Chapter 4

Two hours later, I arrived at the international airport.

I was about to walk to the departure lounge when I received a message from Amanda’s mother, Rebecca Gordon.

[Leigh, where are you? Let’s have dinner.]

I typed and deleted several replies. I hesitated for a long time before finally agreeing.

Since I had decided to call off the wedding, I owed both families an explanation.

After all, Amanda and I had been together for seven years. Her mother had always treated me reasonably well.

I only realized this was not a friendly dinner when I entered the private dining room. It was an ambush.

Amanda and Kevin sat together in the seats of honor with her arm linked through his, while they had left me a seat across from them.

“Leigh, you made it.”

Rebecca stood up to welcome me, but Amanda merely curled her lip in disdain.

“Mom, you worry too much. I already told you Leigh would never leave me. He loves me too much. Why did you even bother setting up this apology dinner?”

Rebecca cleared her throat awkwardly. Her expression darkened.

Amanda acted as though she had not noticed. She picked up the menu and tossed it in front of me.

“Go ahead and order, Your Highness. Just so we’re clear, Mom made me come. I’m not here because I wanted to be.”

I pressed my lips together and looked into the eyes that had once captivated me. At that moment, I felt nothing at all.

There had been a time when she would cling to my arm with genuine affection and sweetly ask what I wanted to eat.

The slightest furrow of my brow would have her asking whether I disliked the food or whether the room was too cold.

All that tenderness had been diverted to my best friend.

“It’s fine, Rebecca. I appreciate the thought, but Amanda and I have broken up,” I uttered the words deliberately and clearly.

At that, everyone’s expression changed.

A flicker of panic crossed Amanda’s face, but it was quickly replaced by contempt.

“Kevin was right. You’re only doing this because you want to squeeze more money out of me when the wedding’s around the corner. You’ve been reading too much of that relationship nonsense online. Do you really think throwing a tantrum would make me pay you more? Dream on!”

Kevin looked at me with an embarrassed, innocent expression and shook his head.

“Leigh, I swear I never said anything like that.”

As he spoke, he got up and walked toward me.

Then, he suddenly grabbed my hand and began striking himself on the head with it. “Just punish me instead! Please don’t call off the wedding! I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone shopping with Amanda!”

I frowned and desperately tried to pull my hand free.

Somehow, a large welt suddenly appeared on his forehead, followed by a horrifying stream of blood.

“Ow!”

His piercing scream tore through the room.

“How is my head bleeding?”

Amanda shoved me aside like a woman possessed and rushed to examine Kevin’s injury.

Before leaving, she turned back and hurled one final threat at me.

“You’ve gone too far, Leigh! Let’s see what you’ll do when I don’t show up at the wedding!”

I shook my head in resignation.

I picked up my bag and looked at Rebecca.

“Rebecca, thanks for being so nice to me for the past seven years. Goodbye.”

Rebecca looked as though she wanted to say something, but in the end, she remained silent.

To comfort the wounded Kevin, Amanda remained by his side at the hospital for five straight days.

On the sixth day, her maid of honor, Tina Potter, sent her a reminder.

[Amanda, shouldn’t you be getting into your wedding dress? The ceremony was supposed to start hours ago. Leigh must be losing his mind waiting at the altar.]

Only then did Amanda seem to remember that she was getting married.

She replied without the slightest urgency.

[Let him wait. That’s what he gets for having the nerve to hurt Kevin.]

An hour later, she finally emerged in full bridal attire. She was holding the expensive custom bouquet I had given her with her chin raised haughtily.

“Okay. Tell Leigh I’m ready. We can start the ceremony now.”

Tina came back in from the hallway, looking visibly uneasy.

She hesitantly said, “Amanda, no one’s waiting at the altar. It looks like Leigh never showed up for the wedding.”