future marriage.
The next morning, for the first time since coming home, I couldn’t sleep in as planned. Mom practically dragged me out of bed. “Come on, no more sleep. You have your makeup trial today we can’t delay it any longer.”
“Mom, I’m so tired…”
Being home had made me too relaxed, and the autumn weather inade me constantly drowsy.
Mom pulled out her trump card. “Don’t you want to look beautiful at your wedding? Mrs. Henderson went to great lengths to
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book this makeup artist she usually doesn’t even have openings.”
“Well, yes, I do want that…” I became more alert and went to get ready.
The makeup trial was far more complex than I’d imagined.
For the wedding day, including my wedding dress, Mom and Mrs. Henderson had chosen six different outfits.
That meant six different looks to try.
No wonder Mom insisted on getting me up – we needed the whole day.
Mrs. Henderson called Mom away midway through.
Apparently there was an issue with the wedding favors that needed their attention.
It was dusk by the time I finished.
I pulled my coat tighter, heading to my car when a familiar voice came from behind. “Hannah.”
Too familiar.
But surprisingly, I felt nothing.
If anything, I’m just irritated by his voice.
I turned to face him. Though it had been less than ten days, it felt like another lifetime. “Nathan, this is getting ridiculous.”
I had my own life to live.
Just because I once loved him didn’t mean I had to revolve around him forever. G
When he didn’t want me, he’d dismissed me openly while spending time with someone else.
Now that I was leaving, he expected me to come running back at his call.
I don’t know if others could live that way.
But I couldn’t.
Nathan stared at me intensely, as if afraid I’d disappear if he blinked.
He cleared his throat. “There’s a coffee shop nearby. Let me buy you a coffee?”
“Fine.” I just wanted to get this over with.
After ordering, he looked at me in disbelief. “I heard you’re getting married?”
“Yes.”
I answered straightforwardly. “I am getting married. So Nathan, whether there’s a misunderstanding between us, or whatever’s
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going on with you and Nina–none of it matters anymore.”
He stared at me in shock, his eyes slowly reddening
“Is this just about getting married? I’ll marry you. We can get married right now, okay?”
I remained unmoved.
He grew more desperate. “How can you say none of it matters? Hannah, we were together for six years. Six whole years! How can
you throw away all those years so easily?”
I suddenly laughed.
This question had haunted me repeatedly over the past two months.
Each time I’d wanted to ask him the same thing.
Nathan, how could you treat six years of love so carelessly?
But now, I didn’t even want to ask.
His answer meant nothing to me anymore.
Nathan looked confused. “What’s funny?”
“I’m laughing at your hypocrisy.”
The waiter brought our coffee. I took a sip before speaking quietly: “Nathan, we’re adults. Whatever’s between you and Nina, you
know better than anyone that you were unfaithful.
“You were the first to stray from this relationship. You were the first to disrespect our six years.
“What right do you have to question me now?”
I glanced at people passing outside the window, then back at Nathan’s pale face. “And have you forgotten why you pursued me in the first place?
“Nathan, even what I thought was your devotion was just because I reminded you of someone else.”
As I said this, panic flashed across Nathan’s face.
He suddenly reached for me, like a drowning man grasping at straws. “Hannah, no! I… I admit, maybe at first, but after we got together, it wasn’t like that! Hannah, who told you this? I’ll kill whoever said it!”
I moved away f
from his reach, desperately wanting to end this relationship completely. My voice grew colder.
“Nathan, let me show you something.”
I temporarily unblocked him and forwarded all the chat screenshots Nina had sent me that night.