We Planned Nine Weddings, All Canceled For His Superstitious Childhood Friend Chapter 01

We Planned Nine Weddings, All Canceled For His Superstitious Childhood Friend Chapter 01

Julian Prescott and I had planned nine weddings together, and every single one had been called off because Sienna Cole—the girl he grew up with—was known for her tarot and astrology readings.

The first time, our wedding officiant walked under a ladder on his way in. Sienna called it a bad omen, so the wedding was canceled.

The second time, the limo arrived thirty seconds late. She said the timing would bring bad luck, so that wedding was canceled too.

The third time, she found out the photographer was a Scorpio and said the signs were incompatible, so the wedding was canceled again.

By the day of wedding number ten, I was in the bridal suite, about to change into my dress, when Julian stopped me.

“Sienna just did a reading. According to her, you shouldn’t be at the altar while you’re on your period. She’ll stand in for you for the ceremony.”

Sienna hooked a finger beneath his belt and tightened it one notch before looking up at me.

“Mara, don’t get the wrong idea. If Julian and I were ever going to happen, you never would’ve had a chance.”

Julian looked down at her and chuckled.

“Mara, it’s just for show. If you still want to marry me, then do as I say.”

After ten years together, he had finally stopped making me wait—only to hand my wedding to someone else.

I slipped off my ring and turned away.

“Then finish the ceremony with her. I’ll make it legal with someone else.”

…

The bridal suite went dead silent for several seconds.

Julian frowned, clearly irritated.

“Mara, this isn’t something I can take lightly. I can’t risk bringing bad luck on my family.”

“And after nine weddings have fallen apart, everyone in our circle knows the story. Who else do you think would marry you now? I’m the only one.”

The best man scoffed.

“Julian, your fiancée is so ungrateful.”

“If it were me, I’d have dumped her a long time ago!”

Julian’s mother looked furious too.

“What is wrong with you? Sienna is only trying to protect you from bad luck. Instead of being grateful, you’re throwing it back in her face?”

My best friend tugged on my sleeve and lowered her voice.

“Mara, don’t do anything rash. When Julian got sick, Sienna was the one who donated a kidney. She really is trying to do what’s best for both of you…”

Sienna donated the kidney?

I looked up, stunned.

“I was the one who donated—”

“Mara!”

Sienna cut me off before I could finish. She hurried over and grabbed my hand.

“You can’t be reckless about something as serious as marriage. I’m only trying to protect you from bad luck. I have no ulterior motive. I just want you and Julian to have a safe, happy life together.”

My stomach turned. I yanked my hand away, sending Sienna stumbling back.

Julian rushed over and caught her around the waist.

“Are you hurt?”

Then he looked at me, his expression hardening.

“Mara Bennett! Sienna is an expert at tarot and birth-chart readings, and she saved my life. She wouldn’t make this up.”

“She’s doing this for your own good. You’re thirty years old. Can you act like it for once?”

I’d heard “for my own good” so many times that I couldn’t stand those words anymore.

When we took a family portrait, Sienna said, “The center spot is bad for your energy.” I was pushed to the far edge, with half my face cut out of the final photo.

On my birthday, I sat in a restaurant until closing, watching an entire table of food go cold. I found out later that Sienna had said it was a bad day to go out, so Julian never even left the house.

When I tried to plan a trip before the wedding, I made three different itineraries and booked the flights and hotel. One sentence from her—“Your energy is off. Don’t travel right now.”—and Julian canceled everything without even asking me.

For ten years, every time my hopes were crushed, every time I was hurt, every time I fell apart, Julian brushed it all aside with the same dismissive line.

“She’s doing it for your own good.”

I’d had enough. I never wanted to hear that “for your own good” excuse again.

I set the ring on the vanity and walked out. As the door clicked shut behind me, laughter spilled from the room.

“Let’s bet on it. I say she makes it until tonight this time.”

Julian sounded bored and utterly certain.

“Then you’re going to lose.”

“Last time she was in the hospital for more than a week, I never showed up once, and she still couldn’t even bring herself to get mad at me. Today she was one step away from marrying me. You really think she’s going to walk away?”

I stopped short.

I almost laughed at myself.

For ten years, every fight had ended the same way: I swallowed my hurt, backed down, and compromised.

But this time, I would never go back.