Chapter 1
I was over the moon, waiting to become Nathan Smith's bride.
But on our wedding day, Olivia, his widowed sister-in-law, suddenly had morning sickness.
He left me mid-ring exchange, scooped Olivia into his arms, and rushed her to the hospital.
It was ages before Nathan finally texted me.
It read: [Lila, Olivia's pregnant. We'll raise her baby together. To avoid any hardship for the kid, you shouldn't have children—just focus on raising hers.]
I laughed, walking straight to Ethan Taylor, my childhood sweetheart.
"Still want to marry me?" I asked.
Ethan cracked up. "Absolutely! My dearest, I've been waiting ages for this."
*****
I stood in front of the mirror, staring at myself in the white wedding dress. Before I realized it, a smile tugged at my lips.
Today was the day I'd been dreaming of—my wedding to Nathan. After three years together, we were finally making it official.
The makeup artist was adding the final touches, admiring me as the most beautiful bride she'd ever seen.
"Ms. Brown, Mr. Smith is one lucky guy to have you," she said with a smile.
I ducked my head shyly, but my heart felt like it was floating on air.
The wedding venue was straight out of a fairytale, with white roses and baby's breath creating a sea of flowers.
Guests started showing up, all with smiles full of well-wishes.
My parents were at the entrance greeting everyone, their faces glowing with pride and joy.
Spotting me, my mom walked over and gave me a gentle hug. "Honey, you look absolutely stunning today."
My dad was trying to hold back tears, mumbling about how he wasn't ready to "give away his little girl."
I smiled and reassured him I'd come visit them all the time.
The wedding was about to start. I stood at the end of the aisle, waiting to walk down.
As the music swelled, I took my dad's arm, slowly making my way toward Nathan, who was standing at the other end.
He had on a black suit—tall, handsome, and staring right at me with that intense look in his eyes.
My pulse raced, my palms damp with nerves and excitement.
Just as my dad was about to place my hand in Nathan's, a sharp cry shattered the moment.
"Urk—" Olivia suddenly rushed out, covering her mouth.
Nathan's expression shifted instantly. He dropped my hand and turned to chase after her.
"Nathan?" I grabbed his sleeve, feeling lost.
"Lila, wait a minute. Olivia's not feeling well," he said, pulling his arm out of my grip without even looking back.
I froze, watching as Nathan bolted out of the venue.
Whispers erupted among the guests.
"What's going on? Why did the groom run off?" someone murmured.
My face burned with embarrassment—I wanted the floor to swallow me whole.
My bridesmaids crowded around to comfort me, saying it was probably just an emergency.
I waited ten minutes, then twenty, but Nathan never returned.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed—it was a message from Nathan: [Olivia's really sick. Taking her to the hospital to get checked.]
My smile froze, and tears welled up in my eyes.
"Lila..." My mom pulled me into a tight hug, her voice full of worry.
"It's okay," I said, forcing a smile. "It might be serious."
Another half hour dragged by before Nathan finally called.
"Lila, I'm sorry," he said, "but we might have to cancel the wedding today."
"Why? What's wrong with Olivia?" I asked, my voice trembling.
"She's... pregnant," Nathan said, his voice carrying a weird excitement.
It hit me like a freight train, and I almost dropped my phone.
"So?" I choked out, barely holding it together.
"I have to look after her. It's just too much for her to handle alone," Nathan replied, like it was just common sense.
"What about me?" My voice was shaky, tears threatening to spill.
"Olivia needs me more right now," Nathan said, and without another word, he hung up.
I stood frozen, the world spinning and tilting beneath my feet.
The guests glanced around at each other, no one sure what to do.
Just then, Ethan walked toward me.
"Lila," he called, looking at me gently.
"Ethan..." I sobbed, breaking down completely as tears spilled down my cheeks.
He softly brushed away my tears, then turned to the guests.
"Hey everyone, looks like the groom had to bail last minute. Maybe I should step in and finish this wedding?" Ethan joked, smiling.
The crowd erupted with warm laughter and applause.
"Lila, would you like to be my bride?" Ethan asked, dropping to one knee with a mock-serious look.
I couldn't help but laugh through my tears and nodded.
Ethan took my hand and led me toward the pastor.
"I do," he declared loudly, then turned to look at me.
"I do," I whispered in response.
The guests erupted in cheers, and the whole place turned lively again.
Though not legally binding, this "replacement wedding" dissolved the earlier awkwardness.
After the wedding, Ethan drove me home.
"Thank you," I said sincerely.
"Always at your service, my bride," he replied, giving me a playful wink.
When I got home, I received a long message from Nathan.
It began: [Olivia's pregnant, and the baby is mine.]
My breath stalled, and my fingers shook as I scrolled down to read more.
[Lila, Olivia's pregnant. We'll raise her baby together. To avoid any hardship for the kid, you shouldn't have children—just focus on raising hers.]
I stared at my screen, totally stunned by what I was seeing.
This was the man I'd waited three years for? This was the happiness I'd been expecting?
A cold, sarcastic laugh slipped out of me.
Without another thought, I called Ethan.
"Ethan, wanna be my real groom?" I asked.
His hearty laughter boomed through the phone. "Absolutely! My dearest, I've been waiting for this forever."