Your Love Came Late, I Chose Another

The second I laid eyes on the groom, I knew it wasn't Aaron Lynch, but Samuel Lynch. Aaron's twin brother. The wedding venue buzzed with laughter and celebration. Amid the noise, Samuel bent toward me and spoke under his breath. "Yvonne, Aaron ran into something urgent. He'll make it to the ceremony later. And he asked me to fill in." Something urgent? What could possibly matter more than showing up to his own wedding? Nearby, the groomsmen were all smiles, raising glasses and offering congratulations. Yet their whispered conversation drifted straight to me. "Aaron's got guts. I'll give him that. Sending Samuel to stand in? What if Yvonne notices?" "What else was he supposed to do? Stella came back today. He headed to the airport at dawn to pick her up." "Relax. Yvonne's been hopelessly in love with him for years. Even if she finds out, she'll probably just let it slide." Stella Joyce? So that was the reason. My eyes burned, but I refused to let the tears fall. Around me, the celebration carried on in full swing. I kept a smile on my face, even though it felt like it might c***k at any moment. Meanwhile, Samuel sat comfortably in the wedding car, absorbed in his phone. I quickly brushed away the moisture gathering in my eyes and opened w******p. Yvonne: [Mr. Norman, I'd like to move forward with your proposal.] There was a long-standing wedding custom in our city. Before the ceremony, the groom was expected to carry his bride home and introduce her to his family. Lynch Villa was still a short distance away. With the guests laughing and egging us on, I climbed onto Samuel's back. He staggered the moment he straightened up, almost losing his balance. A trace of annoyance flickered across his face. "Yvonne, have you ever thought about dieting? Look at Stella. She's so much lighter." Stella. Always Stella. It was almost impressive how often her name found its way into every conversation. The Lynch brothers really couldn't seem to help themselves. By the time we arrived at Lynch Villa and greeted Aaron's parents, everything felt disturbingly seamless. As though the man beside me had truly been my groom all along. Everyone claimed Aaron and Samuel were indistinguishable. I couldn't decide whether the guests genuinely hadn't noticed the difference or whether, like the groomsmen, they had chosen to pretend they hadn't. A painful lump rose in my throat. It felt hot and sharp, making every breath difficult. At exactly noon, we left for the wedding venue. My best friend, Lily, whisked me into the bridal suite for a final touch-up. "Yvonne, honestly, you're the most gorgeous bride I've ever seen!" I looked at the woman staring back from the mirror. My makeup was immaculate. My gown was everything I had dreamed of. I had spent months searching for the right artist. I had spent a small fortune on the dress. Every choice, every detail, had been made for this one day. I had wanted to be unforgettable. Just then, Aaron hurried around the corner outside the dressing room. His tie was crooked, and sweat glistened across his forehead. Lily blinked in surprise. "Wow. Is the groom seriously this nervous? The wedding hasn't even started yet, and he's already drenched." Aaron paused a few steps away and drew a steadying breath before approaching me. "You look incredible today, Yvonne." The handoff between him and Samuel must have happened in a rush. They had switched suits, but neither had bothered changing the shirts underneath. Five hours. From the 7 AM bride-pickup ceremony until now, had he really spent all that time at the airport? Or had he simply wanted every possible minute with Stella? Questions pressed against my chest, demanding answers. But when he reached me, I only smiled and adjusted the knot of his tie. "Maybe," I murmured. "Though you're not exactly looking your best today." A bridesmaid hurried over. "Yvonne, we still need the ring for the ceremony." I shifted my gaze to Aaron. Without missing a beat, he reached into his pocket and produced a velvet box. Lily grabbed it before anyone else could and snapped it open. "Wait a second." She frowned. "Isn't the Lynch family heirloom ring supposed to look completely different?" I glanced inside. The diamond caught the light immediately. It was large, dazzling, undeniably expensive, but not the ring I knew. Aaron looked perfectly composed. "The original was misplaced," he said casually. "I had another one prepared." Misplaced? How could something that important simply disappear? Seeing my expression change, Aaron's voice softened. "A ring is a ring. This one works just as well." Lily looked outraged. "Just as well? That wasn't some ordinary ring. It was your family's wedding heirloom!" One of the groomsmen quickly jumped in. "Come on, look at the size of that diamond. It probably cost a fortune. Doesn't that show how seriously Aaron takes this marriage?" The room grew uncomfortably quiet. Everyone turned to look at me, waiting to see whether I would accept the explanation. Then Aaron's phone buzzed. The second he checked the screen, something shifted in his expression. For the first time all day, he looked rattled. The number wasn't saved. It didn't need to be. I already knew who was calling. I was so disappointed. Still, I smiled. "Go ahead and answer it. It must be important." Aaron gave my shoulder a reassuring pat. Then he turned and left without a moment's hesitation. A short while later, Samuel walked in. The groom's boutonniere was pinned neatly to his lapel. Wearing an apologetic smile, he bent close and lowered his voice. "Aaron got pulled away by something urgent. He needs me to step in again."