The Bride She Should've Been

With Cyrus in one arm and Chloe in the other, I turned to close the car door and stopped cold.Standing a few feet away was someone I never expected to run into again.Eleanor. My ex-fiancee. The woman who ditched me at our own wedding three years ago and ran off with her true love.Balancing both kids against my chest, I kept my voice polite. "Excuse me. I'm in a hurry."Eleanor's expression darkened instantly.Instead of stepping aside, she blocked my path, her voice sharp and accusing. "Who are these kids?"I shut the door with a quick kick, not planning to engage.But Chloe looped her arms around my neck and asked, loud enough for everyone to hear, "Daddy, why is this lady so mean?"Eleanor's face tightened even more."Why is she calling you Daddy?" She sounded almost frantic. "I was only gone for three years. How could you already have children? Did you have kids with someone else the second I left?"I kept my tone even. "What did you expect? That I'd stay loyal to you f

Seeing that I ignored them, Eleanor tapped Lucas on the arm. "Lucas, enough. Ethan's had a rough time. I heard his family kicked him out. He doesn't even have a job right now. That's why he looks a little shabby. You can't mock him for that."I froze, unsure where she had heard such nonsense.Then it hit me. Back at my wedding, Eleanor had caused such a scene that my mother's heart condition flared up, landing her in the hospital.My father, furious, had kicked me out of the house, telling me to go reflect on my mistakes and stop being a burden.He had even forced me out of the family business, insisting I learn to survive on my own. I had to prove myself before I could think of inheriting anything.Yeah, I had been down and out."Ah, so that's how it was." Lucas sneered, his lips curling in smug satisfaction.He grabbed a bottle of fine red wine from the table, uncorked it, and poured himself a glass. The rich aroma filled the room."I had a friend bring this all the way from

My words wiped the color from Lucas' face.He snapped his head toward Eleanor, his voice cold and sharp. "You went to see him?"Eleanor jumped up, clearly flustered, and made for the door. "I… I just remembered something. I have to go."Her guilt was obvious.Lucas wasn't about to let her slip away. In just a few quick strides, he grabbed her wrist. "I asked you a question. Why are you dodging me?" He jabbed a finger at me, standing there like a bystander. "Do you still have feelings for him?"Eleanor's expression flickered between pale and furious. She yanked her arm free and snapped. "Fine! Yes! I never got over him! Yes! I regret everything! So what?"She didn't care about appearances anymore. She was done hiding from Lucas."What else do you even have besides pretty words?" she fired back. "You're useless. Three years, and what have you accomplished? Gaming all day, watching women dance online, living off others, and still having the nerve to mock anyone else? I'm embarras

Night had already settled by the time we walked out of the station.I hadn't expected Eleanor to say exactly what I did in her statement. She didn't shield Lucas at all.She even claimed he'd been hitting her for a long time, that the bruises across her body came from him.I let out a long breath.She'd had a perfectly good path ahead of her, yet she chose a man who used his fists. If she ended up suffering, it was a road she picked herself. Hard to feel sorry for her.Eleanor hurried after me, stopping just behind my shoulders. Her voice was soft, uncertain. "Ethan, could we talk for a minute?"I was ready to refuse, but Gemma turned, shot me a cold look, and said, "Wrap it up."Then, she walked straight to the car and got in, leaving me to handle it.I realized she had a point. Brushing Eleanor off would only keep her circling back. Better to spell everything out now and put an end to it."You actually married her?" Eleanor looked at me with red, swollen eyes.A few years a