I Married a Man Who Loved Another

Synopsis

At exactly three o'clock, the wedding began. Claire walked down the long aisle, her arm linked with Andrew's. His hand trembled slightly. She couldn't tell if it was from illness or from the pain in his heart. James stood at the end of the aisle, dressed in a black suit, standing tall and steady. There was no joy on his face, no reluctance either, but a faint, distant courtesy. It felt like he was simply attending the wedding of an ordinary friend. The officiant recited the vows. James gave his consent, and Claire followed suit. As the ring slipped onto her finger, she lifted her gaze and met his eyes. His eyes were striking, deep, distant, and unfathomable. Yet in them, she saw not herself, but the woman he truly loved. After the rings were exchanged, the host invited the groom to give a speech. James took the mic, stood silent for a moment, then said, "Thank you so much for being here today at Claire's and my—" His phone suddenly rang, cutting him off. The whole room went quiet. James glanced at his phone, and his face changed in an instant. That distant politeness was gone, replaced by something Claire had never seen before. She couldn't quite put her finger on whether it was surprise or panic. He picked up the call and said, "Yeah?" Then he hung up, murmured something to the host, and left the stage without so much as a glance at Claire. He cut through the crowd and disappeared straight out the door.