He Had Time for Everything but Me Chapter 01

He Had Time for Everything but Me Chapter 01

Grant Holloway was a workaholic who believed every second counted.

He said waiting in line for a marriage license was a waste of time, so he used AI to make me a fake marriage certificate instead.

“It’s just a piece of paper. All that matters is that we love each other.”

I could only stare at the printed certificate.

When I was sick and needed an IV, he stayed with me for five minutes before complaining that he was wasting time. When he met my parents, he talked to them for all of three minutes before rushing back to the office.

But I’d always known he was obsessed with work, so I wasn’t too upset.

That was what had attracted me to him in the first place. He never fooled around and cared only about making money.

On my birthday, I called and begged him to spend some time with me, but he refused without hesitation.

“Babe, things are really busy at the office. I don’t have time for romance right now.”

Then I saw him kissing my best friend, Vanessa Lane, at the mall.

My heart clenched.

The wedding venue called to ask when we wanted to hold the ceremony.

I called Grant. From across the mall, I watched him look down with a frown. He hesitated for five seconds before answering.

“What is it?”

“The venue wants to know when we’re having the wedding.”

He frowned. “A wedding takes an entire day. That’s twenty-four hours wasted.”

I bit down hard on my lower lip. “But I spent an entire year planning it…”

He sighed. “Fine. I’ll give you an answer tonight.”

That night, his answer was a link.

Grant: [I made this AI wedding simulation while I was working late. Consider this my answer. As long as we’re together, that’s all that matters. Everything else is just for show.]

But when I opened the link, the bride had Vanessa’s face.

Comments were still rolling in beneath it.

[Grant, this AI wedding simulation looks great. It really does look like you and Vanessa.]

[Haha! You two are getting married tomorrow. Are you sure Claire won’t cause trouble?]

[She won’t. I made her an AI wedding simulation, and she loved it.]

[That’s hilarious. If she didn’t complain about an AI marriage certificate, an AI wedding should be enough to keep her happy too. So when are you going to tell her the truth?]

[Vanessa can’t carry a pregnancy, and she’s always dreamed of being a mother. Once Claire has the baby, I’ll tell her everything.]

Right after that, a new message from Grant came in.

Grant: [Claire, I scheduled an IVF appointment for you. Go in tomorrow.]

Grant: [You know every second counts in business. I don’t like wasting time on pointless things like this.]

If every second mattered to him, then I clearly didn’t.

It was time to walk away.

…

Grant: [I won’t be home tonight. Go to bed without me.]

In the darkened room, my phone screen lit up before going black again.

I cried all night.

The next day, I put on sunglasses and a mask and went to their wedding.

I planned to cause a scene. I wanted everyone to know that Grant had betrayed me and that Vanessa, my best friend, had stabbed me in the back.

But when I saw my parents there, I froze.

Why were they attending Vanessa’s wedding? Why hadn’t they told me?

I hid in a corner and watched them as if I were the one with something to hide.

Every second tore at me.

The corner was mostly deserted. Grant took a call and started walking toward me.

I kept my head down and pretended to look at my phone, but my gaze stayed fixed on his polished dress shoes and the legs of his suit pants.

I had bought him that suit two weeks ago.

Back then, I’d imagined how he would look wearing it at our wedding.

Now I finally knew.

But I wasn’t the bride.

I heard Grant say, “An important client is flying in today? Take care of them. I’m getting married today, so I won’t be available for at least three days.”

“Clear my calendar for the next six months. You handle everything. I’m taking my wife on our honeymoon.”

Each word cut deeper than the last.

Grant had never prioritized me that way. He would only snap that I was being unreasonable and didn’t understand how hard he worked.

Everything at the office mattered more than I did, even if someone only needed him to sign a document.

When it came to our wedding, he’d called it a waste of time and used an AI simulation to placate me.

Yet that same man was willing to keep an important client waiting for three days, postpone six months of meetings, and take Vanessa on a honeymoon.

My hand tightened around my phone.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw those polished shoes take two steps toward me.

“Huh. She looks familiar.”

My heart began pounding.

Vanessa walked over. “Grant, are you still working?”

“Come on. It’s our wedding day.”

Grant stopped and turned toward her.

He chuckled. “I was just giving a few last-minute instructions. See? I’m turning my phone off now.”

She laughed softly. “Aren’t you worried Claire might come looking for you?”

Grant gently brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face. “No. I sent her to her IVF appointment. She always does what she’s told.”

The rest of their friends gathered around and started teasing them.

“Vanessa, you look gorgeous today! Grant’s one lucky man tonight.”

“No kidding. He’s going to have the night of his life.”

They surrounded Grant and Vanessa, making one suggestive joke after another.

Then someone asked nervously, “What if Claire suddenly shows up?”

Grant smiled calmly. “Don’t worry. The housekeeper just texted me. Claire went to the clinic like a good girl.”

“I told the housekeeper years ago to report Claire’s every move to me. After all this time, Claire still hasn’t found out about Vanessa and me.”

No wonder I hadn’t suspected a thing all these years.

The housekeeper had been spying on me.