Seven Failed Weddings, and He Still Let Her Ruin My Marriage Shoes Chapter 04

Seven Failed Weddings, and He Still Let Her Ruin My Marriage Shoes Chapter 04

The boots were delivered early.

Every single pair fit perfectly.

Ten pairs was the highest honor in Bennett Hollow’s century-old bridal pickup tradition.

It meant the bride was deeply cherished, utterly flawless, and beyond reproach.

I went through the house and found everything related to Nolan.

The sweet photos we had once taken together, the little handmade things he had made for me, every last piece of it went into the trash.

After I finished, I slept.

For once, I did not dream of myself in a wedding gown, chasing after Nolan.

When I woke again, it was already ten in the morning. I had just gotten dressed when the bedroom door was shoved open hard.

Nolan stood there with Tessa behind him, her eyes red from crying.

“You went after Tessa and pushed her until she ran away from home.”

“Do you have any idea what could’ve happened? If I hadn’t gotten there in time, she would’ve been bitten by a rattlesnake.”

I looked at his furious expression before locking eyes with Tessa.

“Tell me. When did I come after you? What did I say that made you run into the woods?”

The girl who always claimed she was too painfully simple to ever play games was now sobbing on cue.

“Nolan, it wasn’t Elara’s fault. She didn’t say anything to me. I was the one who got overwhelmed and went up there by myself.”

Her tone, paired with that fragile act, worked like a charm. Nolan glared at me in anger.

“And you still say it wasn’t you? Look at what you’ve done to her.”

“It’s just a pair of boots. Are you ever going to let this go?”

I looked at him quietly.

He had forgotten that I had always been patient.

He had even praised me in front of Mrs. Whitaker, saying I was so easygoing and loved him so much that he barely needed to comfort me.

But the moment Tessa was involved, I became the villain in his eyes.

More importantly, because of him, I had been branded a bad omen by the town, condemned to a seven-year exile.

Yet he still spoke as if this were only about a pair of boots.

While I was wondering how to make him leave, Tessa suddenly spoke.

“Did Elara force me away because she wanted to marry you sooner?”

As she said it, she picked up the boots I had not had time to put away last night.

Nolan took them from her hands and looked at me with a sneer.

“You’re so desperate to marry me that you even prepared the boots yourself.”

“How about this? Apologize to Tessa and promise that after we get married, you won’t bully her again. Then I’ll marry you.”

“But the wedding will have to wait at least two months. I have to wait until after Tessa’s twenty-fifth birthday.”

His tone sounded like he was granting me mercy.

Even in his reluctant plan to marry me, there was still a place reserved for Tessa.

I looked at him and laughed.

Under his stunned gaze, I said each word clearly.

“I won’t apologize for something I didn’t do.”

“And tomorrow, I’m getting married no matter what.”

Nolan was furious. His face darkened in an instant.

“I gave you a way out, and you refused to take it. Then don’t blame me when there’s no groom at your wedding tomorrow.”

“Even if you come crying and begging me to show up, I won’t.”

After saying that, he took Tessa’s hand and stormed out.

Early on the third morning, Aunt Lorraine woke me up to get ready.

I put on my new wedding gown.

Grandpa Bennett, who was already eighty, held back tears as he reminded me, “Elara, if you miss home, call me. I’ll come see you.”

Then he personally lowered the bridal veil over my face, as if afraid to look at my reddened eyes.

I was helped into the car that had come to pick me up for my wedding.

…

Nolan tossed and turned in bed all night and barely slept.

“Forget it. I shouldn’t stoop to her level.”

After hesitating until nine in the morning, he called his friends and told them to come with him to my house for the wedding procession.

His friends were surprised, but they still went along with it.

The group changed into their wedding clothes and arrived at my house.

When Nolan saw several of my cousins loading my wedding gifts into a car, he gave a small laugh and turned to remind the driver, “Elara already gave you my address, right? Make sure you don’t mess it up.”

“This time, nothing can go wrong with the procession.”

Aunt Lorraine, who had come out to help, heard him and instantly widened her eyes.

“Elara already married into the Hayes family in Harbor Springs. What procession do you think you’re here for?”