Chapter 4
At my request, our wedding was set to take place aboard a luxury cruise ship sailing the open ocean.
As I waited in the dressing room, wedding gown on, Nina couldn't sit still and sent me another message.
Nina sent: [Charlotte, what do you think? If I show up at the wedding, do you really think Mr. Shaw will still pick you?
[Just so you know, I'm already on the ship. Mr. Shaw spent last night in my room.
[He doesn't love you at all. What's the point of clinging to the title of Mrs. Shaw? Wouldn't it be better to just hand it over to me?]
Her words were downright arrogant, making her ambition and desire crystal clear.
I watched Simon not far away, busy tapping on his phone, sometimes frowning, sometimes flashing a sweet smile.
For the first time, I replied to Nina.
I sent: [As you wish.]
The moment I hit send, Simon walked in.
He watched me as I was having my makeup done, his eyes lit up with admiration.
"Charlotte, you're absolutely beautiful," he said.
Simon sat down next to me, occasionally rubbing his hands together, just like a nervous kid completely smitten with his crush.
I took out the gift box I had been preparing for ages from my bag and handed it to him.
He was about to open it, but I gently pressed his hand to stop him.
"It's your wedding present. Wait until after we're married to open it," I said.
Simon nodded, clearly anxious about the wedding ahead.
Just as the makeup artist was about to work on my brows, Simon interrupted her.
He took the eyebrow pencil from the makeup artist and moved behind me.
"Charlotte, let me do your brows," Simon said with a smile.
I nodded.
Suddenly, I remembered that story about Marcus Archer and his wife that we read when we first started dating.
It was about Marcus, who loved his wife so much that he'd always do her eyebrows for her.
After that, Simon got totally hooked on doing my brows, like he was proving how much he cared.
But he hadn't done it in two years.
I caught his eye in the mirror.
"Simon, do you remember the promise you made to me when we first started dating?" I asked.
My question made him freeze mid-stroke.
"I can't stand being lied to. If I ever find out you lied to me, I'll disappear for good; you'll never be able to find me," I said.
Simon's hand shook, and he accidentally drew my eyebrow a bit too far.
I looked at my smudged makeup and simply curved my lips in a calm, unfazed smile.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Charlotte, I'd never lie to you. I love you so much," Simon said.
I stayed silent and let the makeup artist step in, replacing Simon to finish my makeup.
As the wedding started, Simon nervously linked his arm with mine, but kept glancing over at the entrance every so often.
I caught his little gestures, and my heart just dropped.
Simon didn't even treasure this last day with me.
Simon indulged Nina, letting her replace our wedding slideshow with a video of them together in bed.
Simon, frantic and desperate, barked at someone to cut the feed.
"Charlotte, please, let me explain," Simon said.
He gripped my hand so tightly, like he was terrified I'd slip away.
Once the video was finally shut off, I turned to him calmly, a faint smile on my lips.
Seeing me smile, Simon looked nervous, his expression tightening with anxiety.
He swallowed hard.
It was like he could sense something precious was slipping away.
With everyone watching, I pulled my hand free from his grip, turned, and bolted out of the venue without a second thought.
When Simon was just a step away from me, I dove straight into the ocean.
Simon's eyes widened in shock as he saw me jump. He yelled and lunged after me, but his fingers barely brushed my dress before I was gone.
Smiling, I let the last tear fall as I plunged into the sea.
Simon.
This was goodbye. I would never see you again in this lifetime.