Your Love Came Late, I Chose Another

Chapter 2

Lily had never spent enough time around Aaron to notice anything was off. As far as she knew, the man standing here was exactly who he claimed to be.

"Yvonne, a ring's just a symbol," she said with a warm smile. "You're finally marrying Aaron. After all these years, you've finally gotten what you've been waiting for."

She meant it kindly. She had watched me chase Aaron for years. But some dreams weren't rewarded for persistence.

Sometimes, no matter how long you waited, the storm never passed.

The makeup artist I had hired was famous for working with A-list celebrities.

One bridal session cost $200,000.

When I had balked at the price, Aaron hadn't even hesitated.

"It's our wedding day, Yvonne. Of course you should have someone better."

It was something better, not the best.

Because whenever Stella was involved, the best was always reserved for her.

A knock sounded at the door.

Before I could respond, Stella stepped into the dressing room.

Her smile was gentle and effortless. "Congratulations, Yvonne!"

For a brief moment, I froze.

Aaron followed closely behind, lingering near the doorway with one hand still on the handle. For once, he looked distinctly uneasy.

"I hope you don't mind me showing up without an invitation," Stella said lightly as she swept a lock of hair behind her ear.

The movement immediately caught Lily's attention.

Her gaze locked onto Stella's hand.

More specifically, the gold ring resting on her ring finger.

Lily's eyes widened.

"Hold on." She pointed at it. "Isn't that the Lynch family heirloom? The one that's supposed to be passed down to the future Mrs. Lynch?"

Then she turned sharply toward Aaron.

"I thought you said it was missing. So if it was lost, what's it doing on her hand?"

I looked straight at Aaron.

"Aaron," I said quietly, "would you care to explain?"

For the first time that day, I wasn't the one being questioned.

I was the one waiting for answers.

Before Aaron had a chance to respond, Stella quickly slipped the ring from her finger.

"Oh." Her eyes widened slightly. "I didn't realize it was a family heirloom. I'm sorry."

She worried her lower lip, her voice soft and shaky enough to make her look completely blameless.

Yet the second the ring left her hand, Aaron picked it up and slid it right back onto her finger.

"It's only a ring," he said dismissively. "I gave it to you. That makes it yours."

Lily nearly exploded.

"Are you serious?" she snapped. "Yvonne, forget this. We are not going through with this wedding."

I patted her hand reassuringly before turning toward Stella with a pleasant smile.

"Aaron's right. A gift belongs to the person who receives it. Thank you for coming today. But it would be quite inexcusable to come all this way to offer your blessings without even bringing a congratulatory gift, don't you think?"

Lily let out a dry laugh. "Exactly! You may be Aaron's sister in name only, but since Aaron dotes on you so much, surely you ought to give your big brother and his new wife a lavish wedding gift."

Stella's expression stiffened instantly.

For the first time since entering the room, she seemed painfully aware that Aaron was having a marriage.

Back in college, she and Aaron had been the golden couple everyone admired.

Then her mother married Aaron's father.

Just like that, the relationship everyone envied became the relationship no one could acknowledge.

She fled overseas with a broken heart, while Aaron stayed behind and never truly moved on.

Lily had struck directly at the wound neither of them could hide.

A flash of resentment crossed Stella's face.

She shot Lily a venomous look before spinning around and storming out, her heels striking the floor in rapid, uneven clicks.

Aaron took a step after her immediately.

I called out before he could leave. "Are you really walking away?"

He turned back, frustration evident in his eyes.

"You know how much her mom and my dad's marriage affected Stella. There was no reason to throw that in her face."

The moment he finished speaking, he headed after her without another thought.

I watched him disappear down the hallway and smiled to myself.

It was a sad smile, a defeated one.

Lily looked at me with undisguised worry. "Yvonne, are you honestly still planning to marry him?"

I returned to the vanity and settled into the chair.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?"

After all, my real groom was on his way to marry me.