At My Wedding, My Fiancé Said “I Do” To Another Woman

Chapter 4

The ballroom was packed with guests waiting for the bride's entrance. When the wedding march began, my mother sat in the front row with tears of excitement in her eyes. Marcus waited at the other end of the aisle to escort Katherine to Nolan. My father adjusted his cuffs as though nothing had gone wrong all day.

Katherine took Marcus's arm. She wore the gown that should have been mine, with flats hidden beneath the skirt. She walked slowly, and Marcus slowed his pace to keep her from falling.

My mother kept reminding him, "Take it slow. Don't tire Katie out."

Nolan stood at the altar with the ring in his hand. At first, he kept glancing toward a side door. As Katherine drew closer, however, he stopped looking for me.

He probably believed I would never leave. I had always been afraid of unfamiliar places, airports, crowds, and getting lost. They all believed I couldn't live without them, and that certainty made them bold enough to do whatever they wanted.

The wedding officiant began the exchange of vows. To keep the substitution hidden from the guests and preserve the appearance of the Grant and Hayes alliance, he left the bride's name out. "Nolan Grant, do you take the woman before you as your wife?"

Katherine looked up at him. The guests held their breath. My mother gripped my father's hand, and Marcus finally smiled.

Nolan hesitated for a few seconds before answering in a low voice. "I do."

Applause broke out. With tears in her eyes, Katherine held out her hand. Nolan picked up the ring and was about to place it on her finger when his executive assistant hurried in through the side door, his face drained of color.

"Mr. Grant, there is a problem."

Nolan frowned. "What is it?"

The assistant didn't answer immediately. He glanced at Katherine at the altar, then at the parents seated below. Nolan's expression darkened with impatience. "Tell me."

The assistant held a phone out to him. "Miss Hayes is not at the hotel."

Nolan froze. "Where did she go?"

"The security footage shows that she left 1 hour ago. We checked the airport transfer the hotel arranged for her and found the flight number on the booking." The assistant swallowed. "Miss Hayes's flight has already taken off."

Every trace of color vanished from Nolan's face. He snatched the phone away. The screen showed that the plane had taken off. The destination was so far away and unfamiliar that it took him a moment to recognize the name.

A scheduled message appeared at the top of the screen. I had sent it, and it contained only two lines.

Elena: Nolan, I can finally tell the difference. You are not the person I was searching for.

(End of Elena's POV)