He Had Time for Everything but Me Chapter 02

He Had Time for Everything but Me Chapter 02

Grant’s friends began teasing him.

“You guys worry too much. Did you forget how much Grant loves Vanessa?”

“Of course not! Remember when Claire had that high fever? Vanessa twisted her ankle, and Grant immediately left Claire and went to take care of her.”

“Isn’t this the same thing? Vanessa wants to be a mother but can’t carry a baby, so Grant didn’t hesitate to send Claire for IVF. Hey, Grant, have you ever even slept with Claire?”

Grant raised a hand, laughing. “I swear to God, I’ve never touched her. Vanessa is the only woman I love.”

Vanessa playfully punched him in the chest. “I don’t believe you. If it weren’t for Claire, we never would’ve met.”

Bitterness churned inside me as I fisted the fabric at my side.

Vanessa took Grant’s arm and led him away.

Before leaving, Grant glanced at me. His eyes lingered as if I looked familiar, but he quickly dismissed the thought.

I’d always done what I was told. I was supposed to be at the clinic.

A guest nearby exclaimed, “This wedding is beautiful! I heard Grant planned the whole thing himself.”

No.

I had designed every last detail.

I had chosen the style and number of bouquets. I had even made many of the decorations by hand.

But my name and photos had all been replaced with Vanessa’s.

Grant’s friends continued talking, mostly about how much he loved Vanessa.

That was how I learned the truth.

Whenever Vanessa was sick, he put work aside to stay with her. He watched movies he didn’t like because she wanted to see them. He even waited in line with her for boba.

Just last week, he’d told me that waiting in line for a marriage license was a waste of time.

Then he’d spent three hours waiting with Vanessa to get one.

It wasn’t that he hated wasting time.

I was the one he considered a waste of it.

I looked up and saw my parents talking warmly to Vanessa as if she were their own daughter.

Every slight from all those years came back to cut me all over again.

My throat tightened with bitterness, and a wave of nausea hit me. I hurried into the restroom and dry-heaved.

Just as I was about to leave the stall, I heard Vanessa enter with a few friends. They gathered around the sinks and started chatting.

I immediately backed into the stall.

“Even Claire’s own parents came. Aren’t you afraid Claire will find out after you’ve made such a big production out of this? You two are supposed to be best friends.”

Vanessa touched up her makeup in the mirror. “Who cares about being friends with her? If I hadn’t wanted to seduce Grant, I never would’ve pretended to be friends with an idiot like her.”

“My aunt deserves some credit, too. She took the job as Claire’s housekeeper just to help us keep tabs on her.”

Someone else entered the restroom.

It was my mother.

“Vanessa, there you are. Hurry up. The wedding is about to start, and Grant has been looking everywhere for you.”

Vanessa smiled. “Thank you. If you hadn’t spent all these years helping us get together, I never would’ve gotten Grant.”

My mother laughed. “It was nothing. You’re like my own daughter, and you and Grant were made for each other.”

“My daughter was never good enough for him. Grant would’ve been wasted on her.”

I bit down hard on my lower lip. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, finally snapping me back to my senses.

Once the restroom fell silent, I stumbled out of the stall.

I ran straight into my own mother.