The next morning, an ear-piercing ring jolted me awake. Groggy and disoriented, I fumbled for my phone.
Before I could even form a coherent thought, Bruce’s voice exploded through the receiver, raw with fury.
“Hailey! What kind of game are you playing? The wedding is about to start, and you want me to lose face in front of our elders?”
Even now, all he cared about was his pride. For this hollow marriage, his company, Blue Ocean Group had invited a slew of prominent media outlets. But what did any of that have to do with me?
“I thought I made myself clear last night,” I replied calmly. “I want a divorce.”
“You think this tantrum of yours is amusing?” he shot back, his voice sharp and unrelenting. “Kathy already apologized yesterday! What more do you want? Don’t be ungrateful!”
“Women lining up to marry me could fill a city block. Don’t think for a second that I need you!” His tone turned cutting. “I’m giving you half an hour. Get over here now, apologize to the elders, and tell them you were stuck in traffic!”
Before I could respond, he hung up in a fit of rage.
I sat there clutching the phone, momentarily dazed. Memories of a different Bruce resurfaced—the boy who had once pulled me from the depths of despair. Back then, he had been warm and protective, standing between me and those who bullied me.
I could still see his bruised face, his smile unwavering as he said, “Hailey, don’t worry. I’ll always protect you.”
But those days were long gone. Somewhere along the way, Bruce had grown distant, cold, and oblivious to my feelings.
After much deliberation, I decided to go to the wedding. If nothing else, I owed the elders an explanation and needed to close this chapter of my life.
Dressing quickly, I reached for my wallet only to find three dollars inside. With no other choice, I began walking to the hotel.
Despite hurrying, I arrived five minutes later than the time Bruce had dictated. Panting, I stepped into the grand hotel lobby, only to freeze in my tracks.
There he stood on the red carpet, arm in arm with Kathy, who was resplendent in an extravagant wedding gown.
