The Wedding Was a Trap

Chapter 2

When I returned home, the furniture Nathan had carefully chosen made the entire place feel like a cruel joke.

He had pursued me for 3 months. One day, he had stood before me with flowers and confessed that he had fallen in love with me. I was surprised because everyone in our dorm knew he and Vanessa had feelings for each other.

As if he had anticipated my concern, he volunteered an explanation.

"Claire Bennett, I will never be with Vanessa."

I still refused his flowers and walked away, but Nathan forced his way into my life. When I had a fever, he delivered cold medicine in a downpour. When my academic adviser criticized me, he stepped forward and explained that another group member had made the mistake.

He knew everything I liked and disliked, yet whenever I thanked him, he only scratched his head and smiled.

"It's fine. I just want you to be happy."

My heart softened, and before long, we were together. Yet now everyone called me the other woman.

Nathan didn't return, even late that night. When I checked my phone, there was no message from him. Instead, a post appeared on my screen.

Vanessa: [My roommate stole my merit-based graduate admission offer. I was furious, so I asked my childhood sweetheart to play with her feelings. Now everyone hates her for being the other woman, while he and I look like lovers reunited after years apart.]

The comments followed.

A: [Can someone steal a merit-based graduate admission offer? Isn't it based on grades?]

Vanessa: [She got it by sleeping with a college adviser! How else could she have that high grades?]

Vanessa: [She deserves to be played. If she's willing to use s*x to get ahead, she can spend the rest of her life coming second to me in love.]

Photos appeared beneath the post. Vanessa and I had matching purses and matching jewelry. Even the engagement ring on her finger was better than mine.

Nathan replied from his main account.

Nathan: [I did everything I promised you back then, but Claire and I are engaged now. She is my partner. What we had is over.]

I looked down at the ring on my hand and laughed. 'So he does remember our engagement. He even knows he should keep his distance from Vanessa. I simply don't want to marry a liar anymore.'

The ring dug painfully into my knuckle. I took it off and set it on the cabinet. As I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, one thought consumed me.

'What have I been to him for the past 3 years? I've been nothing more than a prop meant to strengthen their bond, merely one part of their little game. What does that make all the kindness he has shown me? Our upcoming wedding is merely a safe harbor where a liar can pretend he has turned over a new leaf. I don't want a marriage like that.'

Early the next morning, banging noises came from the living room. Nathan sat beside the coffee table with the bridal bouquet he had caught at the wedding the day before. He was arranging it inside a frame.

"Fresh flowers don't last. I'm turning them into dried flowers so they'll keep."

I pressed my lips together. Nathan hated anything troublesome. The last time I had asked him to build a LEGO set with me, he had refused without hesitation.

"It's a waste of time."

Yet Nathan would do anything Vanessa wanted. I finally realized that the Nathan I knew had never been his true self.

Before I could speak, the guest room door opened. Vanessa emerged wearing the pajamas and slippers I had planned to wear on my wedding night. She smiled at me.

"You're awake."

She sounded completely at home.

Nathan rose and looked at me.

"Vanessa is frail, and the doctor told her to rest. She has nowhere to stay in this city, so I brought her here."

After a brief silence, he added, "I slept on the couch last night."

I laughed. The sight of her dressed in my pajamas made my eyes sting.

"Nathan Foster, what if I tell you to throw her out right now?"

He didn't hesitate.

"Claire, stop making a scene."

'I'm making a scene?' I wanted to demand what I had done to deserve that accusation. Countless protests rose to my lips, but when I looked at them, my voice came out calm.

"Nathan Foster, cancel the wedding."