He Thought I’d Wait

Chapter 2

That afternoon, a new name appeared in the wedding planning group chat.

Ethan had added Serena, with the label "Bride."

My original label was still there, also "Bride."

Two identical labels sat side by side. The planner was quiet for a long moment before privately messaging me to ask if this was part of the ceremony.

I replied.

Zara: No. The bride changed. I'm out.

She sent a string of question marks.

The next second, Ethan posted in the group chat.

Ethan: Zara's just emotional right now. Everyone focuses on Serena for the time being. I'll sort things out after the wedding.

He always did this. Whenever my reaction didn't fit his plan, he called it "emotional." In his mind, I wasn't capable of making decisions. I was just temporarily upset and would come around after some coaxing.

I didn't argue in the group chat. I called the hotel directly.

The venue contract was under my name. I had paid the first installment of $25,000 myself. The hotel manager listened for a long time, then asked if I wanted to cancel everything.

I said, "Keep the banquet, but cancel everything booked under my name. The stage backdrop, welcome sign, table cards, and guest rooms all need to be re-confirmed with a new payer."

The manager reminded me that last-minute changes would incur fees.

"Deduct it from my deposit. Refund the rest to my account."

Within half an hour, notifications started popping up in the group chat.

Hotel Manager: Main stage design: paused. Wedding suite: canceled. Photography team: contract terminated.

The original 52 tables were reduced to 20, with a basic menu only. The remaining items required the groom's side to pay $200,000 before 6 p.m., or the hotel would not guarantee the date.

Serena left the group chat first.

Ethan called immediately. "What do you mean by canceling the venue?"

"I didn't cancel it. I just canceled the parts I paid for."

"You know Serena doesn't have the energy to start over."

"Then you should pay quickly instead of calling me."

"Zara, when did you become so calculating?"

I laughed. "Probably around the time you decided to use my wedding as a favor."

There was a pause on the other end.

Ethan softened his voice. "I know this is hard on you. You've seen Serena's condition. She even paused her chemo for this. The doctor said if this round of treatment doesn't work, she might only have 3 months left."

"So?"

"So we have a lifetime ahead of us. She only has 3 months."

He had said the same thing at noon. At the time, it had just made me sad. Now I finally understood what it meant.

He was willing to take my wedding because he believed I had a lifetime to wait. My time was abundant, so it could be wasted. My body was healthy, so my suffering didn't matter. I loved him, so no matter where I was pushed aside, I would always come back.

"Ethan," I asked, "what if she doesn't just want a day?"

"She won't."

"What if she wants you to stay with her for those 3 months?"

"I will. You can help take care of her too."

He said it so naturally that I couldn't find the words to respond. He wanted my wedding to go to another bride, and after that, he wanted me to help him care for her.

I hung up and muted the wedding planning group chat.

That evening, Ethan's mother came with a gift box. She placed a pair of gold bangles on the coffee table as soon as she walked in.

"Zara, these are from me. Just bear with it on the wedding day. After Serena is gone, our family will throw you an even bigger ceremony."

"There's no need."

"What girl doesn't want a wedding? I know you've always been generous. You've never made a fuss when Serena came back all these years. Just endure this one last time. Think of it as doing Ethan a favor."

I looked at the bangles. 6 years ago, when Ethan was struggling with his business and his mother needed surgery, the family couldn't afford the hospital bills. I sold the gold bangles my grandmother had left me to cover the $50,000.

That night, Ethan held me and promised he would buy me a better pair someday.

Now they had finally arrived. They were meant to convince me to give my wedding to another woman. I pushed the box back.

"Mrs. Chase, do you remember my old bangles?"

Her hand paused. Her expression turned uneasy. "Why bring up the past now?"

"No reason. I just realized that when a promise is delayed too long, what you get later is never the same."

I stood up and opened the door. "Take the bangles back. There won't be a rescheduled wedding. I'm calling off the engagement."

She laughed it off. "Young people always say things like that when they fight. Ethan said you'd get over it in a couple of days."

Even as she left, she didn't believe I was serious.

30 minutes later, a new agenda appeared in the mutual friends group chat.

Ethan had changed "Bride Zara Hayes enters" to "Bride Serena Vance enters." Below it, he added, "Zara Hayes will be present to hand over the rings."

Someone thought it was a joke and asked if it was some kind of proposal game. Ethan replied seriously.

Ethan: Serena's condition is delicate. Zara has already agreed. Please don't ask too many questions in front of her.

Then he messaged me privately.

Ethan: You can just sit in the front row. You don't have to be a bridesmaid if you don't want to. But it would be best if you handed the rings to us during the exchange. Serena will feel less guilty if she sees you support us.

I stared at those words for a long time. He didn't just want my wedding. He wanted me to personally hand them the rings and put an official stamp on his betrayal.

I replied in the group chat.

Zara: I have not agreed to this, and I will not be attending. Please refer to my later announcement.

Then I removed all 137 guests from my side from the shared list. Ethan called quickly. I didn't answer. He restored the list. I removed it again. The third time, I permanently deleted the shared link and kept only a local copy.

The 52-table wedding suddenly lost nearly a third of its guests. The hotel reminded them that with the reduced number, the original ballroom might no longer be available.

This was the first time Ethan truly lost something because of my departure.