After Three Losses, I Stopped Looking Back Chapter 05

After Three Losses, I Stopped Looking Back Chapter 05

Julian spent the next few weeks with Audrey — sightseeing, skipping work entirely. On the last evening, they stood wrapped around each other on Mount Rainier, the sky burning pink above them.

“Tomorrow’s the deadline. So this is over, right?”

Julian went still. His arms tightened around her, but something dark and unreadable moved behind his eyes.

“Yeah. I promised Clara. I can’t go back on it again.”

Audrey didn’t flinch. She wasn’t worried. The ceremony was a formality — she knew that. Whenever she wanted Julian back, he’d come.

Still, she let her eyes go glassy and forced a trembling lip. “Okay. No matter what happens with Clara, I’ll be right here. Always.”

Something in Julian’s chest gave way. He pulled her closer.

But under all of it, the same thought kept gnawing at him. Every call he’d made to Clara over the past few weeks, every text he’d sent — nothing. Not a single reply. The unease sat in his gut like something alive.

He’d taken Audrey out of the city on purpose — to give Clara space, to stop making things worse. What had happened to her father — that was on both of them. He knew that. So he’d given her time.

And he’d used that time to plan the ceremony she deserved.

He released Audrey, pulled out his phone, and snapped a photo of the sky over the mountain. He sent it to Clara.

[Mount Rainier at sunset. I promise I’ll bring you here for our honeymoon.]

[You’re the only one I love, Clara.]

He kept the chat open, staring at the screen, waiting for the typing bubble to appear.

A minute passed. Nothing. His jaw clenched.

Clara used to reply within seconds. Every time, without fail. The silence felt wrong.

He told himself she was just angry. She loved him — she’d come around. The knot in his chest loosened. Barely.

[The wedding’s tomorrow evening. I’ll head straight to the venue. Your dress is already at the hotel.]

Still nothing from Clara. Julian let it go. Tomorrow was the big day. He’d make it all up to her then.

He wrapped his arms around Audrey and let the quiet settle over them. The next morning, they flew back to Crestwood.

He called the hotel manager to confirm the arrangements. The man’s voice came back unsteady.

“Everything’s ready, Mr. Sterling. All taken care of. Nothing to worry about.”

Julian exhaled and headed to the office. He stopped dead when he passed Clara’s desk. Empty.

“Where’s Clara? She’s not in today?”

The secretaries exchanged glances. “She hasn’t been in for weeks. No one knows where she went. Maybe she took a leave of absence?”

Right. He’d told her to take some time. She must have requested leave.

It couldn’t be a resignation. That would’ve required his signature.

The tension in his shoulders eased. He lingered at her empty desk for a moment, then went back to his office.

He sat down and looked through the one-way glass at the outer office. He’d placed Clara’s desk there himself — angled so he could glance up from his work and see her, focused and composed, whenever he needed to. Now the chair was empty.

The hollowness caught him off guard.

That night, the ceremony he’d planned for Clara came to life. He’d booked the most exclusive estate in Crestwood. The roses had been flown in from Switzerland. Her gown was handmade in Italy — custom-made by an elite team of designers, every stitch done by hand.

He pictured Clara’s face when she saw it all — the tears, the way she’d throw her arms around him, the forgiveness he thought he’d finally earn.

[Tonight’s the night, Clara. I won’t walk away this time. I promise.]

Night fell. Inside the banquet hall, the officiant was warming up the crowd from the stage.

“And now, ladies and gentlemen — let’s welcome our groom, Mr. Sterling, to the stage!”

The doors swung open. The hall was packed — every seat taken. Every face wore a polished smile, as if the disaster weeks ago had never happened.

Julian took a deep breath and stepped forward — then stopped. His eyes moved over the crowd. Not a single person from Clara’s family was there.

Before he could process it, the officiant’s voice rang out again. “And now — please welcome our bride, Miss Hayes!”

The doors opened. Every head turned.

The doorway was empty.

Julian’s blood went cold. Every unanswered text, every ignored call — all of it crashed into him at once.

The officiant froze, then turned to Julian with wide eyes.

Then the massive screen behind the stage crackled to life. The room exploded into chaos.

Julian turned toward the screen. His mind was white noise. Two documents filled the display, projected ten feet tall for every guest to see — signed annulment papers, and a medical report from an abortion clinic.