She Took My Seat, He Took Her Side, I Took Another Man Chapter 01

She Took My Seat, He Took Her Side, I Took Another Man Chapter 01

On my wedding day, the little secretary who always fought me for Dominic’s shotgun suddenly stopped fighting.

Nina Shaw pointed at the seat next to the groom in the back of the wedding car. “I’m sitting here. Sienna, aren’t you the one who gets terrible carsickness in the back? Today, since it’s your wedding, I’ll let you have the front seat. I’ll suffer a little sitting next to Dominic.”

I stood in front of the wedding car, relatives whispering all around. My parents couldn’t even lift their heads.

“Get her out of there.” My voice was cold.

Dominic Hale shook his head and looked at me helplessly. “This time Nina is actually giving in to you, and you’re still making a scene? Are you getting in or not? If not, walk.”

“Fine. I’ll walk.”

Without a second’s hesitation, I turned and headed for the car at the very back of the procession.

“Didn’t you say you’d always wait for me right here? Well, marry me now.”

***

The pickup procession had been parked at my doorstep for a full three hours. Nina Shaw refused to get out of the car.

“Only the bride sits next to the groom. Is this your wedding with Sienna or with Nina?”

“We’re already three hours behind—we’re going to miss the ceremony. Get her out.”

Even the relatives couldn’t stand it anymore and stepped forward.

My mother walked up to the car door and pulled out a thick stack of envelopes stuffed with cash. “Here, Auntie will give you these. Just get out. Don’t make things hard for our Sienna.”

But before her hand could reach Nina, Dominic’s face went dark.

“Don’t touch her.”

His shout froze my mother in place. Her hands trembled; she was so frugal her whole life, and she didn’t even bend down to pick up the envelopes when they fell.

That was the only thing Dominic had said to my mother since he arrived.

The wedding car was an hour late. He didn’t answer his phone, and no one could reach him. My father thought something had happened on the road and waited at the neighborhood entrance for half an hour. When he still didn’t show, my father got on his bicycle and rode six miles along the planned route—only to finally meet the wedding party coming the other way.

He rode another six miles back. The car was empty. His bicycle could have folded and fit in the trunk. The wedding car arrived home first—Dad had to pedal another twenty minutes before he made it back. His jacket was covered in dust. Before entering the house, he slipped behind the small grove out back to brush himself off.

Watching him being so careful, my heart twisted as if it were being wrung out.

All the pickup rituals were skipped. Dominic never even got out of the car.

As for why they were late, he only said, “Sorry, I drank too much last night.”

He didn’t need to explain. The lipstick stain on his collar said everything—loud and clear for everyone to see.

“Sis-in-law, you know I’ve got nothing going on with Dominic. On your wedding day, with everyone watching, if you don’t give him an out, that’s on you. Even those slick-talking CEOs he deals with show him respect. And you’re his bride.”

Nina twisted it all around in a few words, dumping the blame on me.

She sat in the back seat, wearing a shirt I’d custom-ordered for Dominic—the one with his name embroidered on the chest.

And Dominic himself was wearing yesterday’s shirt, still reeking of alcohol.

“Nina drank too much last night too. She had nothing clean to change into—that shirt was the only one available.”

His words pricked the softest part of my heart.

“Dominic. Don’t go through with this wedding.”

I forced the words out, barely holding it together.

He glanced at his watch, impatience flickering across his face. “Sienna, please. Don’t make a scene. Just tell me—if you can’t sit in the back seat, is the wedding off?”

“Yes.” I cut him off before he could finish.

He nodded. “Fine. You can sit there.”

Then he took Nina’s hand, got out with her, and climbed into the back of the second car.

“Sienna, there are two spots in the back and the front passenger seat. Take your pick.”