I Was the Bride They Voted Out Chapter 09

I Was the Bride They Voted Out Chapter 09

That afternoon, Ryan showed up outside Olivia Brooks’ office.

Someone caught it on video.

Olivia rushed out wearing a mask, but Ryan stopped her before she could get away.

“Who started the voting group?”

Olivia broke down screaming. “Your sister started it!”

“But you were in it too!”

“You said Claire had waited ten years and you didn’t want to hurt her anymore.”

“You also said Nina didn’t have a family-she’d come back to you in the end.”

Ryan’s whole body locked up.

The comments flew by.

[So he knew everything.]

[He wasn’t manipulated. He agreed to it.]

[The sickest part is he still wanted Nina to marry him.]

I stared at the screen, my fingertips ice-cold.

The truth was never complicated.

I just took fifteen years to admit he wasn’t being pushed along.

He’d known every step of the way.

That evening, Mason brought Ryan’s signed documents.

“He’s withdrawn the anonymous complaint against the Ashford project. He’s also willing to publicly clarify that you two were never broken up.”

I smiled. “Does that even matter now?”

Mason said nothing.

Of course it didn’t.

My birthday had already passed.

My career had already taken the hit.

My things had already been thrown away.

My body had already been shattered by a car.

Not every apology turns back time.

That night, footsteps came again outside the ward.

This time, Ryan didn’t try to force his way in.

He stood at the door, voice barely a whisper.

“Nina. I know you don’t want to see me.”

“I just came to bring your stuff back.”

A nurse carried a paper bag into the room.

Inside was the gray scarf, freshly cleaned, and the old ring.

The ring had been polished to a shine.

Like he was trying to buff everything back to the way it was.

I looked at it.

Suddenly, I remembered that afternoon on the college lawn.

His hands had trembled even more than mine when he’d slipped the ring onto my finger.

Back then, his eyes were only for me.

So when had everything changed?

Or maybe…

He hadn’t changed at all.

Maybe I just finally saw that even devotion can be split into portions.

I pushed the bag toward Mason.

“Return it.”

“And tell him-this isn’t what Ryan Sullivan owes me.”

Silence settled outside the door.

Then a sound-a stifled sob, barely held back.

But I didn’t turn around.

At midnight, Director Harrison’s message arrived.

“The Ashford project has been officially reinstated. Departure in three days.”

I stared at the screen for a long time.

Outside the window, the moon was pale.

For the first time, Ashford felt like a door.

The day the project began, a light rain fell over Ashford.

Emily pushed me in a wheelchair to the station.

The doctors hadn’t recommended I travel.

But I knew I had to go.

Director Harrison saw me off personally.

He handed me a new appointment letter.

“Acting Head of Ashford Project.”

“Once you’re fully recovered, it’ll be permanent.”

I took it. The paper was light, but it felt solid in my palm.

Emily’s eyes went wet.

“Ms. Bennett, text me when you get there.”

I nodded.

Then the boarding announcement echoed through the station.

Behind me, smeone called my name.

“Nina!”

I didn’t turn around.

My wheelchair stopped just before the gate.

Ryan came running.

His coat was half-buttoned, clutching the old metal box tightly against his chest.

Security stopped him before he reached me.

He was gasping, eyes bloodshot.

“I just want to give her this.”

Emily stepped in front of me.

“Mr. Sullivan, she doesn’t want to see you.”

Ryan stared at me, his voice cracking.

“Nina. I was wrong.”

“I’ve ended things with Claire.”

“I cut off those people.”

“The house-I’ll put it in your name only.”

“If you hate it here, we’ll move somewhere else.”