The Seventh Time I Stopped Waiting Chapter 06

The Seventh Time I Stopped Waiting Chapter 06

The wedding ceremony was grand. The finest feast Briarvale had to offer.

Yet the commotion with Jude on the mountain road had sparked endless gossip, which buzzed relentlessly in my ears. “Linden, you lucky bastard. You’ve taken the director’s former lover!”

“Still, that city boy has good taste. She’s a pretty one.”

“No one can help but question a woman like her. Who knows what happened between her and the director?”

I clenched my fists, gripping my patchwork wedding gown.

A warm strength suddenly came from beside my hand.

Linden had stood upright at my side, but he took a firm step forward in an instant.

Before anyone could react, he flipped the wedding table over.

Crack. Plates and cups shattered on the ground.

“From today on, anyone who talks trash about my wife is going against me!”

The noisy hall went dead silent.

I looked up at his broad, solid back. A mix of sorrow and warmth welled up in my heart, a sense of peace I had never known.

When I was with Jude, I’d heard rumors plenty of times. They said I slept with the filmmaker just to leave the mountains.

Jude knew all of it. He just told me he knew I wasn’t like that. Told me not to care what people said.

But now I understood. Some men will shield you from the gossip without you even asking.

I noticed Jude standing beneath the old oak tree. I didn’t know when he’d arrived.

Our eyes met. He was covered in mud. For a moment, I saw myself in him. All those trips up and down the mountain, just as broken.

He wanted to come closer. But he was too filthy. Too stiff. He just stood there watching Linden defend me.

I turned away. Linden and I exchanged vows in front of the Mountain Spirit.

Guests lingered until midnight. Jude didn’t leave until they’d all gone.

I sat on the edge of the bed and peeled off the heavy gown. My shoulders felt lighter.

But my ankle had been throbbing all day. Burning pain spread through my whole body.

Even touching my pant leg hurt. I winced.

Linden brought a bowl of warm herbal medicine. He crouched down and gently pulled off my shoe and sock.

The festering black skin came into view. I could hardly bring myself to look.

His fingers were light. Careful around the wound.

When he applied the herbs, cool relief washed over the burn.

“Don’t push yourself like that ever again.”

His voice was full of tenderness.

Then the wooden door creaked open.

Night wind rushed in, cold and sharp.

Jude stood in the doorway. His hair was a mess from the wind. His eyes were bloodshot.

“I need to talk to Yuna.” His voice was raspy.

Linden stood firmly in front of him. “It’s late. She’s resting. Come back tomorrow.”

“I can’t wait until tomorrow.”

Jude stepped forward. His gaze cut past Linden and landed on me.

“Just one sentence.”

I sat on the bed and looked at him. Calm.

“No need. We have nothing to say to each other.”

Jude’s throat bobbed. Those last words never came.

I watched his fingers grip the doorframe. White-knuckled.

“I’m married now. There’s nothing between us anymore.”