He Gave His Secretary Two Hours Every Day Until Our Wedding. So I Left Chapter 01

He Gave His Secretary Two Hours Every Day Until Our Wedding. So I Left Chapter 01

Nathaniel Prescott’s day had only twenty-two hours.

From the very start of our relationship, he made it clear: two hours of his day did not belong to him.

On our dates, he could be called away anytime, anywhere.

“Sorry, the two hours that aren’t mine just started. Keep track—whatever time I’m gone, deduct it from that.”

When we were shooting our wedding photos, he vanished mid-session for no reason I could see.

I gritted my teeth and endured those two hours.

But Nathaniel only said:

“Sorry I went over today. I’ll borrow some time from tomorrow’s two hours.”

Over three years, Nathaniel borrowed from today and repaid tomorrow, until 586 hours remained.

Later, at the dinner where both families were setting the wedding date, Nathaniel left again.

Seeing my distress, his mother finally told me the truth.

“Nathaniel’s former secretary took a blow for him once. She hovered near death for two hours.”

“So he gave her those two hours of his day as restitution.”

I laughed, sudden and sharp.

Two hours would never be enough. He might as well give her his whole life.

I was the last to step out of the Prescott family’s old estate.

After Mrs. Prescott’s explanation, my parents’ faces went ashen. Without a word, they pulled me toward the door.

The Prescotts had always been kind to me. I swallowed my hurt and offered a quiet goodbye.

But a few steps away, their hushed voices drifted back to me.

“Why tell her all that? Aren’t you only making things worse?”

Mrs. Prescott’s tone was tight, edged with pain.

“I’d rather this engagement end.”

“Harold, I regret it. If I hadn’t opposed Nathaniel and that woman back then, he wouldn’t be living like this—neither here nor there.”

“Even on his wedding day, there isn’t a hint of a smile on his face.”

My steps faltered. I bit down hard on my lip.

So it hadn’t been my imagination.

Nathaniel truly wasn’t looking forward to this wedding I’d dreamed of for so long.

Then why marry me?

The woman who held his heart—the one who could summon him away at any moment, who claimed two precious hours of his life—was right by his side.

Why insist on marrying me?

Tears spilled down my cheeks as I walked mechanically toward the gates.

The next second, Nathaniel’s text came through.

“Sorry, something came up. I’ll come by to apologize to your parents when I can.”

“Elena, I know today is important and I’ve upset you. Deduct triple time from those two hours.”

Fresh tears fell. I didn’t bother to wipe them.

Once, I believed marriage would change things.

A married man would know where to draw the line.

No matter who could pull him away, it wouldn’t go on like this.

I was wrong.

Those two hours didn’t belong to a day, or a year, or even three years.

They were two hours multiplied across a lifetime.

I would have to endure them for a lifetime. Watch them. Gamble my entire life on them. All to pay for the wedding I’d longed for.

I didn’t reply to Nathaniel’s text, as I always used to.

Not to prove I was angry.

It no longer mattered.

Experience had taught me that no matter what I said, he wouldn’t come back.

My parents’ car waited at the gate. Furious as they were, they said nothing against Nathaniel. They knew how much I loved him.

Leaning back, I opened the memo app on my phone.

Each time Nathaniel disappeared, I logged it here, then opened the calculator to add and subtract from the remaining 586 hours.

Today, Nathaniel was unusually generous. Triple credit, for the first time ever.

Even on our wedding photo shoot, he’d only rounded up and knocked off ten minutes.

I closed my phone. Nathaniel sent nothing more.

It was as if he’d offered a solution. What more could I want?

But this time, Nathaniel, I wasn’t satisfied.