He Used AI to Text Me, While Chatting with Her All Night. Ok, I Canceled the Wedding Chapter 08

He Used AI to Text Me, While Chatting with Her All Night. Ok, I Canceled the Wedding Chapter 08

Three days later, a text from an unknown number on my old phone.

Celeste.

Rosalind, it’s me.

I know you’re upset. But I need to say this.

Elias and I are like siblings. When we were kids, I protected him from bullies. Stayed with him during his parents’ fights. What we have isn’t romantic.

He cares for me out of habit. Gratitude.

But you’re the one he chose to marry. That never changed.

Please come back. Elias is a wreck—zoned out, stubborn, but he cares.

You’re the bride. I’m just the spoiled little sister.

I stared at the screen. No anger. Just absurdity.

She’d written paragraphs to say:

Look how much he loves me. He’d ditch his bride for me.

I’ll always come first.

Even on your wedding day.

I typed back:

You’re right.

So I’m giving him to you.

Be his ‘spoiled little sister’ forever.

Sent.

Blocked the number. Cleared the call log.

New week. Job offers came through. Started at a firm.

Work was manageable. Colleagues were kind.

Friday night, I braised beef shank in red wine.

Studying the recipe, salt measuring spoon in hand, when the doorbell rang.

Peephole view: Elias.

Shirt wrinkled. Stubble darkening his jaw. Eyes hollow.

Disheveled. Exhausted.

I opened the door. Didn’t invite him in.

“What do you need?”

Elias looked at me. Swallowed hard.

“Rosalind.”

Voice like sandpaper.

“Took me ages to find you.”

I waited.

He shifted, awkward. Eyes flicked from the ladle in my hand to the room behind me.

“You’re not there. The house is a mess.”

“Fridge empty. Went for water—kettle dry.”

“Last night, shower—body wash gone. Didn’t know where the spare was.”

“Wanted coffee. Couldn’t remember the café’s name.”

I knew what he was doing. Painting his helplessness.

For five years, his shirts were ironed, hung in the second closet by 7:00 a.m.

Coffee waited on the entryway table at 7:20.

Body wash always on the left bathroom shelf.

He never boiled water. Never rinsed rice. Never sorted laundry.

He reached out. Things appeared.

Celeste, basking in his devotion, never handled his mundanities.

I felt nothing.

“So?”

Elias blinked, startled.

“So…” He swallowed. “I’m not doing well.”

“Rosalind. I got used to you.”

“Used to?” I repeated. A bitter smile tugged my lips.

“Elias. You didn’t get used to me.”

“You got used to a housekeeper. One who asked for nothing. Who didn’t compete with Celeste for your attention.”

“Now she quit. Of course you’re not used to it.”

His face paled.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what?”

I held his gaze.

“You came here to beg me back into that role?”

“So you can keep bending over backward for Celeste? Keep brushing me off with an AI? Keep choosing her when I need you?”

“Elias. I loved you. But I’m not pathetic.”

He jerked his head up. Eyes bloodshot.

“I didn’t choose her!”

“At the resort, I told her. Straight up.”

“Said I was getting married. Couldn’t be at her beck and call.”

“She cried. I stayed one more day.”

“One day, Rosalind!”

Voice rising, thick with grievance.

“Just one day!”