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Home / Always Second, Even at My Wedding / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of Always Second, Even at My Wedding: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

17 Chapters

Chapter 1

Clint's POVI unclenched my fist. My voice came out weirdly calm."Fine. Use that one."Joan froze, like she hadn't expected me to cave that fast.Derek patted her shoulder. "Joan, forget it. Clint's obviously not happy. I don't want to cause problems between you guys. I can stand anywhere."That was Derek. Always saying just enough to sound like the good guy.Joan frowned and patted his hand. "What's he even upset about?""If you hadn't brought him into our circle, he never would've met me."Every word stung.I stared at the blown-up photo on the screen.Derek looked sharp in his expensive suit, smiling like he owned the place.Joan had turned toward him, her eyes full of obvious warmth.And me?I was stuck on the edge like some random extra who'd walked onto the wrong set.I pulled out my phone and paid the studio bill."Email me the originals. Use this one for the reception display. Do whatever you want with the rest."I turned and pushed through the studio's glass d

Chapter 2

I stared at the lighter, then quietly moved to the back seat.Joan frowned at me through the mirror. "Why are you back there? Am I your chauffeur now?""The front's too cramped. My legs don't fit."Three years ago, she'd promised the passenger seat would always be mine.Now she couldn't even bother moving it back.When we got home, I punched in our usual six-digit code.Error.The door stayed locked.I froze.Joan stepped up and casually entered Derek's birthday.Beep.The door opened.I turned to her, stiff.She walked inside like it was no big deal."Derek said the old code was too hard to remember. He comes by sometimes to grab documents or packages, so it was annoying.""So I changed it to his birthday."'She changed the code to our apartment to another guy's birthday.'I took a slow breath and ignored the chill spreading through my chest.I opened the bedroom door—and froze again.The dark gray bedding I'd picked out was gone, replaced by some flashy champagne-c

Chapter 3

After I hung up with Mr. Smith, I took my suitcases to a hotel near work.I'd barely checked in when my phone lit up.Derek had posted something.It was the photo from yesterday—the three of us.Except Joan and Derek were front and center, grinning like a couple.I'd been cropped almost completely out.Just one blurry shoulder left.His caption said:[Some places aren't yours just because you're standing in them. Thanks, Joan, for always choosing me.]Our mutual friends had already jumped into the comments.[Wow. If I didn't know better, I'd think Derek was the groom.][Joan really does treat Derek better than everyone else. Same as always.][Best friend? Dude gets more attention than the actual groom.]I stared at the comments.It was almost funny.I wasn't mad anymore.I just felt cold.I screenshotted the post, then grabbed a cab to Joan's office.I opened the CEO's office door and found them sitting way too close, sharing the same takeout.Joan picked up a piece

Chapter 4

I stared at the charge, too drained even to laugh.She'd used the card I'd given her, which was linked to my account, to buy another guy a five-figure watch.Meanwhile, the suit she'd picked for me yesterday was some cheap rental her assistant found.Three days later, we had our final rehearsal and menu tasting.I got to the hotel ballroom on time and pushed through the doors.Derek was already onstage in a brand-new custom suit, that five-figure limited-edition watch flashing on his wrist.Joan stood below, looking up at him like he hung the moon.If I didn't know I was the groom, I would've thought I'd walked into someone else's wedding.The second Joan saw me, her smile vanished.She hurried over, trying to sound casual even as guilt flashed across her face. "Derek's always wanted a watch like this. I'm his friend. I just helped make it happen. Your rental suit looks fine too. Don't be so petty."I looked at her, calm as ever. "Buying him a watch with my card. Real generou

Chapter 5

After I hung up, the banquet manager hurried after me with the incomplete menu approval form."Mr. Crawford, we need both of you to approve the cancellation. As for Ms. Quinton..."I took the pen with my good hand and signed on the line marked "Groom.""Charge my card. I'll cover the cancellation fee."He glanced at my bleeding hand and hesitated.I handed the pen back. "You have the groom's approval."And just like that, I realized ending things wasn't nearly as hard as I'd thought.At the ER, the doctor cleaned my hand and pulled shards of glass from my palm with tweezers.I stared at the bloody pieces and suddenly remembered Joan once telling me my hands looked good.She'd said my wedding ring would look even better.That ring was probably still on Derek's finger.While the doctor stitched me up, my phone buzzed.Joan.[Derek's out of danger. Are you ready to calm down now?][Go back to the hotel tomorrow morning and confirm the menu. Take all the seafood off. And expl

Chapter 6

Clint's POVThe plane touched down just after dawn.The head of the overseas branch picked me up herself. Nora Wade. Sharp, capable, all business.Her eyes landed on my bandaged hand. "Clint Crawford?""That's me."She grabbed my suitcase, no questions asked. "Your apartment's ready. Get some sleep, then swing by the office this afternoon. We'll get your access set up."I climbed into the car and watched the unfamiliar city blur past the window.The second I turned my phone back on, it blew up.Over forty missed calls from Joan.Voicemails. Texts. Emails. All of it.I opened none of them.I just blocked her.For the first time in forever, my head was quiet.That afternoon, I went to the office to finish my paperwork. An admin handed me my new ID badge.My name was printed above my title.[Project Lead.]I ran my thumb over the words.That tiny badge felt more like a fresh start than the wedding ring someone else had worn.***Third-Person POVBack in Arlencia, Joan

Chapter 7

Joan spent the whole night digging through flight info.All she had was the city name from the airline email.No flight number. No arrival time. No clue which branch he'd transferred to.By sunrise, she was at Clint's parents' house.Clint's mother, Elaine, opened the door, and her face went cold."What are you doing here?"Joan looked wrecked, eyes red from no sleep. "Mrs. Crawford, where's Clint?"Elaine stared her down. "Now you care where he is?"Joan's throat tightened. "I know I screwed up. Please just tell me where he is. I'll bring him back."Robert, Clint's father, came out of the living room and tossed a manila envelope at her feet."Bring him back? What makes you think you get to?"The envelope burst open.Papers scattered across the floor.The apartment sale authorization.The wedding cancellation confirmation.The overseas assignment agreement.And an ER report.Joan picked up the ER report and read the diagnosis.Open wound to the right palm. Glass fragm

Chapter 8

Clint's POVI didn't know Joan was here until after the project meeting.Nora handed me her tablet.On-screen, Joan stood in the lobby downstairs, hair a mess.The receptionist blocked her, polite but firm."I'm sorry, but you can't go upstairs without an appointment."Joan's voice came through the security feed, rough and barely recognizable."I'm here to see Clint Crawford.""Mr. Crawford has meetings today.""I'll wait."Nora glanced at me. "Want me to have security escort her out?"I looked down at the screen.She'd lost a lot of weight since I last saw her.I felt nothing."Follow company policy."Nora nodded. "Got it."I went back to the conference room and kept reviewing the contract.The overseas project was tougher than I expected. Demanding client. Brutal deadline.But I liked the pressure.Here, the rules were simple.Work hard. Get results.Relationships weren't like that.I gave Joan seven years and still ended up second.At eight that night, I heade

Chapter 9

Joan eventually got a temporary invite to the reception.When Nora sent me the guest list, Joan's name was highlighted in red."Want me to revoke it?"I glanced at the screen and shook my head. "No."Sometimes a door had to open once before someone understood they didn't belong on the other side.The night before the reception, I worked late.When I left the office, Joan was waiting by the curb.This time, she didn't rush me.She stayed a few steps back. "Clint, I looked into what happened at the menu tasting."I stopped. "The hotel said someone deleted the security footage from that day. Derek told me you asked the manager to erase it because you were embarrassed."I let out a short laugh. "And you believe him?"Joan swallowed.She used to take Derek's side without even thinking.Now she was finally questioning him.Way too late."I'll find out what really happened." Her eyes looked pained. "If there was some misunderstanding that day—""There wasn't." My voice stayed

Chapter 10

The MC called my name.Applause rolled through the room.I buttoned my jacket and walked onstage.Joan stood at the edge of the crowd.Derek was right beside her.I pulled up the presentation and got to work.Every number. Every plan. Every answer.Mine.No one shoved me aside.No one took my spot.And no one got to change the code on my life.After my presentation, the client rep came over and shook my hand.Nora smiled. "Mr. Crawford, you did great tonight.""Thanks."Then Joan walked up.She stopped two steps away this time. No reaching for me."Clint, can I have five minutes?"I checked my watch. "I still have clients to meet before the reception ends."Her voice came out rough. "Then I'll wait."I looked at her. "That's your choice. It has nothing to do with me."Joan went pale but stayed quiet.Derek couldn't.He stepped forward, already pissed. "Are you enjoying this?"Joan put her company on hold to come after you. The board's on her case every day."Are

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