Abandoned at the altar,crowned in his regret

“Sophia, are you sure you’re ready?” My mother’s voice trembled just outside the dressing room. I looked at my reflection but didn’t answer right away. Ready? How could anyone ever be ready to marry the person they had loved for ten years? I slowly touched the white lace covering my shoulder. The wedding dress shimmered beneath the soft morning light pouring through the tall windows. Tiny crystals sparkled across the fabric like drops of rain. I smiled at the woman staring back at me. She looked beautiful. She also looked terrified. “I’m ready, Mom,” I finally whispered. The door opened a little, and my mother stepped inside with watery eyes. “Oh, sweetheart…” She stopped in front of me and placed both hands on my cheeks. “You look exactly like the little girl who used to wear my curtains and pretend they were wedding dresses.” I laughed softly. “I almost ruined your favorite curtains.” “You ruined all of them.” We both laughed. For a few seconds, everything felt normal. No billionaire guests. No reporters. No business deal disguised as a marriage. Just my mother and me. She carefully fixed a loose strand of my hair before stepping behind me to fasten the long veil. “You’ve dreamed about this day for so long.” “I know.” “Do you still love him?” Her question hung quietly between us. I lowered my eyes. “I never stopped.” Mom didn’t speak. She simply hugged me from behind. I leaned into her embrace, closing my eyes. “I just wish…” she murmured. “What?” “I wish he loved you the way you love him.” The smile on my lips faded. I looked back at the mirror. So did I. … Ten years. That was how long Ethan Steve had lived inside my heart. I was fourteen when I first saw him at my father’s company banquet. He was taller than everyone else, dressed in a simple black suit while everyone around him tried too hard to impress people. Someone spilled wine across his jacket. Instead of getting angry, he smiled politely and said, “It’s only a suit.” That moment stayed with me. Years later, when we met again in college, he didn’t remember me. I remembered everything. The way he studied until sunrise. The way he never joined parties. The way he always carried the weight of his family’s business on his shoulders. I fell in love quietly. He never noticed. Maybe he never looked. Even after graduation, our worlds remained connected because our families often worked together. When my father’s company started losing money last year, I watched him grow older overnight. Every phone call brought another problem. Every meeting ended with another investor walking away. Then Ethan appeared. Steve Group agreed to save my father’s company. But there was one condition. Marriage. No romance. No promises. Just a legal agreement that benefited both families. Dad cried when he told me. “You don’t have to do this.” I held his hands. “I want to.” That wasn’t a lie. I wanted Ethan before the deal ever existed. If marriage gave me one chance to stand beside him, I was willing to take it. Even if he never loved me back. … A knock interrupted my thoughts. “Sophia?” It was my best friend, Lily. “Can I come in?” “Of course.” She walked inside carrying a small white box tied with a silver ribbon. “For the bride.” “You already gave me a gift.” “This one is different.” She placed it in my hands. “Open it.” Inside was a silver bracelet. Simple. Elegant. A tiny heart charm hung from it. I blinked. “Lily…” “It’s from me.” “It’s beautiful.” She helped fasten it around my wrist. “When today gets overwhelming, touch this.” I smiled. “It’ll remind you that I’m here.” I wrapped my arms around her. “Thank you.” She hugged me tightly before suddenly pulling away. “Wait.” “What?” “No crying.” “I’m not crying.” “You have tears in your eyes.” “They’re happy tears.” “They still count.” We laughed again. “I spent an hour on my makeup,” she warned. “If you ruin it, I’ll never forgive you.” I wiped the corners of my eyes carefully. “Better?” “Much.” … My phone vibrated on the vanity table. My heart skipped. Ethan. For one foolish second, I imagined the message would say something impossible. You look beautiful. I can’t wait to marry you. Thank you for choosing me. Instead… Running a little late. Start without worrying. That was all. No heart. No smile. No warmth. Just another business message. I stared at the screen longer than I should have. Lily quietly took the phone from my hand and placed it face down. “Don’t.” “What?” “Don’t let one text decide your whole day.” I forced a smile. “You’re right.” But somewhere deep inside me… It still hurt. … Outside, music floated through the hotel corridors. Guests had begun arriving. The wedding planner hurried past the open door. Florists carried fresh white roses. Photographers adjusted expensive cameras. Someone announced that several television stations had arrived. Of course they had. The country’s youngest billionaire CEO was getting married. Every newspaper wanted the story. I took one deep breath after another. This was really happening. … Dad entered a few minutes later. He looked handsome in his tuxedo. He also looked nervous. “My little girl.” His voice cracked before he could finish. “Oh no.” I laughed. “Mom already cried.” “I promised myself I wouldn’t.” “You promised.” “I lied.” He pulled me into his arms. For a long moment, neither of us spoke. “I’ve always been proud of you,” he whispered. “No matter what happens today…” I frowned. “What do you mean?” He quickly smiled. “I mean… marriage isn’t easy.” I searched his face. Something seemed different. He looked worried. Almost guilty. Before I could ask why, his phone rang. He checked the caller ID. His expression changed immediately. “I have to take this.” “Dad?” “It’ll only take a minute.” He hurried outside. The door closed behind him. I watched it for several seconds. A strange feeling settled in my chest. Cold. Heavy. As if something invisible had entered the room. … Lily tried distracting me by adjusting my veil again. The wedding planner returned. “We’re almost ready.” The musicians began playing downstairs. Guests were taking their seats. The ceremony would begin in fifteen minutes. I reached for my bouquet. White roses. Ethan once told a reporter they were the only flowers he actually liked because they weren’t “too dramatic.” I’d remembered that. Of course I had. I remembered everything about him. Even the little things he probably forgot saying. A soft knock sounded again. This time it wasn’t gentle. Three quick knocks. The wedding planner opened the door. A young hotel employee stood outside, breathing hard. “Excuse me…” He looked directly at me. “There… there’s someone downstairs asking for Mr. Ethan Steve.” The planner frowned. “Who?” The employee swallowed. “A woman.” Silence filled the room. “What woman?” Lily asked. The employee’s face had gone pale. He hesitated. Then he spoke words that made every heartbeat inside my chest stop. “She says… she’s carrying the groom’s baby.”