Chapter 3

He froze for a moment, then laughed--a scornful, confident laugh.

"Replace the groom? Where are you going to find one? You really think life is a TV drama?"

"Everyone in Bayport knows you're mine."

"Of course... if you really have the ability to find someone willing to marry you, I suppose I could let you go--"

He pulled open the car door and tossed back a light, teasing remark.

"Stop making a scene. Be good and wait for me. Those wild cards out there, I know how to handle them, okay?"

The groomsmen behind him exchanged glances.

Brian chased after him a couple steps. "Lucas, you're really leaving--"

"You guys hold down the fort. It's not like I'm not coming back."

Lucas closed the car door, his voice carrying a hint of impatience. "That girl is too hard to deal with. I don't want to create trouble for myself."

The car started and drove away.

I stood in place, the hem of my wedding dress lifted by the wind.

The photographer beside me stood awkwardly with his camera.

No one spoke.

I looked down at my left ring finger, now bare, and slowly curved my lips into a smile.

Lucas, go ahead.

Go get your certificate.

As for this multi-million dollar century wedding--I'll gladly accept it.

I lifted my dress and walked into the church.

Guests were seated, the officiant was in position, the wedding march was playing.

Everything was perfect, except the groom wasn't there.

Brian caught up with me, forcing out a smile.

"Lucas had something urgent to handle. He'll be right back. Just take a seat for a bit."

Jason also came over with a laugh.

"Right, right. Lucas always has things under control. Today's your big day--he'll definitely be here soon."

"Exactly, Lucas never drops the ball on important matters."

The group chattered on, making "the groom ran off" sound like he'd just stepped out to pick up a package.

I glanced at the clock at the front of the church. 10:40 AM.

"Okay, I'll wait for him."

I calmly sent them away.

Brian clearly relaxed and quickly had someone bring me tea and water.

I waited.

But who I was waiting for, you don't need to worry about.

This wedding had been hyped up for three months.

Most of the groom's important relatives were in attendance.

I looked around, my gaze falling on every detail.

The white rose waterfall by the floor-to-ceiling windows, the crystal bead curtains hanging from the dome...

Even the font on the guest place cards had been specially designed by a designer he'd commissioned.

Lucas was that kind of person--when he did something, he did it to perfection.

He was like this when pursuing me, and like this when planning the wedding.

He made this wedding the talk of the entire city, made it into every woman's dream wedding...

But even his cheating was this extreme.

No room for redemption, no explanations.

In his logic, being good to someone and hurting that same person never conflicted.

And I only had one option: accept it.

In the lounge, my best friend Harper, who'd specially flown in from Portside to be my bridesmaid, helped me with my dress, her face full of indignation.

"Is Lucas sick? Running off to register a marriage with another woman on his wedding day? Did his brain get caught in a door?"

She sat down beside me huffily, tugging at her bridesmaid dress.

"I thought he was just talking. Even if... did it have to be today?"

Her voice carried the fire of righteous anger on my behalf.

"When you two were planning this wedding together, he searched every flower shop in the city just to pick your bouquet. When you tried on wedding dresses, his eyes got red faster than yours."

"I was so envious I was practically jealous, and I even beat up my clueless boyfriend!"

She paused, her voice dropping. "Who could have known he'd turn around and pull something like this?"