Chapter 5

Mom was shocked. She immediately called me to ask what had happened.

I did not go into the details to keep her from worrying.

She remained silent on the other end of the line for a long time and ultimately did not press me further.

“Alright. I’ll let Mrs. Litchfield know. Remember this, Jayden. No matter what happens, your dad and I only want you to be happy.”

Mabel Litchfield handled things efficiently and arranged for me to meet her niece the next day.

Upon meeting her, I realized Mabel’s niece was Isla Wilson, a senior from my university.

The blind date moved quickly. Once we both agreed there were no issues, we moved straight into marriage discussions and set the wedding early next month.

Even with the tight schedule, Isla took the initiative to plan the wedding with me.

She managed every step with calm precision, from wedding photos and venue selection to invitations and guest arrangements.

That was when I understood that truly wanting to marry someone was never about hollow promises. It was about what she was willing to do to make it happen.

“Alright, Jayden. We haven’t seen each other for almost two weeks. Let’s not talk about anything unpleasant.”

Harper’s words pulled me out of my reverie.

I looked at her. She still wore that familiar gentle expression, as if nothing about her had ever changed.

But I knew that behind that mask, everything had already fallen apart.

I stood up and avoided her touch.

“I’m going to the restroom.”

Since our anniversary, when we parted on bad terms, Harper had remained at the office. She had not returned home or texted me.

I had also been busy preparing the wedding with Isla and had long since pushed her out of my thoughts.

After nearly two weeks without seeing or contacting each other, I had come to see it as an unspoken breakup with Harper.

I had attended this class reunion to hand out wedding invitations to my former classmates, but I had not expected her to show up as well.

I composed myself after leaving the restroom and headed back to the private room to distribute the invitations.

As I rounded the corner, I saw Eugene confronting Harper. His eyes were teary, and his voice cracked as he spoke.

“You said you wouldn’t get married in the first five years of starting your company. Why did you lie to me?”

Harper’s eyes flickered with a complicated emotion I could not decipher. She sighed and spoke in a resigned tone.

“I didn’t lie to you. Jayden told our classmates we were getting married just to avoid embarrassment. That’s all.

“You know he proposed to me two weeks ago, and I turned him down. I gave you my word that I wouldn’t get married within five years, and I’m not going back on it.”

Eugene finally smiled and pulled her into his arms.

“I know you love Jayden, but I also know I have a place in your heart.

“I don’t expect you to marry me. As long as I can have you by my side until I’m thirty, I’ll be more than satisfied. Besides, I’m the only man standing next to you at the company. Jayden isn’t there. There’s only me.”

Harper’s hands clenched unconsciously at her sides, yet she did not push him away.

I smirked as I watched them locked in an embrace a short distance away.

So, Harper had promised Eugene she would not get married for five years, and I had been completely unaware of it.

Thankfully, I was about to marry someone else.

Her promise to Eugene, be it five or ten years, was no longer my concern.

I withdrew my gaze and walked away.

Upon returning to the private room, I handed out the invitations to my former classmates one by one.

Everyone’s faces lit up with surprise as they received them.

“I can’t believe you even printed the invitations already. It looks like we’re definitely attending your wedding next month.”

“Let me see the venue. I’ll be sure to bring you and Harper a big wedding gift!”

When they opened the invitations, they found that the bride’s name was not Harper, as they had expected, but an unfamiliar one.

The room instantly fell silent. Everyone exchanged bewildered looks.

Someone finally spoke up cautiously.

“You’re… kidding, right, Jayden?”

I smiled.

“No. Harper and I have already broken up, so of course, she’s not the bride. You’re all welcome to attend my wedding with my soon-to-be wife.”

The moment the words left my lips, a loud crash came from the doorway.

Harper’s glass had slipped from her fingers and shattered across the floor.

She looked deathly pale.