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.
I could only watch in stunned silence as they exchanged vows, slipped rings onto each other’s fingers, and shared a kiss. It was as if a block of ice had encased my entire body, leaving me paralyzed.
The bride had changed. Kathy had taken my place.
After the ceremony, reporters swarmed forward.
“Mr. Cameron, we all thought today’s bride would be your fiancée, Hailey. Why the sudden switch?” one asked boldly.
Bruce’s face darkened. “That woman is insatiable. This is her punishment—to make her understand her place.”
When his gaze finally landed on me, it was devoid of warmth. He looked at me like a stranger, as if the years we’d shared had been nothing but a fleeting dream.
“You’re late,” he said coldly. “But I’ll give you one more chance. If you can make Kathy happy, I’ll consider forgiving you and arranging a makeup wedding.”
I stared at him, speechless, my chest tightening. The man before me was unrecognizable. How had I ever thought I knew him?
Taking a step back, I turned, ready to leave. My retreat was clumsy; I bumped into someone behind me.
“I’m so sorry,” I mumbled, spinning around, only to find myself face-to-face with Kathy.
She was clutching an assortment of items, her expression feigning difficulty, though I caught a glimmer of triumph in her eyes.
My stomach churned painfully—perhaps from the morning’s emptiness, perhaps from something deeper. Whatever the reason, it no longer mattered. I didn’t belong here, not anymore.
As I pivoted to go, my heel caught on the carpet. Instinctively, I reached out for support, but my fingers found Kathy’s gown instead.
In an instant, we both went crashing to the ground.
