Chapter 3

The pen scraped across paper with a harsh, grating scratch. In seconds, six months of meticulous wedding planning were reduced to a simple ring exchange.

Dad looked horrified. He had spent nearly a month writing, editing, and polishing his wedding speech, only for it to be cut down to three sentences tops.

The pastor turned to me, looking visibly torn. “Miss Erin, are we really canceling all of these parts?”

“We’re running out of time, so this is the only way,” Dario cut in before I could speak. “Let’s just get the ceremony over with first. Once we’re home, you can take it out on me.”

With eight minutes left before the ceremony, a sudden crash echoed from inside the suite. Immediately after came Sofia’s quiet sobbing.

“Dario, am I making things difficult for you?”

Dario’s brow furrowed, and he quickly swiped his keycard to open the door.

I tried to follow him inside, but he shifted his body and blocked the doorway.

“Just wait a little longer.”

“The jewelry I need to wear is inside!” I snapped.

He lowered his voice. “She’s in an unstable state right now. You going in there is just going to add fuel to the fire.”

“Dario, I’m the bride today!”

“I know that!”

It was the very first time he had ever raised his voice at me like that.

“And precisely because you’re the bride and all the guests are waiting for you, can’t you just look at the bigger picture for once?!”

With that, he ducked into the suite and slammed the door shut right in my face.

Through the door, I could hear Sofia crying.

“Maybe we should let Erin in. I can just hide out on the balcony.”

Dario shut her down without a second thought. “No need. None of this is your fault. Eat your breakfast first. I’ll handle the rest.”

“But today is her wedding day...”

“Erin has always been understanding. She’ll get it. I’ll explain everything to her after the ceremony is over.”

Every single person standing out in the hallway heard every word he said, loud and clear.

So that was it. My parents, my wedding, and my feelings were just problems to manage, while Sofia was the one who needed protection.

With five minutes left until the wedding, the pastor had already led the choir to start the opening piece, their voices echoing through the walkie-talkie.

Dad stuffed his written speech back into the inner pocket of his suit jacket and asked me in a low, gentle voice, “Erin, are you sure you still want to go through with this wedding?”

I stared blankly at that tightly shut door.

Eight years ago, when Dario was pursuing me, he promised that no matter what happened, I would always come first to him.

That was until his childhood sweetheart returned to Sicily after her engagement was called off.

From that moment on, the man who had always kept his word began to break every promise he made.

When she went through her breakup, he ignored our anniversary and invited her to join our candlelit dinner. At my dad's birthday party, he flaked just to go help her move.

When she said she was scared in the middle of the night, he didn't hesitate to drive across the city just to be by her side.

Whenever I confronted him with my doubts, he would always explain, “I only see her as a sister, nothing more. You’re always number one in my heart.” Yet every time he had to choose between Sofia and me, he made me compromise.

I let it go time after time. But I never imagined that on our wedding day, he would expect me to do it again.

Mom wrapped her hands tightly around mine, while Dad gently patted my shoulder.

“You don’t need to worry about saving face for us. A man like this isn't worth keeping!”

The final reminder crackled through the walkie-talkie. “Three minutes left. Bride, please prepare to walk down the aisle.”

At that exact moment, the suite door finally clicked open.