He Said He Loved Me, Then Gave Her Our Marriage Certificate Chapter 04

He Said He Loved Me, Then Gave Her Our Marriage Certificate Chapter 04

The door opened the next second. Serena rushed in and embraced me as she always had, but tears spilled down her face before she could speak.

“Talia, I’m sorry.”

“You’ve given me everything all these years. This is the last time I’ll ask.”

“I don’t need much. Please, just give me half of Grant.”

I said nothing. My gaze settled on the diamond necklace against her chest.

It belonged to the same collection as the earrings Grant had given me. Hers carried the collection’s centerpiece; mine were made from the stones scattered around it.

That was our place in Grant’s heart.

My phone chimed again. This time, the message came from a number that had been silent for five years.

Hayes: [Talia, I saw Serena’s post. You still owe me one wish.

Can I use it to stop your wedding and marry you instead?]

I answered without hesitation.

Talia: [I’ll wait for you.]

The message went through.

I looked at Serena and nodded, my voice empty of emotion.

“All right. You can have him.”

She could have every last piece of him.

Grant smiled and pulled Serena into his arms, brushing a finger over her nose.

“See? I told you Talia wouldn’t make a scene.

“You cried for nothing.”

Serena relaxed against him. “Talia’s been so understanding.

“Stay with her tonight.”

Before I could refuse, Grant’s hand drifted suggestively across Serena’s chest.

“We had a deal. If Talia didn’t cry, you’d wear that lace nightgown tonight.

“Trying to back out?”

Serena laughed. “No.

“I’m only worried she’ll be lonely.”

Grant shrugged. “I’ll be with her all day at the wedding tomorrow.

“Isn’t that enough?”

“You should go,” I said. “I need to confirm tomorrow’s route with the coordinator.

“A wedding happens once in a lifetime. I don’t want anything to go wrong.”

Grant smiled. “Are you that nervous about marrying me?”

“Don’t worry. I promised you a magnificent wedding, and I’ll keep that promise.

“But tonight, I’m staying with Serena.”

I nodded. “Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

The bridal party and wedding limo arrived early the next day, but Grant was nowhere in sight.

His groomsmen covered for him.

“There’s a crisis at the office. An overseas client doesn’t understand the timing, and Grant got trapped in a meeting.

“He’ll be here before the ceremony.”

I neither cried nor demanded an explanation.

I finished my makeup, climbed calmly into the limo, and went to the Grand Harbor Hotel.

The guests arrived, yet Grant still did not appear.

As the ceremony time approached, his friends grew visibly embarrassed.

“We’ll keep calling him. He’ll come.”

Grant’s phone was off. Serena’s call came through instead.

“Talia, this is my fault. Grant wore himself out last night, and he’s still asleep.”

“Could you give me this one thing, too? Let him rest here and postpone the wedding.”

Grant’s alarmed voice sounded behind her.

“Damn it, it’s this late? Talia’s waiting for me.”

He grabbed the phone and shouted, “Keep her calm. Tell everyone the ceremony is delayed thirty minutes.

“The groom is on his way.”

At that exact moment, the ballroom doors opened.

Every head turned. Framed by the light behind him, Hayes Whitlock entered in a formal suit carrying hundreds of blush Vendela roses.

Grant’s friends went rigid.

“Grant,” one of them stammered into the phone, “Hayes is here to take your place.”