“Miss Rory.” Kathy’s voice trembled as she spoke, her expression tinged with grievance. “If you’re angry, you can take it out on me in private, but could you not cause a scene at Bruce’s wedding?”
Hearing her words, Bruce arrived quickly. Without hesitation, he began scolding me.
“Hailey, are you addicted to putting on a show? Can’t you see how many things Kathy is carrying?”
Then, as if I had vanished entirely, he turned to Kathy and softened his tone. “Are you okay? What’s wrong with those people? Why did they let you carry so much?”
Kathy lowered her head, her voice as delicate as silk.
“I’m fine. I just saw Miss Rory arrive and wanted to bring these things over for her. I know she doesn’t like me, so I wanted to explain everything and clear up any misunderstandings. I don’t want her to hate me.”
The pain in my stomach twisted sharper, and the fall just now—compounded by Kathy’s deliberate shove—had left my body aching. But what pained me more was watching their seamless performance, their unity on display for everyone to see.
I couldn’t endure it any longer.
“Bruce,” I said, my voice cold and cutting. “With so many reporters here, you just can’t wait to make your relationship with Kathy public, can you?”
For the first time that day, his expression faltered. But only for a moment.
“Hailey, don’t force your filthy thoughts onto others,” he snapped. “You showed up late and didn’t take this wedding seriously. So what if I changed the bride? Kathy is better than you in every way. Why should she have to put up with your attitude?”
With that, he took Kathy’s hand firmly in his own. Their engagement rings gleamed under the sunlight, the diamonds like tiny daggers to my heart.
I let out a short laugh. Well, this was perfect. Tomorrow’s headlines would undoubtedly read, “Blue Ocean Group President Swaps Brides at the Altar.” I didn’t even need to spread the word myself.
Steadying myself, I turned to the cluster of reporters and forced a polite smile.
“I apologize for the commotion,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm within.
After all the cold ridicule I had endured from Bruce, what was one more humiliation? He always believed that without him, I wouldn’t survive in the design world. But he was about to learn just how wrong he was.
Just then, Bruce’s father stormed in, his expression thunderous. He struck the ground hard with his cane.
“Hailey, go change into your dress and finish the ceremony!” he commanded. “And Kathy, go back and change out of that wedding gown immediately!”
The room fell silent as everyone scrambled to obey. By the time we were ready, Bruce sauntered in, completely unbothered by the earlier spectacle.
People stared, but he seemed oblivious to their judgment.
“What are you all looking at? Start the ceremony already,” he said impatiently.
It wasn’t until then that I noticed he hadn’t even prepared a wedding ring.
The officiant hesitated but pressed forward.
“Bruce Cameron, do you take Hailey Rory to be your lawful wife, to cherish and protect, through sickness and health, for as long as you both shall live?”
I caught the flicker of disgust in Bruce’s eyes. But he still forced the words out, flat and lifeless.
“I do.”
