Chapter 3
The next day, James told me that Eliza was completely swamped getting ready for her grand wedding with Henry—the whole fuss and fanfare could rival what she pulled when marrying me back then.
I nodded, lost in thought. Even with her schedule packed to the brim, Eliza still made sure someone brought me meals every day.
It must be difficult for her to spread her love around.
*****
On the day of the wedding, James took me along to the venue.
The ceremony hadn't started yet. We grabbed seats in the farthest corner, and I spotted Eliza and Henry not far away, looking all cozy arm in arm. Groomsmen gathered in a circle around them.
"Man, I still remember that huge wedding Eliza had with Noah. Never thought Henry could land himself the same pretty bride too," one of the groomsmen said.
When my name came up, Henry squeezed Eliza's hand a little tighter.
Eliza clarified, "Noah and I are divorced. Today's all about Henry and me, so let's leave the past behind."
The groomsmen whistled when she cut ties so easily.
"Henry's young, good-looking, and talented. Noah just couldn't compare to him," one said.
"Eliza, you've got the rest of your life with Henry now. Don't let him down," another teased.
Eliza gave a sweet smile—just like back when she used to make those heartfelt promises to me.
Eliza said, "Relax, I won't let Henry down. And he won't let me down, either."
I looked away.
James gritted his teeth in frustration. "These people are seriously twisted. The cheating pair actually gets to walk down the aisle, and everyone's acting like that's totally normal?"
Just then, someone shouted, "Hey, how about a kiss, Henry and Eliza?"
The groomsmen started getting rowdy, chanting, "Kiss! Kiss!"
Henry gazed intensely at Eliza, his eyes overflowing with affection—just the right amount to melt anyone's heart.
Amid all the chanting and teasing, Eliza reached out and lightly caressed his jaw, then rose up on her tiptoes and pressed a gentle kiss right next to his lips.
Everyone erupted in wild cheers.
But even with all that noise and celebration, I just felt completely alone.
I couldn't keep her heart, and now I couldn't even keep her body.
I curled my lips in a self-mocking smile. Thank god I'd managed to forget enough that the pain didn't sting as much anymore.
Just then, my phone buzzed with a reminder for my flight.
"James, I got to go," I said.
James pulled me into a tight hug, his eyes red. "Go on. Shake off all this mess and let yourself shine. I'll be cheering you on when you make it big.
"As for here, I'll help you give the newlyweds something they won't ever forget."
"Bye," I said, patting his shoulder with a smile. I didn't really care what James was talking about giving the newlyweds.
Only half an hour left—then every memory of loving Eliza would finally vanish from my mind.
I wheeled my suitcase out. Just as I was leaving, Eliza, standing hand in hand with Henry, glanced over in my direction. For a split second, she was startled.
But then she thought about it and deemed it impossible for me to show up here.
If I were at the wedding, it'd be as her brother. I wouldn't not tell her, nor would I have a suitcase with me.
She decided she must have mistaken someone else for me.
The lights in the venue dimmed, and Eliza and Henry stood center stage. After slipping the rings on each other's fingers, their gazes met, as if the whole world had melted away.
The crowd went wild, everyone hollering and chanting for the newlyweds to kiss.
Suddenly, a banner unfurled from above.
James stood right beneath it, flashing a sly grin as he clutched a megaphone.
"Congrats to the homewrecker Henry Connor and the shameless Eliza Norton! May your twisted love last forever, and may you never have children—but if you do, may they be the naughtiest troublemakers there ever was," James said through the megaphone.
Henry's face went pale, and he looked at Eliza, completely lost.
Eliza recognized James right away and looked pissed. "Are you kidding me? I'm divorced from Noah, and Henry's not some homewrecker."
James scoffed, "Classic double standards. You can't get over your ex, but you're throwing yourself a whole wedding with another guy? You even told Noah you'd remarry him. Do you even realize how much hell you've put him through these past three days?"
Eliza shot him a frosty glare. "That's none of your concern. I gave Noah the Forgetting Pill. He won't remember any of this."
"You moron," James snapped. "That pill doesn't make one forget instantly. It takes three days for it to wipe out everything about the person one loves. Noah has seen every single thing you did these past three days."
James cocked his chin, fixing Eliza a look full of disdain.
"Bet you never realized who actually created that pill, huh? It's Noah—your ex," he taunted.
"Let me tell you something else: there's no antidote for that pill. Noah has erased you from his life, for good. No chance of a reunion ever. So go on and settle down with your new lover. Make the most of it," he added.