He Picked Up Another Woman on Our Wedding Day Chapter 01

He Picked Up Another Woman on Our Wedding Day Chapter 01

The scheduled pickup time was fast approaching, but the wedding car’s GPS showed it was still parked outside Shelby Vance’s apartment building.

My mother stood at the entrance of our townhouse, clutching the parental blessing envelope. My father held a white lace parasol, both of them watching the intersection.

Ryan Bennett’s call came through.

“Natalie, Shelby couldn’t get a ride last minute. I’m swinging by to pick her up first.”

“I’ll be there in ten minutes. Just let your parents know so the guests don’t worry.”

I stared at the GPS screenshot. “Today’s the pickup. You’re sending the wedding car to get her first?”

He sighed. “She’d feel awkward showing up alone. You’re the reasonable one—don’t make this into a thing today.”

I ended the call and saw my mother, still standing at the entrance, tuck the envelope deeper into her purse as she caught my expression.

The red dot on the map hadn’t moved. Still parked outside Shelby’s building.

I sent the GPS screenshot to both the family group chat and the wedding coordination chat.

[Pickup canceled.]

—

The family chat went quiet for a few seconds.

My aunt Carol sent a voice message, her voice low.

“Natalie, what does ‘pickup canceled’ mean? The groom’s cars aren’t coming?”

I didn’t reply.

The wedding coordinator called almost immediately.

“Ms. Moore, we saw your message. Is the pickup completely paused, or are we waiting for the groom to arrive?”

The videographer stood by the entrance with his camera, looking between me and my parents.

My mother looked down at the envelope in her hand.

She’d filled it last night, worried she might fumble when the time came, so she’d tucked it into the most accessible pocket of her bag.

On my phone screen, the wedding car’s GPS marker still hadn’t moved from Shelby’s building.

My mother gripped the envelope, silent for a long moment. The corner of the paper creased under her thumb.

My father lowered the parasol from his shoulder.

The tip touched the ground, white silk draping down. No one looked toward the intersection anymore.

He asked only one question, “Does he know we’ve been waiting for him?”

I said, “Yes.”

My father nodded and didn’t ask again.

Ryan’s call came through right away.

When I answered, his first words weren’t about my parents.

He said, “Natalie, hold on. Don’t tell the wedding team to stop yet.”

I looked at the GPS screenshot still in the group chat. “So you’re coming here first now?”

“Yes, I’m turning around right now.”

“I’ve already picked up Shelby. The driver’s heading to your place now. Just tell the coordinator we got delayed on the road.”

I asked, “You think this is just a delay?”

Two seconds of silence on his end.

Ryan’s voice finally changed.

“Natalie, don’t let the venue cancel anything yet. Tell your parents not to go upstairs. I’m driving back to your place right now.”

I said, “The car already picked her up.”

“I’ll have her take a cab from here.”

He sounded urgent, then forced his voice lower.

“Natalie, being late by a few minutes won’t ruin the ceremony. Just wait ten minutes for me. I’ll be there.”

“Please just keep everything together at the venue. Don’t let them start packing up. I’ll apologize to your parents the moment I get there.”

Back at our engagement dinner, when Shelby’s absence left an empty seat at the table, I was the one who smoothed things over with the restaurant.

When she couldn’t make it last minute, I was the one who handled the fallout.

When we postponed the wedding date, I went table by table with my parents to explain.

But today, my parents were holding that envelope, waiting for his car downstairs.

My mother walked over and gently touched my hand.

“Maybe just let Ryan come over first. There are so many people here today. I don’t want this to be hard on you.”

She still hadn’t put the envelope away as she spoke.

Ryan must have caught her words through the phone.

“Is your mom next to you? Put her on. Let me talk to her.”

I didn’t move.

He said again, “Natalie, please don’t let this turn into a scene.”

I looked up at my father.

He was standing by the aisle runner, the parasol already folded.

The relatives weren’t talking anymore. Their eyes were on the envelope in my mother’s hands. A few glanced at the empty driveway and the red carpet.

The coordinator messaged again.

[Ms. Moore, is the pickup confirmed canceled? The venue needs a final decision.]

My relatives downstairs were all watching my mother now. No one was asking about the cars anymore.

Under the weight of everyone’s gaze, I typed back:

[Paused for now.]

Ryan called again immediately.

“Natalie, I’m already driving to your place.”

“Just tell the team to wait, alright?”

I looked at the blessing envelope in my mother’s hands, then at my father’s folded parasol.

This time, I didn’t smooth things over for him.

“Don’t bother waiting.”

The line went quiet.

I hung up and put my phone away.

Jenna came up beside me and asked softly, “What do we do now?”

I took my mother’s arm.

“Let’s go upstairs.”

“Don’t wait here.”