I Changed My Wedding Plan

Synopsis

On my wedding day, the groom ran away. I was halfway through my makeup, and the emcee was shouting through the schedule outside. I was still struggling with whether my false lashes were sitting evenly when my fiancé, Simon Ferguson, called me. He said bluntly, "Jenna, call off the wedding. I'm not coming. I saw her last night, and I realized I still can't let her go." I clutched my phone, my head buzzing. Great. The classic first love story. That first love, the one who always makes an untimely comeback in every cheesy drama, had finally shown up. The wedding event staff was shouting outside, "Bride to get ready. You're walking down the aisle in ten minutes." My dad was at the end of the hallway, confirming the banquet start time with the hotel manager. My mom was rushing the photographer to get the first camera position ready. My best friend, Eloise Dixon, was crouching on the floor fixing the train of my wedding dress, muttering curses about how insanely heavy the skirt was. Yet there I was, clutching my phone and listening to him. He had dated me for three years, been engaged to me for one, and even gone over the wedding rundown with me just yesterday. He spoke to me on the line. "Jenna, I'm sorry. But you're never the one I wanted to marry." Tears were already pricking at my eyes. I meant it. My nose was stinging, my eyes burning, and it felt like someone had slammed a fist straight into my chest. But the next second, my gaze flicked to the wedding budget sheet on the table. The venue fee was 30 thousand dollars. The wedding services were 16 thousand dollars. Twenty banquet tables, plus flowers, lighting, photography, dessert station, wedding favors, drinks, emcee fees, and all other expenses, added up to about 100 thousand dollars. I stared at that number, and my tears were forced right back down. I fell silent for three seconds, took a deep breath, and said calmly, "Fine. You don't have to show up. But you'd better pray I don't go too off-script today."