The Same Wedding Dress, Two Different Brides Chapter 08

The Same Wedding Dress, Two Different Brides Chapter 08

“You didn’t forget how to take care of someone. You just stopped doing it for me and started doing it

For Vivian.”

“As long as you carry that guilt, she’ll always come before me.”

Elliot swayed almost imperceptibly.

Just then, my mom returned with fresh clothes for me.

She came to my bedside, tucked the blanket around me, and asked, “Are you still uncomfortable?”

Elliot tried several times to speak, but she wouldn’t even look at him.

Finally, he said hoarsely, “Mrs. Walsh.”

“I didn’t know Elena had been hospitalized after the crash. If I’d known, I never would’ve left her to

face all of this alone.”

“You don’t need to explain.”

My mom glanced at him, then looked away.

“I’ve seen how you’ve treated her all these years.

Elliot’s expression fell.

“Please leave. Elena needs to rest.”

He looked at my pale face for a long moment before finally leaving the room.

At the door, he said quietly, “Elena, I’ll come back tomorrow morning.”

After he left, I forced a faint smile.

“Mom, I’m okay. Go get some rest.”

I closed my eyes, my voice barely above a whisper.

She saw straight through me.

“Elena, if you’re hurting, you can cry.”

She gently took my hand.

“I used to keep telling you to be understanding because I was afraid you wouldn’t be able to let go.

I was afraid you’d make yourself miserable trying to hold on.”

“But after watching you come home hurt over and over, I suddenly understood something.”

“If you’re always the one expected to understand, it means he doesn’t care enough about how you

“Leaving him is a good thing.”

Tears burned behind my eyes.

I closed them, and the tears finally slipped free.

She was right.

Elliot had been so certain I could never walk away from seven years together.

So whenever it came down to Vivian and me, she was the one he chose to care about.

Every compromise I’d made had only convinced him he could keep hurting me.

Early the next morning, when my mom stepped out of the room, Elliot was already waiting in the

hallway.

He was holding a thermos and looked like he hadn’t slept all night.

“Mrs. Walsh, is Elena awake?”

“I made her some light soup. If she’s awake, maybe she can have a little.”

My mom didn’t take it.

“She doesn’t want anything right now.”

Elliot paused.

“Then I’ll wait until she does and bring it in.”

“You and Elena are over. You don’t need to do this.”

His voice was rough.

“Mrs. Walsh, Elena and I were together for seven years. That doesn’t disappear overnight.”

“I know you’re upset about Vivian and me. I’ll make things clear with her and keep what I owe her family separate from my relationship with Elena from now on.”

“Please don’t take away my chance to make things right with her.”

“She doesn’t need you to make things right. And I’m not going to let you keep hurting her.”

Elliot stood frozen.

Then he lowered his head, as if her words had drained the last of his strength.

But after my mom left, he still came into my room.

His eyes were bloodshot, and several times he looked as though he wanted to speak before stopping

himself.

“Elena.”

“I know you don’t want to see me right now, but at least give me a chance to make up for what I’ve

done.”

“I thought about everything last night. I was wrong. I should never have confused what I owed Vivian’s family with love, and I never should’ve made you bear the consequences.‘

“I’ll draw clear boundaries with Vivian from now on. Can you give me one more-”

“No.”

I cut him off.

The color drained from Elliot’s face.

He stared at me.

“Are you really shutting me out for good?”

I glanced at him.

“You were the one who walked away first.”

He fell silent.

Just then, Vivian called.