Chapter 2

After that, I didn't bother to look at Ryan's groomsmen again.

I picked up my wedding dress, chin up, and walked out of the room like a queen. I walked out like I owned the place.

But as soon as I stepped out, a trail of tears slid from the corners of my eyes.

My bestie was basically a pro at wiping my tears by now. So the second my tears started to fall, she was already there with a tissue, dabbing them away.

In her words, I was rocking main character energy today. There was no way my makeup was allowed to smudge.

As soon as I got downstairs, I spotted the wedding car parked by the curb.

It was Ryan's car, the very same car the groomsmen claimed had gotten into a minor accident on the way.

I stopped in my tracks as Ryan stepped out of the wedding car.

When he saw me in my wedding dress, his eyes lit up with genuine awe.

He walked over and, with real sincerity, said, "Wow, you look absolutely stunning in that wedding dress."

As soon as he finished, Ethan chimed in, sounding anxious, "Ryan, did you get that little accident on the way taken care of?"

Hearing Ethan's anxious question, Ryan smirked. "Come on, Ethan, stop pretending. My wife's already in on everything."

As he spoke, he loosened his tie, still rocking that same laid-back vibe as he turned to me. "I was dead tired last night. I've spent the whole night fooling around with Gracie, trying to make it up to her.

"You head to the hall first. I'm gonna crash upstairs for a bit and catch up on some sleep before I show up." With that, he leaned in to kiss me.

I turned my face away, dodging him.

Ryan's expression froze for a moment, but he quickly brushed it off with a laugh. "Still mad, huh? Fine, I'll make it up to you tonight. Our wedding night."

With that, he didn't spare me another glance. He turned and walked straight into the hotel.

My bestie watched Ryan walk away, her jaw clenched in anger. She grabbed my hand, leaned in close, and whispered in my ear, "Are you okay?"

I fought back the tears stinging my eyes, shook my head, and slipped into Ethan's car.

As soon as I got out of the car at the wedding venue, my bridesmaids and girlfriends came over to greet me.

My closest college friend walked up and hugged me. She leaned in and whispered in my ear, "I've printed out all the chat logs and slipped them into every wedding favor.

"For the guests who couldn't make it, I got their addresses and had everything shipped out to them." Her eyes were getting watery as she spoke, like she might break down any second.

I quickly patted her back. With a raspy voice, I said, "I'm fine."

Then my cousin walked over. "Melora, I managed to get your mom out of here. Your sister is keeping her company now. They're at a hotel right by the hospital. I promise, if anything happens here, we'll get her to the hospital right away.

"And I told your dad the truth. He was upset this morning and kept wanting to see you, but I managed to talk him out of it. He went to the bathroom and cried for a while, but when he came out, he said he was fine, and he'll support you no matter what you decide to do."

My heart clenched with that familiar sting. Tears started leaking from the corners of my eyes again. But my bestie was quick as ever, swiping them away with a tissue before they could fall.

Then another college friend came over. "The video for the reception is all set. The wedding planner already gave me a heads-up, and everything's coordinated.

"They weren't willing at first, but I told them I'd hold back the final payment if they didn't cooperate. In the end, they agreed to do exactly what we wanted."

I nodded, feeling grateful all over again.

Once I made sure everything was ready, I headed to the wedding hall.

By now, most of the guests had already arrived. Soft music drifted through the air.

The stage was decked out with champagne roses. They were my absolute favorite. Even the entrance arch had that dreamy forest vibe I loved.

If it weren't for Ryan's dramatic confession last night, I might actually be a happy bride right now, waiting for my big moment.

The whole venue was filled with pictures of Ryan and me. They were all laid out in order, following the story of our relationship from the very first day to now.