on without me.”

No one answered.

“How can you insult me like that?” Natalie looked ready to collapse. “It's fine if you don't like me, but my brother loves you. He's done so much for you. Why isn't that enough?”

Vanessa had known Natalie for ten years. She'd heard these excuses throughout her five years with Adrian.

The first time, on Vanessa's birthday, Natalie had called to say she'd been in an accident. Adrian had left to find her.

The second time, on Valentine's Day, Natalie had called in tears, supposedly threatening to kill herself after a breakup.

There had been other calls, other emergencies. Adrian always left, and she always waited.

When Natalie had gone abroad three years earlier, everyone had assumed Vanessa had forced her to leave.

“He missed our marriage registration to be here with you. How am I supposed to take that? And why does everyone expect me to be happy about it?”

Natalie started crying harder.

“Enough!” Adrian shouted. “It's a piece of paper. We can do it on your birthday. Why do you have to make a scene?”

“A scene?” Vanessa repeated. “Fine. Adrian, we’re done.”

Adrian stared at her, then shook his head.

“This again? Last time you threatened to leave, Nat went abroad so we could stay together. I've agreed to marry you. What more do you want? If you keep treating her like this, I won't do it.”

Natalie lowered her head, but Vanessa caught the smile before she hid it.

Vanessa had heard enough.

“Perfect. Then we won't get married. It's all off.” She turned to leave.

Adrian shouted after her, his voice threatening. “If you walk out that door without apologizing to Nat, I'll never forgive you!”

No one moved. They were waiting for her to apologize.

Vanessa turned back at the door.

“You all heard me. It's over. I'm never marrying Adrian. If I go back on that, may he end up alone, childless, and miserable.”

Ignoring their stunned faces, she walked out.

In the rideshare, she blocked Adrian's number and his accounts. Her phone rang before she could put it away.

The number looked strangely familiar. She hesitated.

She answered.

“If you still want to get married, why not marry me?”