He Left Me at the Altar for His First Love, I Ruined Him Chapter 01

He Left Me at the Altar for His First Love, I Ruined Him Chapter 01

The day before we were supposed to go to City Hall, Elias Sterling took his car to the shop.

The mechanic popped the dashcam’s memory card out and tossed it to me.

“Here you go. Memory card. Might have some cute stuff on it.”

My cheeks warmed. I almost shoved it into my bag without looking.

But my best friend snatched it first, already grinning, and slid it into her laptop.

“Oh, we’re absolutely watching to see all the sweet things he does when you’re not looking.”

The screen flickered on.

On the footage, Elias set a cup of hot cocoa on the passenger seat. The timestamp showed it was late. His voice sounded rough, like he’d been up too long. He was on a Bluetooth call.

“Yeah, Stella’s been working past midnight again. Her stomach can’t handle it. I need something warm ready when I pick her up.”

I froze.

Stella Croft. His high school classmate.

The woman getting married tomorrow.

My best friend rushed to close the video, but hit the next clip instead.

June 8th clip. “Yeah… Stella told me she’s getting married. I sat outside her building until late. She never came down.”

June 10th clip. “Clara asked if I’d marry her.”

“I said yes.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway. Stella is never going to be the one who calls. Might as well give the passenger seat to whoever’s willing to get in.”

The last clip. Last night.

Elias sat in the dark, a cigarette burning between his fingers.

“Tomorrow, I’m marrying Clara.”

A voice over the speakerphone chuckled. “She’s probably thrilled.”

“She’s been in love with me for years. Might as well give her what she wants. Call it my good deed for the decade.”

My best friend slammed her laptop shut and swore under her breath.

I picked up my phone and texted the bridal shop owner.

[I’ll do the bride’s makeup myself for tomorrow’s wedding.]

***

When I got back to the apartment, Elias came in a few minutes later, already frowning.

“You’re doing Stella’s makeup tomorrow?”

I set my phone facedown and picked up my water glass.

“Yes.”

He walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat.

“Did your manager book you?”

“I volunteered.”

Elias nodded, and some of the tension left his shoulders.

“Good.”

He loosened his tie.

“Stella has sensitive skin. Use the hypoallergenic kit.”

“Okay.”

“She’s been running herself ragged with wedding prep. She’ll probably have dark circles.”

He reached for my glass and took a sip.

“That concealer you use works great. Bring that too.”

“I know.”

Elias pulled a gift box from his bag.

“Got you something.”

“I was going to save it for tomorrow, but here.”

I opened the lid.

A necklace. The pendant was a tiny star set with diamond chips.

“Saw it at the mall and thought of you,” Elias tipped his chair back. “It’s your style.”

Across the coffee table, a shopping bag sat half-open. Another jewelry box was tucked inside.

I knew that brand.

Stella had posted about those pearl earrings yesterday, and how much she loved them.

Twelve thousand dollars.

“And that one? Also for me?”

Elias followed my gaze. His jaw tightened.

“Stella’s wedding is tomorrow. It’s just a gift for a friend.”

I closed the box and said nothing.

Elias glanced at his phone.

“Actually, I might not make it to City Hall tomorrow morning.”

He said it like he was choosing where to order dinner.

I looked up at him.

“There’s a problem with Stella’s wedding transportation.”

He was already typing.

“The driver for the bridal car bailed. Family emergency.”

“So what?”

“I’ll drive the bridal car,” Elias set his phone down. “It’s only a couple of hours.”

“Tomorrow is supposed to be our wedding day.”

“I know,” Elias frowned. “We’ll just go in the afternoon. It’s not like City Hall’s going anywhere.”

“Elias, you don’t even know what time they stop taking walk-ins.”

He blinked. Then irritation twisted his face.

“Can’t you just look it up yourself?”

“Right.”

I smiled.

“You remember Stella’s stomach issues. You remember her bridal cars need a driver.”

“But when it’s about me, it’s always too small to matter.”

Something shifted behind Elias’s eyes.

“She only gets married once.”

“Clara, don’t turn this into a whole thing.”

I held his gaze for a long second. Then I stood and carried my glass to the kitchen.

He followed me.

“Are you mad?”

“No.”

I rinsed the glass.

He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

“See? I knew you’d understand.”

“Stella’s had it rough. Her fiancé’s family has been hard on her, and she’s been handling it all alone.”

“We go way back. If I can help, I should.”

“Yes.”

“After City Hall tomorrow, I’ll take you to that sushi place you love.”

He kissed the side of my face.

“I’ll make it up to you.”

I didn’t say anything.

I just watched the dirty water spiral down the drain.

The phone in the living room vibrated.

Elias dropped his arms and crossed the room before the second buzz.

“Hello?”

I stood in the kitchen and heard his voice drop.

“Hey, hey. Don’t cry. Talk to me.”

“Okay. I’m on my way.”

He grabbed his keys.

“Clara, something came up with Stella. I have to go.”

“It’s late.”

I stood in the kitchen doorway and looked at him.

“Something went wrong with the ceremony setup. She can’t handle it on her own.”

The front door slammed shut.

The apartment went quiet.

I opened my laptop and logged into the financial system for Elias’s company.

He always assumed I didn’t know the first thing about business.

But he’d forgotten one thing. His company’s first client came through my mother.

He thought I was just a partner at the bridal studio.

He didn’t know the studio was my side hustle.