He Thought I’d Wait

Chapter 3

The next morning, I went to the bridal boutique to pick up the wedding gown my mother had left me.

The stylist handed me the garment bag and said carefully, "Ms. Hayes, a Miss called Serena Vance came by last night to try on the gown. She said Mr. Chase had given her permission to wear it. We didn't give it to her."

I thanked her and took the gown away. My mother had never seen me get married before she passed. She left me 6 meters of French lace and said that when I was ready, I should make it into something simple, something that didn't follow trends.

It took 11 months to complete the gown. Ethan had only come to see it once at the final fitting. He said it looked beautiful, then took a call from Serena and left early.

I hadn't been angry then. Looking back now, none of it had happened suddenly. I had just made excuses for him every single time.

As soon as I stepped out of the boutique, Serena came running after me. She wasn't wearing makeup. Her face looked paler than the day before. In her hand was a new design sketch.

"Zara, please don't misunderstand. I didn't know that gown meant so much to you. Ethan only said the sizes were similar and asked me to try it on."

"Now you know."

"I'll pick another one." She bit her lip. "After the wedding, I'll also convince him to get your marriage license as soon as possible."

I stopped walking. "Convince him?"

"He didn't want me to tell you. He was afraid you'd worry." She lowered her head. "He's taking me to the city hall this morning for a consultation. The hospital only recognizes legal family members for many procedures. My parents are gone. If I need someone to sign for me later..."

She didn't finish the sentence. But I understood.

"You're getting married?"

"Only to make treatment easier."

"Ethan didn't mention that yesterday."

A flicker of panic crossed Serena's face. Then she softened her voice again. "Please don't blame him. He just didn't want to upset you. A marriage certificate is just a piece of paper. Nothing will happen between us. When I'm gone, you two can still have your wedding."

I looked at her. She wasn't meeting my eyes. She didn't just want a wedding. She wanted Ethan to stay by her side as her husband for those last three months. And I, with more life ahead of me, was supposed to wait.

"Serena, do you really believe a marriage certificate is just a piece of paper?"

She looked away. "For you two, there's still time."

"Then why do you need it so badly?"

She didn't answer.

I walked away with my gown.

I didn't go home. I took the boxes of invitations straight to the print shop. The owner opened the first box, saw the names, then looked at me. "All of them? These just came out yesterday."

"Yes. All of them."

He fed the first stack into the cutting machine. As the blade came down, I posted the cancellation notice in the friends and family group, adding.

Zara: If you've already bought tickets, please contact me. I will cover the change or cancellation fees.

No sooner had I sent it than the manager from Southford called. He said the position was still open and asked if my earlier refusal still stood.

I listened to the paper being cut stack by stack and said, "Yes. I can start in 7 days."

When the call ended, the shop owner asked me what to put on the new invites. I turned the computer screen toward him, deleted the line Two hearts, one love, a lifetime together, and left only the facts: Zara Hayes and Ethan Chase have called off their engagement. The wedding will no longer take place.

The owner hesitated. "That doesn't read like an invitation. It reads like a notice."

"It is a notice."

I was packing when Ethan finally came home. He saw the moving boxes in the living room. Panic flashed across his face for a moment, then he seemed to convince himself it would be fine. He came over and tried to hold me.

"Zara, I know you're just talking tough. Don't pack yet. After Serena is hospitalized, I'll come home every day."

I pushed him away. "Did you go to City Hall?"

His hand froze midair.

"She told you?"

"Answer me."

"Only for a consultation. The doctor said her next round of treatment is high-risk. Without any legal family, there's no one to make decisions for her."

"She could sign a durable power of attorney. She could give you medical authorization."

"Those take too long." His voice grew urgent. "Zara, this isn't about feelings. It's about saving a life."

"So you're getting married."

"For 3 months."

He grabbed my shoulders like he was making a promise. "Just 3 months at most. Once this is over, we'll get our license on schedule. I'll plan a new wedding for you. I'll cover everything."

I asked, "What if she lives longer than 3 months?"

He froze. The look on his face said he had never even considered it.

Just then, his phone buzzed. Ethan reached for it instinctively, but I caught the screen first.

Serena had sent a photo. Two bright red marriage certificates rested on her lap. Ethan's hand pressed down on one of them. The timestamp read 10:17 a.m.

Her caption: Ethan, thank you for giving me a home too.

I handed the phone back. "This is what you call a consultation?"

Ethan's face went pale. "Zara, let me explain."

"There's no need."

I slipped off my engagement ring and placed it in his palm.

"Congratulations on your wedding, Ethan."