The Wedding Where I Was The Witness, Not The Bride Chapter 05

The Wedding Where I Was The Witness, Not The Bride Chapter 05

Back at the venue, Grayson was smirking to himself, waiting for me to lose it. Then he saw my reply

and his expression went cold.

He’d only brought Wren to the hospital. But she’d seen the bride on TV and leaned against him, her

voice trembling. “Grayson… will I ever get to wear a wedding dress?”

And looking at her desperate eyes, he’d been spellbound. He’d promised her a wedding.

Now, seeing my reply, his heart started to race. He forced himself to stay calm.

Marcus came over and glanced at his phone with a scoff. “She’s faking it again. Probably hiding

somewhere crying.”

Mom smiled knowingly. “Clementine’s always been strong. We sent her to the countryside when she was three. She did farm work during the day and studied at night. Her grandmother was too old to keep up, so she was always hungry-and still got first place every time.”

Dad nodded. “When we brought Wren home, Clementine was in rags, playing in the river. She thought Wren was a fairy. When she heard it was her little sister, she was overjoyed-kept saying she had a fairy sister now.”

Mom preened. “I buy Wren’s clothes from niche luxury brands. Everyone who sees her says she’s adorable. Unlike Clementine, who wore hand-me-downs and looked filthy. I could barely even

recognize her as my daughter.”

Dad sighed. “She was closer to us when she was little. Now she’s always distant.”

Marcus sneered. “She just wants attention. She keeps saying we treated her badly. A hundred dollars a month is plenty for the countryside. She’s always been so materialistic.”

Grayson listened to my family chattering on, and for the first time, a knot of guilt twisted in his chest. He’d only ever seen me as bright and positive. He’d never known how hard my childhood had

actually been.

The emcee came to tell him it was time to carry the bride in. He quickly messaged me:

Grayson: [Clementine, the wedding is just a formality. I’ll pick you up in a few days.]

But a red exclamation mark appeared.

Grayson froze. His chest tightened. Even carrying Wren into the bridal chamber, he felt none of the

joy and anticipation from earlier-just a hollow, restless ache.

Wren sat in his lap, flushed, reaching for his belt. Belatedly snapping out of it, he grabbed her hand and stared inte her eyes. “Wren. Who taught you this?”

“My mom,” she said sweetly. “She said you’re a bad kid and don’t deserve to marry my brother.”

Grayson’s stomach dropped. He thought about my family’s business-how much they relied on the Ward family. Were my parents really willing to destroy their own daughter’s marriage for profit?

His gaze toward Wren cooled. “Wren, you’re sleeping alone tonight.”

She pouted. “No.”

She crawled pitifully onto his lap, draping her arms over his shoulders. “Grayson, don’t you like Wren anymore?” As she moved, her collar slipped, revealing her bare shoulder-her sweet, innocent face making it all the more jarring. He swallowed hard, forcing down the rush of heat rising in him.