The Day Another Woman Became the Bride Chapter 02

The Day Another Woman Became the Bride Chapter 02

Ever since Paige had added me, Mason’s friends’ group chat had been dead quiet. Now it suddenly exploded.

“Paige: Today I’m trying out being a bride~”

More than a dozen photos flooded the screen.

Inside the bridal car, Paige pulled Mason into intimate photos, making hearts and taking cheek-to-cheek selfies.

My eyes lingered on the last photo.

In the last photo, Mason rested his head in Paige’s palm, smiling tenderly.

When I’d shown him the same pose as a reference for our engagement photos, he’d called it pretentious and childish.

Replies poured in.

“You two really are the perfect match. I always thought you should be together. It finally happened.”

That was one of Mason’s childhood friends.

He had once thanked me for helping Mason get over Paige after she left for Paris and said Mason and I looked perfect together.

“Had I known this was your wedding, I wouldn’t have made an excuse. I can’t stand that boring rebound who pursued Mason while Paige was in Paris. Can I still fly over?”

That was Mason’s cousin.

Mason once asked me to bring files he had left at home. In the pouring rain, my tires skidded and hit a light pole. I arrived limping. He nearly cried, saying the files concerned a project worth millions and I had saved it.

Another cousin, college roommates, and upperclassmen from college…

Mason had introduced me to every single one of them, and they’d all been polite to my face.

Behind my back, they treated me like I wasn’thing.

An ordinary woman. An obedient substitute. His rebound…

Mason sent a single line.

“Don’t mention her. Just tell Paige how beautiful she looks.”

I gritted my teeth and typed with shaking fingers.

“Is this who you all really are?”

“You guys are disgusting.”

The chat went silent for two seconds after my message appeared.

The last reply read:

“Oh my God, everyone. Wrong group chat.”

Mason’s name suddenly flashed across my screen as he called, stopping me mid-type.

I answered.

No apology. No explanation. Just one cold command.

“Apologize.”

The absurdity hit me hard.

“Me? Apologize?”

I almost laughed from pure anger.

“Apologize for what? For insulting me behind my back? Or for adding me to this group and then creating another one without me?”

Silence stretched on the other end for a few seconds.

I heard Mason let out a weary sigh.

“Claire, you can’t expect everyone to like you.”

“Everyone there grew up with Paige and me. You’re new. Some haven’t accepted you yet. Paige respected you enough to add you.”

I tilted my head back, forcing the tears down.

“So what?”

Mason paused. His voice dropped.

“Just apologize in the group chat. Say you don’t mind.”

“Paige… she’s crying so hard right now. She blames herself. She thinks this happened because she added you to the group.”

My chest went ice-cold.

So because Paige was crying, I’d to bow my head to the people who’d insulted me.

He said something else, but I couldn’t hear it anymore.

Tears blurred everything. I choked out, “Mason, we’re done.”

“I’m not getting married. I won’t sign the marriage paperwork either.”

Mason didn’t respond.

The receiver was covered. I heard the faint rustle of plastic and paper, then Paige’s sobs.

Then Mason began soothing her patiently.

“It’s okay. Claire said she doesn’t blame you. She’s just too sensitive.”

“Wipe your tears. You’re going onstage soon. Didn’t you want to look beautiful in the photos?”

Once Paige quieted down, Mason’s impatient voice returned.

“Enough. Go apologize in the group right now. We’re supposed to be getting married today. Why are you throwing another tantrum? I don’t have time to coax you.”

He scoffed when he remembered what I’d just said.

“Besides, do you really think you can walk away?”

Ten years together. He didn’t believe I’d actually leave.