Novel & Cerita The Wrong Groom's Vegas Vow

At my wedding, when Father walked into the bridal room, soon to walk me down the aisle, I clasped both of my hands in his and asked me, “Are you sure this is the one you want?” The great Preston Owens seemed uncertain. This man was never unsure about anything in his entire life. But when I told him, “I love him, Dad,” Father put everything aside to see my wants delivered. “You let me go to Vegas on my own,” Garnar adds. “You said it was for business,” I say. Garnar snorts a harsh laugh. “You knew the truth.” I didn’t. I was ever the good little wife, trusting fully in my husband. When he said he needed to go on Vegas to secure his business deal, I had no reason to doubt.

“I don’t know what I thought.” “Then let me make it clear.” He stepped even closer, his voice dropping low. “Bangkok was a mistake. A temporary lapse in judgment. This marriage is a contract. Nothing more. I’ll play the devoted fiance for the cameras. I’ll smile and hold your hand and say all the right things in public. But in private? You have no claim on me.” Each word was a knife. Sharp. Deliberate. Designed to hurt. “And if I don’t accept that?” I asked quietly.

Something about it made me feel at a loss. A harsh air ran though the halls and I shivered but not from the cold. He spoke clearly… “I reject… I reject the Moon Goddess's designation,” he said, his voice steady. “I reject Lena Ashford as my consort." A pause. "Cara is my chosen mate." The bond shattered. It didn’t fade… it tore. My knees hit the stone as pain ripped through me, raw and violent, dragging a broken sound from my throat. My hand slammed against the ground, the cold stone biting into my skin.

"You threw such a lavish ceremony—half the city's media was there. If you search your name right now, the first thing that comes up is you and Riley locked in a kiss. And now, you're telling me you broke up? What does that have to do with me?" Derek hung his head, knowing he had no ground to stand on. "It was just a party. We never got the license." "But I did. Liam and I are having our wedding next week." He froze, then reached for my arm. "Megan, I know I was wrong—I really do! Please forgive me. It was all my fault. I loved you too much. I loved you the wrong way. Just give me one more chance—" "Derek—get your hands off me!"

“He’s… different lately. Calmer. He asked me the other day if I knew anyone grounded. Someone who wouldn’t try to use him for clout. Someone soft.” I raise a brow. “And you told him what?” She smiles, almost wickedly. “I told him I knew the perfect person.” It takes me a second. Then my eyes widen. “Mara!” She throws up her hands like she is innocent. “What? It’s not like I offered you as a sacrificial lamb. He just asked if you’d go to the wedding with him. As his date.” I stare at her in disbelief. “You’re insane. Why would I go with him?”

“White, elegant, classic; like the kind of woman your family prefers. Don’t tell me you didn’t see them?” Ethan exhaled sharply. “They arrived,” he said in a clipped tone. “But there’s a problem, Lawrence.” “Oh? Don’t tell me you’re already fighting?” Ethan’s voice went cold. “I didn’t marry the woman Grandfather arranged. There was a mix-up.” Silence. Then a low whistle. “You’re serious?” “Completely.” Lawrence burst into laughter. “You mean the man who reviews every document word by word signed a marriage certificate with the wrong woman?”

I stood in my elaborate wedding dress in the center of the hotel banquet hall, bowing slightly to the guests gathered around. "Thank you all, friends and family, for coming to today's wedding ceremony. However, there's been an unexpected change. The bride will no longer be me. It will be Lisa Jenner instead. "I deeply apologize for this surprise, and I'm grateful that everyone took time out of their schedules to attend this wedding banquet. I hope this won't dampen your spirits, and please continue to enjoy the celebration."

In my last life, I loved her with everything I had—and all I got back was disgust. Now that I'm the one walking away, she's the one falling apart. On the plane, I rubbed the ring on my finger. Then I slid it off and dropped it into a cup of water. I never had a fiancée. Just a prop I bought before coming back. At least this time, I'm leaving with no regrets.

I plucked the groom's boutonniere and handed it to my wife, Rose Lane, then didn't bother with the subtle looks she and the people around us were exchanging. I just walked out of the hotel. Rose didn't come after me. Behind me, the hall erupted in applause as Rose and Zachary Zimmer took the stage, surrounded by the celebrating crowd. I knew this wasn't an accident. It was Zachary's way of poking at me. Too bad Rose couldn't—or wouldn't—see it. Maybe she saw and was deliberately letting it slide.

Just an offer. I nodded, not trusting my voice. What would I even say? Thank you for marrying me on ten minutes’ notice? Sorry for using you as a replacement groom? I’m not having a breakdown, I promise? The drive to Alexander’s villa was quiet. I kept checking my phone, some masochistic part of me expecting Miles to call, to text, to realize what he’d done and what I’d done in response. But there was nothing. Absolute silence from the man who’d just abandoned me at the altar for the third time. He was probably still with Valeria, tending to whatever manufactured crisis she’d created this time, completely unaware that his fiancée had become someone else’s wife.