He Saved A Spot For Her, Leaving No Room For Me Chapter 03

He Saved A Spot For Her, Leaving No Room For Me Chapter 03

The next morning, I screenshotted the digital invitation and sent it to Ethan.

He replied half an hour later.

[I don’t know—Tessa must have grabbed my tablet and clicked it by accident.]

I asked, [Why can she log into our wedding website?]

He didn’t answer.

At noon, Ethan’s mother asked to meet me.

At the café, she slid a pre-nup across the table.

“Sign it.”

I flipped through.

The house wasn’t tied to me.

Debts would stay separate.

The joint account would be under Ethan’s control.

And the last clause—if the wedding was called off, the woman would cover all the penalties.

I looked up. “Is this Ethan’s idea?”

She took a sip of her coffee. “He’s too soft to say it. I’m saying it for him.”

“Iris, we all know your situation.”

“No parents. Just an uncle who runs a farm stand.”

“The Sullivans agreeing to this wedding is already generous enough.”

My fingers curled into my palms, slowly.

Ethan burst in just in time to catch the last line.

His face went dark. “Mom. Apologize.”

His mother froze.

Ethan ripped the pre-nup in half.

“I’m not marrying Iris out of charity.”

“She doesn’t need to marry up.”

“If you bring up her family again, there won’t be a wedding at all.”

He stepped in front of me, like the old Ethan who used to shield me from everything.

I almost believed again.

His phone rang.

Tessa.

Ethan hit ignore.

Then she sent a photo.

Her wrist was cut. Blood dripped down the sink.

[Ethan, I didn’t mean to change the invitation.]

[If Iris hates me that much, I’ll just disappear.]

The color drained from Ethan’s face.

I watched him. “Don’t go.”

He gripped his phone. “Iris—”

“My uncle’s coming to Oakhaven today.” My voice went hoarse. “You promised to pick him up with me.”

Ethan shut his eyes briefly. “This is a life-or-death thing.”

“So?”

“Your uncle—I’ll go apologize to him later.”

I laughed. “You always say ‘later.’”

“Later apology. Later explanation. Later compensation.”

“Ethan, I’ve been loved ‘later’ for too long.”

His eyes turned red. “Iris, please—she might actually hurt herself.”

He ran out of the café.

The torn pre-nup was still on the table.

He ripped up the pre-nup to protect me from that insult.

Then he walked out and left me sitting in that humiliation—for Tessa.

That night, at the restaurant private room.

My uncle sat for two hours with my mom’s gold bangle.

He said, “Iris, is he not coming?”

I shook my head. “Let’s wait a little longer.”

At 9:30, Ethan finally showed up.

Tessa followed behind him, her wrist bandaged, wearing his jacket.

My uncle’s face twisted. “And who’s this?”

Ethan muttered, “She’s like a sister to me.”

“Not blood.”

My uncle set his fork down. “This is a family meeting about a wedding. Why did you bring a stranger?”

Ethan raised his glass. “My fault, Uncle Ray.”

He drank one after another—drank until his stomach hurt and he doubled over, but he still managed to serve me food.

“Iris loves the fish belly—Uncle, you should try some too.”

Tessa coughed softly.

Ethan’s fork stopped.

He pulled his jacket tighter around her shoulders.

My uncle’s voice went cold. “Ethan, who exactly do you want to marry?”

Ethan paused for two seconds. “Iris, of course.”

Tessa went pale and got up for the restroom.

A minute later, Ethan’s phone rang.

Tessa was crying on the other end. “Ethan, I left my meds in your car—I can’t breathe.”

Ethan stood up.

I grabbed his sleeve. “I waited from afternoon until night. I can’t breathe either.”

Ethan swallowed hard. “You’re stronger than her.”

My uncle slammed his glass on the table. “Call it off!”

Ethan froze.

Slowly, I let go of his sleeve.

He walked away.

This time, he didn’t look back.