I Changed The Wedding Into A Cancellation Mid-Ceremony Chapter 04

I Changed The Wedding Into A Cancellation Mid-Ceremony Chapter 04

The officiant walked over to review the schedule with Nathan.

My dad spotted his name on the list, and something shifted in his expression. He reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a folded piece of paper.

He’d folded it perfectly flat. But the wine had seeped into the corners, leaving the edges soft and warped.

“I prepared a speech.”

He cleared his throat.

“If you still want me to, I can say a few words up there.”

His voice trailed off, like he already knew the answer.

Vanessa snatched the paper right out of his hand.

“Mr. Ashford, you wrote a whole speech?”

She barely made it past the first line before bursting out laughing.

“Today, I give my most precious daughter to Nathan…”

She looked up at Nathan.

“That’s so cheesy.”

“Nobody talks like that at weddings anymore.”

A few staffers nearby laughed.

My dad’s face flushed. He reached for it.

“My English isn’t very good.”

“I suppose it’s poorly written.”

“I won’t say it, then.”

Vanessa ignored his outstretched hand and kept reading. She noticed the pronunciation notes he’d scribbled in the margins and let out another laugh.

“Wait, did you spell out the pronunciations for every word?”

“That’s adorable. But honestly, nobody’s expecting a speech.”

More laughter from the staff.

My dad’s ears were burning.

Nathan finally opened his mouth. Not to stop her.

“Vanessa has a point.”

“This doesn’t really fit the vibe we’re going for.”

“Mr. Ashford, let’s skip the speech.”

My dad took the paper back, his hands trembling as his fingers tightened around it.

His lips parted.

All he said was, “Okay. Whatever you think is best.”

I watched him fold the speech back up and tuck it into his crumpled jacket pocket. He did it slowly.

Like he was putting away the last scrap of his dignity along with it.

He’d worked on that speech for two weeks.

I came home one weekend and found him in the living room, recording himself on his phone. Every time he stumbled over a word, he’d delete it and start from the beginning.

He looked up at me.

“Elena, you know I’m not good with words.”

“But it’s your wedding. I want to do this right.”

“I don’t want anyone thinking you don’t have family in your corner.”

I’d teased him about how nervous he was.

I told him, “Dad, just you being up there is enough.”

That was then. Today, he didn’t even get to stand up there.

Vanessa handed the schedule back to the officiant.

“I’ll say a few words when it’s time.”

“I know Nathan, and I know how these things work.”

She turned to my parents with a smile.

“Mr. and Mrs. Ashford, speaking in public isn’t for everyone. I’ll handle it for you.”

My mom dropped her gaze. My dad didn’t argue.

They were used to it by now. If it meant keeping the peace for my sake, they’d swallow anything.

The officiant came over.

“Miss Blake, you’re up next.”

“The speeches are about to start.”

Vanessa smoothed her skirt and walked past me. She paused. Her voice dropped.

“Elena, don’t feel bad about your parents.”

“Since they aren’t exactly presentable, I’ll say something nice on their behalf. Consider it a favor.”

Something smug flickered behind her smile.

I didn’t look at her. I looked at my phone.

The wedding planner had texted.

[Everything’s ready.]

[You sure you want to play it now?]

I looked up.

Vanessa was at the end of the aisle, microphone in hand. Nathan watched her from the side, his expression soft and adoring.

My parents sat in the darkest corner of the room.

My dad was clutching a speech no one wanted to hear. My mom was clutching a uniform that wasn’t hers.

I typed one word.

[Play.]

The screen behind the stage lit up, and a collective gasp swept through the room.