The Wedding Where I Was The Witness, Not The Bride Chapter 06

The Wedding Where I Was The Witness, Not The Bride Chapter 06

I later learned what happened that night.

He adjusted Wren’s collar and said earnestly, “Your brother-in-law belongs to your sister, He’s

Clementine’s husband.”

Wren’s face crumpled. “Then why did you marry me? If you married me, it means you like me.”

Her voice rose, tearful. “You gave me her bouquet. You gave me her ring. You even sided with me when she was upset. Mom says you care about me but you’re too shy to say it. If you really cared about Clementine, how could you just stand by while all this happened?”

She fumbled for her phone, scrolling slowly. Just as Grayson was about to lose patience and tell her to stop, she held it up, her eyes glistening, her nose red. “Look at what her friends are saying about

her.”

He took it. The gloating words stung:

[Did you hear? Clementine got dumped by Grayson Ward.]

[I knew it she crushed on him in college, followed him for seven years, and still couldn’t even get

a label.]

[She left like a stray dog.]

[I’ve got new photos of the loser.]

He opened them. Me, standing on the curb with my luggage. Pale. Exhausted. The bags looking like they might crush me.

The more he read, the worse he felt. How had he let so much slip by?

[How pathetic. I remember in college, she traveled all the way to take care of him when he was sick, and posted online about love conquering distance. I’ve laughed at her for years.]

Grayson’s expression shifted. That was when he’d been at his lowest. Down and out, sick in a crappy rental, fever burning for three days. He’d thought he wouldn’t make it. Then I’d knocked on his

door.

I’d stayed by his side for a week. Since there was no electric pot, I brewed herbal tea with honey in a kettle, running to several different supermarkets to find honey. At night, with no heating, we curled up together on that narrow bed like two half-frozen animals.

He’d been so moved then, kissing my brow, whispering: “Clementine, no matter how your family, treats you-in my heart, you’re the only princess.”

Now he looked up and saw the wedding photo on the wall. The girl in the frame was smiling bright, arm linked through his. But it wasn’t me. It was Wren.

His throat closed. His eyes reddened.

He’d made a promise. And he’d broken it. He jumped up, opened my chat, typed and deleted and

typed again.

Grayson: [Clementine, are you still mad?]

Deleted.

Grayson: [I’ll make it up to you. You’re the only Mrs. Ward I’ll ever have. Okay?]

Sent.

A red exclamation mark.

He frowned. This time, I’d gone too far.