All Chapters of The Bride Who Walked Away: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

1

I stepped out of the private dining room, and the wedding planner's call came almost immediately."Ms. Bennett, do you still want the waist on the gown let out by an inch?"I stopped mid-step."My measurements haven't changed."A few seconds of silence on the other end."Ms. Vivian Bennett said the bridal gown would be altered into a reception dress after the ceremony, and it might be too tight for her."I gripped my phone tighter."Who gave her permission to wear my wedding gown?""Mr. Hayes. He said since you're sisters, there's no need to be so particular."The door to the private room opened, and Julian walked out. He draped his jacket over my shoulders.He always noticed when I was cold. He'd also leave a pair of flats in the car whenever I wore heels.I used to take these details as proof of love.Now I understood. He would look after me, but he'd also go over my head."Why was the gown altered to Vivian's measurements?"Julian frowned."She's only wearing it once, after the cere

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The next day, Mom brought the heirloom emerald bracelet to my office.When I opened the box, I found a repair slip inside.There was a fresh soldering mark where the clasp had been reattached."What happened?"Mom looked away."Vivian tried it on and it got stuck. They had to cut it off."This bracelet was from my grandmother.Before she passed, she held my hand and said she wanted to see me wear it on my wedding day.She never got the chance. The emerald bracelet became the last thing she ever left me."Who let her touch it?""I just wanted her to have a look. How was I supposed to know your wrist was so small?"Mom pushed a brand-new emerald bracelet toward me."Julian bought it this morning. It's even heavier than the original. Out with the old, in with the new.""Are these two really the same?""It's just a thing.""Then why didn't you cut yours?"Mom's expression hardened."Grace, you're getting married, that's all. Why are you getting more impossible by the day?"My colleagues we

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Ten days before the wedding, it was Dad's birthday.I reserved a private room in advance and bought the fishing rod he'd been talking about for months.When I arrived at the restaurant, I learned they'd changed the venue at the last minute.No one in the family group chat had told me.I called Mom. She said casually, "Vivian wanted Japanese food, so we switched. Ask Julian. He has the address."So everyone knew.Everyone except me.It was pouring outside. I didn't have an umbrella and had to stand under the restaurant awning waiting for a ride.Julian called first."Where are you?""At the original restaurant.""Didn't someone send the new address in the group chat?""Nobody sent anything."He paused."Must have slipped everyone's mind. Wait there. I'll come get you."Twenty minutes later, the car pulled up to the curb.Vivian was in the passenger seat.My usual spot was occupied by her bag. The back seat was crammed with framed paintings.Julian opened the rear door for me."Vivian ge

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Seven days before the wedding, I went to the new apartment to pick up some documents.The smart lock kept rejecting my code.After the third attempt, Vivian opened the door from inside.She was wearing my pajamas, holding a glass of water."What are you doing here, sis?"The entryway was lined with her shoes. An easel stood in the living room. Her clothes hung drying on the balcony.This didn't look like my future home. It looked like Vivian's."Why are you living here?""My lease expired. Mom told me to move in for now.""Who approved this?"A noise came from the kitchen.Julian walked out carrying a bowl of oatmeal, wearing the apron I'd bought."I did.""Why didn't you tell me?""You've been on edge lately. I didn't want you overthinking things."A wave of exhaustion washed over me. I stared into Julian's eyes."How long is she staying?""Until she finds a place."Vivian added quietly, "Mom said I could stay here even after the wedding.""The gallery is close by. I'll just use the s

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He grabbed my wrist."All this because Vivian moved in?""No."I pried his fingers loose, one by one."It's because for over twenty years, I've been waiting for any of you to choose me. Just once.""I'm done waiting."That night, I accepted the transfer to the Southport branch.Before dawn, I packed my bags, deleted all the wedding files, and left the family group chat.I'd been in Southport for two days when Julian showed up at my office.Through the glass wall of the conference room, I saw him standing at the front desk.His suit was a wrinkled mess. Dark circles under his eyes made it look as if he hadn't slept all night.A colleague asked, "Ms. Bennett, do you know him?""I do.""Should I show him in?""No."I went back to reviewing the opening checklist.Half an hour later, the receptionist brought me a paper bag.Inside were a dark chocolate cake, a can of antiseptic spray, and the repaired emerald bracelet.Julian had also left a note."I used to remember everything. I only got

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Julian stayed in Southport for two weeks.He didn't approach me again. Every day, he simply sat in the coffee shop across the street.However late I worked, that shop stayed lit.One night, my stomach flared up so badly I could barely stand by the time I reached the lobby.He sprinted across the street and steadied me.I smelled coffee on his clothes and saw the panic he couldn't hide.For one unguarded moment, my hand closed around his sleeve.His whole body went rigid. Even his breathing went shallow."The medicine's in the car. Let me get it."He started to lift me, but I let go and gripped the railing by the sidewalk instead."Don't touch me."He stopped where he was.A few seconds later, he took off his jacket, spread it over a bench for me to sit on, then went to get the medicine.When he came back, he set the water and the pills within my reach and stepped about three feet away."I won't touch you.""Take the medicine. Then I'll go."I swallowed the pills without looking at him.

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The day the Southport branch opened, Mom and Dad showed up with Vivian.Mom carried a box of pastries, as though nothing had happened."Your sister came specifically to apologize."Vivian kept her head down."I'm sorry, sis."I shouldn't have moved into the apartment. I shouldn't have tried on your wedding gown. And I shouldn't have kept bothering Julian."I've just always envied you."You had great grades, a great career. Everyone called you the reliable one. I was so afraid of being worthless that I couldn't stop leaning on all of you."Colleagues passed by.Mom took my hand."See? Vivian apologized. We're family. You can't hold this against her forever."I pulled my hand free."What's the apology for?""To bring you home, of course.""I'm not going back."Dad's face darkened."We took a three-hour train ride to see you. What more do you want?"The apartment's been sold. Julian sent you the money. You didn't lose a thing."Your sister lost her job and her engagement fell through. Wha

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My parents didn't repay the money on schedule.After my lawyer sent a formal demand letter, Mom left me dozens of voice messages.She said I was heartless, said family matters shouldn't be aired in public, and said Vivian had fallen ill because of me.I didn't reply to a single one.A month later, mediation began.I brought my bank transfer records and screenshots of text conversations to the session.Dad was still fuming."What kind of daughter takes her own parents to court?"The mediator finished reviewing the materials."Mr. Bennett, you stated on multiple occasions that these funds were for Ms. Grace Bennett's down payment."In reality, sixty thousand dollars was transferred to Ms. Vivian Bennett's account and used to pay her study-abroad agency fees."This constitutes misrepresentation of the loan's purpose."I froze.Vivian had never studied abroad.She'd never even told me she'd applied to any school."Where did the money go?"Vivian couldn't meet my eyes.After a long silence,

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"Grace."Julian handed me a sealed plastic bag.Inside was the engagement ring."You left it on the console table that day. I couldn't bring myself to touch it."I'm giving it back to you now."You can sell it. Or throw it away."I took the bag."Anything else?"He shook his head.I walked down the steps.There was no sound behind me for a long time.When I finally looked back, he was still standing in the same spot, eyes rimmed red, but he hadn't followed.He'd learned to respect my decision to leave.Just too late.Southport saw its first snow before winter had begun.I sold the ring and used the money to enroll in a furniture design course.It wasn't about remembering anyone.The money had always been mine. I wanted to spend it on myself.At the final exhibition, my piece won first place.After the show, I saw Julian outside the entrance.He hadn't gone into the gallery. He was standing at the bottom of the steps."Passing through?"I asked."No."He was honest."I saw your name on

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Two years later, the Southport branch was upgraded to a regional center.I was promoted from branch manager to regional director.The day my parents made their final repayment, Mom called.Her voice sounded years older."Your father's health isn't good. Vivian moved out of town. There's nobody left at home to even talk to."Come home for dinner over the holidays."I'll make your favorite dishes."I didn't refuse outright."We'll see. I might not have time."She was quiet for a while."Gracie, I always thought you could handle everything on your own, so there was no need to look after you.""I only realized later that the child who never complains can still be hurting."Belated understanding couldn't change the past.But I no longer needed resentment to keep my distance."Take care of yourself."I hung up and removed her number from my blocked list.I just didn't reach out first.Dad was hospitalized once after that.Mom texted me the address, without demanding I come."Your father's ge

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