Chapter 1

If anyone were to ask me what the most unforgettable day of my life was.

I wouldn’t say college graduation. I wouldn’t say the first time I was nominated for a major architectural design award.

I would answer—my wedding day.

Because on that day, I finally realized that in Ryan Foster’s heart, I was never the first choice.

"Is the bride ready?"

The wedding planner gently pushed open the dressing room door, reminding me with a smile.

"Five more minutes."

I nodded, letting go of the hem of my wedding gown.

The woman in the mirror had exquisite makeup, the white gown making her complexion look even brighter. I had spent half a year preparing for today.

To be precise, ten years.

Ten years ago, I was twenty-four, a fresh graduate from architecture school, working as the most ordinary junior designer at an firm.

Ryan was still an intern in medical school back then.

We had rented the cheapest apartment together, shared one-dollar pizza slices, and dreamed about our future house.

He had said, "When I start working full-time, we’ll buy a house with a yard."

I replied with a laugh, "We don't need to buy one. I’ll design it myself."

Later, I actually became an architect.

And he became one of the youngest pediatricians in New York.

We had finally made it to our wedding day.

My phone buzzed.

It was a text from Ryan.

【Five minutes left. I’m a little nervous.】

I couldn't help but smile.

【Too late to regret it now.】

He replied quickly.

【Claire, I’m going to make you the happiest bride in the world.】

I stared at the words for two seconds before putting my phone back in my bag.

If anyone had told the me of ten minutes ago that this sentence would become the biggest irony of today, I would never have believed them.

The church was already filled with guests.

Holding my father’s arm, I stood at the entrance of the chapel.

The wedding march began to play softly.

The doors opened.

Every eye fell on me.

I saw Ryan standing beside the priest.

He wore a dark gray tuxedo with a white rose I had personally chosen pinned to his lapel.

Our eyes met across the length of the red carpet.

He smiled at me.

He was still the man I had loved for ten years.

I even began to look forward to the moment the priest would say—

"Do you take..."

The next second.

The phone in Ryan's pocket rang.

It wasn't loud.

But the entire church heard it.

He looked down at the caller ID.

His smile slowly faded.

I was too far away to see the name on the screen.

I only saw him answer it without a second thought.

"Emma?"

My heart sank.

Ryan listened for a few seconds, his expression turning increasingly grim.

"How high is the fever?"

"What did the doctor say?"

"Don't cry. I’m coming right now."

As those last words fell, whispers erupted throughout the church.

Ryan was already walking down the altar.

The priest stopped him.

"Ryan? The ceremony is about to begin."

Ryan walked quickly to me.

His breathing was slightly shallow, his voice kept very low.

"Claire."

"Lucas has a fever of 104 degrees. Emma can't handle him alone."

"I have to go there."

I looked at him.

I didn't say a word.

Ryan continued to explain.

"I’m just going to the hospital."

"Two hours at most."

"When I get back, we’ll resume the wedding."

He said it so naturally.

So naturally, as if he were notifying me that the wedding could be postponed for the length of a movie.

I asked quietly.

"Ryan."

"Who is getting married today?"

He froze for a moment.

"Claire, I know today is important."

"But Lucas is only six."

"He keeps crying for me."

I didn't press further.

Because I knew exactly what he would say next.

Sure enough.

Ryan gently took my hand.

"You’ve always been understanding."

"You’ll understand, right?"

Understanding.

I had heard this word for ten years.

Ryan had night shifts; I understood.

Ryan canceled dates; I understood.

Ryan helped Emma move; I understood.

Ryan attended Father’s Day events at Lucas's school; I understood that, too.

Every single time, I told myself there would be a next time.

But today was our wedding.

I didn't answer.

Ryan took my silence as consent.

He gave me a brief hug.

"Wait for me."

Then, he turned and left.

Without looking back.

I stood in the middle of the red carpet, watching the church doors slowly close.

Until his silhouette completely vanished.

The church was silent for a few seconds.

Then, the murmurs grew louder.

The wedding planner rushed to my side.

"Claire, do we need to announce a postponement?"

My father squeezed my hand.

"Ryan should be back soon."

My mother also whispered to comfort me.

"A child being sick is indeed an emergency."

I slowly nodded.

"I know."

Of course I knew.

Lucas was just a child.

But a question suddenly crossed my mind.

If it were me lying in the hospital today.

Would Ryan also say:

"The wedding can wait."

"Claire can wait."

"She’ll understand anyway."

My phone buzzed again.

This time, it wasn't Ryan.

It was Emma.

She sent a photo.

In the hospital room, Lucas lay on the bed, his little face flushed red with fever.

Ryan sat by the bedside, one hand holding the child’s small hand, the other gently feeling his forehead.

He was still wearing his wedding tuxedo.

The white rose on his chest hadn't been taken off.

There was only one line below the photo:

【Thank you for lending Ryan to us. Lucas stopped crying the moment he saw him.】

My fingertips tightened bit by bit.

"Lending."

I stared at the word repeatedly.

Since when had Ryan become someone she could "lend"?

Scenes flashed through my mind.

Lucas’s first day of school.

Ryan went with him.

The Father’s Day sports meet.

Ryan participated on his behalf.

Last Christmas.

Ryan had dinner with them.

While I sat alone in a pre-booked restaurant, watching the candles burn down to nothing.

At the time, Ryan had told me:

"It’s Lucas’s first Christmas without his dad."

I accepted it.

Because I believed a child deserved to be cared for.

Today, I suddenly realized.

The time Ryan spent taking care of Lucas had far exceeded the time he spent taking care of me.

The wedding planner gently touched my arm.

"Claire, do we need to notify the guests to reschedule?"

Before I could speak, my phone rang again.

Ryan had sent a text.

【Lucas is stable now. The doctor says more tests are needed. Let's move the wedding to 3:00 PM, okay? Everyone should understand.】

I stared at the last sentence.

Everyone should understand.

Everyone would understand.

Except the person standing here today in a wedding dress.

I slowly raised my head and looked at the more than two hundred guests in the church.

They were all waiting for my decision.

I took a deep breath and said softly to the wedding planner:

"Please tell everyone."

"Today’s wedding..."

Before I could finish, sudden, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the chapel.

Everyone instinctively looked toward the doors.

I turned around, too.

The doors were pushed open.

I thought Ryan had returned.

But the person standing at the entrance froze me completely in my tracks.