Chapter 5 The Bride Vanessa Never Saw Coming

I looked at her calmly and replied, "Breaking up with you is not up for discussion. This is a notice. Let go."

Vanessa was furious. She took a hard breath, trying to hold herself together.

"Daniel, I know you're jealous, and I know you're using a breakup to threaten me," she snapped. "But our wedding is only days away. You know how much this marriage means to both of our families."

Her voice sharpened. "If you call off the wedding now, how are you going to explain it to your parents? Don't act like I don't know how hard it is for a man to find a wife these days."

Then she lifted her chin. "Let me make this clear. If you leave today, I won't attend the wedding. Don't come crying to me when your family is humiliated, because that won't be my responsibility."

I pulled my arm out of her grip and left without hesitation. 'Regret it? Why would I? Her wedding is canceled, but mine is going ahead exactly as planned.'

I returned to Havenbrook with my suitcase, and as soon as I got home, my parents pulled me aside and asked why I had broken things off.

I told them everything about Logan asking Vanessa to do IVF for him.

My mother immediately hugged me and cried. My father stayed silent for a long while before finally saying, "Thank God you didn't marry her."

My lips trembled, but I could not stop the tears from falling.

I wasn't crying for Vanessa; I was crying for the version of myself that had once traveled between cities for love. I was mourning the relationship I had fought so hard to save, only for it to end in the bitterest way possible.

Over the next few hours, several of Vanessa's friends messaged me to ask when the wedding would be held.

Only then did I realize Vanessa hadn't told anyone we had broken up.

So I replied to all of them with the same message, 'Vanessa and I have canceled the wedding. Please don't make plans to attend.'

Later that day, I went to a bridal boutique near my parents' house. I took photos of a few new wedding dresses and suits, then sent them to Olivia.

Since the wedding was rushed, I needed to know whether she had any preferences.

When I got back home, I saw two familiar figures standing downstairs.

One was Vanessa. The other was Logan.

Vanessa looked much more worn out than before. Her face was pale, and worry filled her eyes when she saw me.

She walked toward me.

"Daniel, stop making this harder than it has to be," she pleaded. "I've been really exhausted lately. When I heard you say we were breaking up this morning, I was too angry to respond. I'm sorry, okay? Please forgive me."

Then she glanced at Logan.

"I know you misunderstood everything, so Logan came with me today to explain. If you really don't agree, then we won't go through with the IVF."

The moment Logan saw me, he dropped to his knees and cried, "I know this is all my fault. I won't do the IVF anymore. As long as you forgive us, I promise I won't bother your life again."

Then he looked up at me with reddened eyes. "But you can't use the wedding to threaten Vanessa. You obviously still went to the bridal boutique today. If you keep threatening her like this, she'll take it seriously."

Vanessa quickly helped him up.

When she heard what he said, her expression darkened for a second. Then relief flickered across her face.

She straightened as if she had regained her confidence.

"Daniel, I won't hold this whole canceled-wedding stunt against you because I love you," she declared. "But love has limits. Don't bully me like this again, okay?"

Her tone softened, as if she were giving me an order wrapped in forgiveness. "Stay home and rest for the next few days. On Friday, we'll go back to Ravenport and have the wedding as planned—"

"Oh, Daniel!" a neighbor called out before Vanessa could finish. "I heard you're marrying Ms. Hart. Don't forget to invite me to the reception!"

I smiled at her. "Of course, Mrs. Walker. How could I forget you?"

Vanessa froze. Her face went blank with disbelief.

"Ms. Hart?" she repeated.

Then she turned to me, her voice rising. "Daniel, who exactly are you marrying?"