The Last Favor I Owe

"Did she really get kicked off the stage just like that?"

"What else was supposed to happen? She was always Chloe's stand-in. Now things are just going back to the way they should be."

"Look at them. They're perfect together."

I followed the guests' gazes toward the stage.

The couple walked side by side, their fingers intertwined. They looked like they had stepped straight out of a fairy tale, a perfect match in every way.

But the ceremony did not begin right away. Instead, staff members filed onto the stage one after another, replacing every display sign around the venue.

They even handed out new invitations to every guest. I received one too.

When I opened it, the groom's name was still Ethan Lawson. The bride's name, however, had been changed to Chloe Parker.

Ethan saw it all happen.

Even though he knew Chloe's earlier suicide attempt had been nothing more than a stunt to gain his attention, he still shot her an indulgent look.

"You've been way too reckless, Chloe. Don't ever do something like that again. What if you'd really gotten hurt?"

The only thing he cared about was whether Chloe had been injured.

He had completely forgotten that this wedding was supposed to be my reward for giving up my professional career.

He also did not know that marrying him had been the wish I wrote down every birthday and sealed inside a glass bottle, never daring to let him see it.

Only after every trace of me had been erased from the venue did the wedding finally begin.

But when it came time to exchange rings, Chloe suddenly refused to continue.

After Ethan repeatedly asked what was wrong, she finally spoke, her voice hesitant. "I've been sick for so many years. I barely have any friends left. I want Claire to be my bridesmaid, but I'm afraid it might offend her…"

Every eye in the room turned toward me. I looked only at Ethan.

Having my wedding stolen was already enough to make me the guests' favorite topic of gossip. Did he really have the heart to call me onto the stage and make me watch him marry someone else?

Ethan's eyes reddened when he saw the once cheerful and lively girl acting so timid and fragile.

With a trace of pleading, he looked at me. "Claire, you've already given up the wedding. It's only being a bridesmaid. You're not going to say no, are you?"

I nearly laughed at myself.

I had almost forgotten. Chloe had disappeared after faking her death at the height of their love. And because Ethan could never forget her, he had chosen me as her replacement.

Now his first love had returned. Yet somehow, I had still dared to hope he might feel even the smallest bit of love for me.

Swallowing the bitterness in my chest, I asked quietly, "Does this count as one favor?"

Ethan frowned irritably, as if he had forgotten something important.

He had been about to ask what I meant, but seeing Chloe on the verge of tears, he let it go. "Yes. It counts."

I nodded. "Okay. I'll do it."

Years ago, my grandmother—the only family I had left—had been suffering through a long and painful illness.

Ethan had appeared out of nowhere. He hired the best doctors in the world for her and arranged the most expensive hospital suite available.

Because of him, my grandmother gained one more year of life before passing away peacefully and happily.

On the day she died, I asked how I could ever repay such a debt.

His gaze lingered on my face. "All you have to do is stay with me."

Only then did I realize that he was not really looking at me. He was seeing someone else through me.

"Mr. Lawson, there should be a time limit, shouldn't there?"

He suppressed the sadness in his eyes and replied casually, "Call me Ethan."