He Chose Her At My Wedding

Chapter 3

I pulled myself together and was about to head back to the room when my phone buzzed. The moment I saw who it was, I stopped short.

It was Elliot Larson, my childhood best friend. Our chat thread, which we'd barely used in three years, jumped to the top of my message list. His tone was as familiar as ever.

Elliot: Heard your dad's company ran into trouble?

Before I could figure out how to reply, another message popped up.

Elliot: I'm flying back the day after tomorrow.

Elliot: Don't worry. Whatever happens, I'll help you fix it.

I hesitated, then typed back.

Gloria: No need. We can handle it ourselves.

This time, he never replied. I didn't dwell on it.

The next day, after buying lunch for my parents, I told them, "Dad, Mom, I'm going home to pack my bags, then I'll gather the things Dad needs for his stay. I'll come back later." They exchanged a glance and nodded, but said nothing.

After leaving the hospital, I took a cab straight back to the home I'd shared with Jared for a year. Since I'd decided to break up, I wanted to cut ties as cleanly and quickly as possible.

No one was home. I went straight to the bedroom and packed as fast as I could. I stuffed clothes into the suitcase and swept all my skincare off the vanity without a second thought.

As I was finishing up, I saw a large box in the corner, full of gifts Jared had given me. I remembered exactly what was in it: handwritten letters from Jared every year, handbags, and jewelry. Even the box itself was something he'd had custom-made for me. The day it arrived, he'd held me and said gently, "Gloria, we've got our whole lives ahead of us. I'll give you so many things that we'll fill one box after another. This is how I'll prove I love you."

I'd believed him. But only today did I learn that love could be an act.

I didn't want to pack anymore. I closed the suitcase and got ready to go home. Then I heard movement outside. Jared was back.

I was about to walk out when I heard Leila's voice. "Jared, is Gloria really serious about breaking up with you this time? That would be so boring. I love sneaking around with you. I love doing it in the bed you bought for the wedding. That's what makes it exciting."

I stopped mid-step. 'In our bed?' So the stains I'd noticed on the sheets lately weren't just in my head. The more I thought about it, the sicker I felt.

Jared's drawl drifted over. "She loves me too much. She's just throwing a little tantrum. But Leila, you did go too far this time. Apologize to Gloria some other day, and we'll let this drop."

Leila huffed. "Too far? Can't she take a joke? What if she finds out her dad's company lost the project because of you? Would she lose her mind?"

I went rigid. 'What did that mean? My dad's company lost the project because of Jared?'

Jared let out a contemptuous laugh. "Gloria is stubborn and independent. If she liked relying on me the way you do, why would I have gone to all this trouble? As for the lost project, of course I can replace it with something better."

Then my phone rang. It was Elliot. The ringtone cut their conversation short, and Jared opened the bedroom door. I looked up and met his eyes. It was the first time I had ever seen panic in them.

Leila saw me too and mimed shock. "Oh no, you heard all of that?"

I ignored her and looked straight at Jared, my voice trembling. "Jared, what did you mean by what you just said?"