I Changed The Wedding Into A Cancellation Mid-Ceremony Chapter 06

I Changed The Wedding Into A Cancellation Mid-Ceremony Chapter 06

The first clip was backstage security footage from before the ceremony.

Vanessa stood at a prep table, two champagne glasses in front of her. She filled them with red wine and added a heavy layer of creams Then she unscrewed a small bottle and poured in the last of the hot sauce.

A staffer next to her hesitated.

“Miss Blake, isn’t that a little much?”

“Too much? Please.”

“Elena’s parents look like they’ve never been outside their small town. Messing with them will be hilarious.”

“People like that never fight back. They’ll just roll over and take it.”

The room went dead silent.

My mom’s fist clenched in her lap. My dad lowered his head, and the color drained from his face.

The video kept playing.

Vanessa picked up the glasses and carried them over to Nathan.

“Nathan, I set up a little something for Mr. and Mrs. Ashford during the champagne toast.”

He didn’t stop her. He just frowned.

“Just don’t take it too far.”

Vanessa hooked her arm through his and leaned in, playful and sweet.

“I know, I know.”

“I just want to make it fun.”

Nathan was quiet for a beat.

“Don’t mess up the timeline.”

The room broke open in whispers.

“He knew?”

“He knew about it the whole time?”

“Her parents got humiliated like that, and he covered for his secretary and called it a prank?” Chapter 6

Nathan’s face was chalk white. He turned to me.

“Elena, it’s not what you think.”

I didn’t answer. The video wasn’t done.

The next clip was a string of text messages between Vanessa and Nathan.

[I moved Elena’s parents to the back. Having them at the head table ruins the whole look.]

[Just don’t make it obvious.]

Vanessa again.

[You should see her dad’s speech. He literally wrote out how to pronounce everything. I’m dying laughing.]

[I’ll just do the speech for them. Spare you the embarrassment.]

Nathan’s reply came a few minutes later.

[Do whatever you want.]

[Just make sure the optics are good.]

My dad’s hand trembled around the crumpled speech. The speech he’d spent two weeks writing slipped from

his fingers and drifted to the floor.

My mom reached for it. But the stiff uniform caught at her shoulders, and she fumbled, awkward and small.

I got there first. I picked it up and pressed it back into his hand.

“Dad.”

“It was a beautiful speech.”

My dad’s eyes filled with tears.

The last clip started. The footage was from the groom’s suite.

Vanessa stood in front of Nathan and straightened his tie. Her fingers lingered on his chest.

“Nathan, you’re really marrying Elena today.”

“After today, will things still be the same for us?”

Nathan took her hand.

“Don’t start.”

Vanessa’s eyes glistened.

“I’m not.”

“I just can’t stand it.”

“I’m the one who knows you best. You know that.”

Nathan didn’t say anything for a long time. Then he pulled her in.

“The wedding is just a wedding.”

“Elena makes sense on paper.”

“But you’re the one I can’t live without.”

Vanessa looked up at him.

“Then kiss me.”

“One last time before you’re married.”

Nathan leaned down and kissed her.

The screen went black.

The silence in the room was total.

Vanessa broke. She screamed and lunged for the remote.

“Turn it off!”

“Somebody turn it off!”

Nathan’s parents had just arrived. They walked into the venue and straight into the wreckage.

Mrs. Hayes crossed the room and struck Vanessa across the face.

“You shameless little homewrecker!”

Vanessa’s head snapped to the side. She pressed her hand to her cheek, sobbing.

Mrs. Hayes rounded on Nathan. Even her voice shook.

“Is this the circus you’ve turned your wedding into?”

“You’ve humiliated this entire family in front of everyone.”

Nathan didn’t answer.

He walked toward me, slow and unsteady, and for the first time, I saw real panic in his eyes. Chapter 6

“Elena.”

“I can explain.”

I looked at him. A faint smile crossed my face.

“Explain what?”

“That you knew about the gag glasses and your only concern was staying on schedule?”

“That you let Vanessa take my dad’s speech away from him?”

“Or that you held her in your arms before the ceremony and told her she was the one you couldn’t live

without?”

Nathan’s face went ashen.

“I just…”

He opened his mouth, and nothing came out.

I finished it for him.

“You thought my parents would just take it.”

“And you thought I’d let it slide.”

“She humiliated them, and you let her.”

I handed the microphone back to the officiant.

Then, in front of every guest in that room, I tore off my veil.

I yanked the ring off my finger and threw it on the carpet between us.

“Nathan.”

“This wedding is over.”

“Whoever you want to marry, whoever you want to protect, that’s your problem now.”

I helped my parents to their feet and walked out.

Behind me, Nathan’s voice cracked. “Elena Ashford!”

I didn’t look back.

Not this time. I was never letting my parents bow their heads for anyone again.