True Love Won’t Wait

Chapter 3

I looked down at the ring he'd held on to for eight years, then back up at him.

"Yes. I'm sure."

No one seemed able to believe that the wedding had simply changed grooms halfway through.

But just before we exchanged rings, Damian raised a hand to stop the ceremony.

"Evelyn, look at me."

I lifted my eyes to his.

"Are you marrying me because this is what you really want, or because you want to get back at Adrian?"

"Because I want to marry you."

"You're sure?"

"I am."

Only then did the tension ease from his jaw, and something bright flickered in his eyes.

"You can still change your mind." Damian opened the ring box, his expression turning serious. "If you want to leave, I'll take you out of here right now. No one will dare hold what happened today against you."

His gaze stayed on mine.

"But if you put on this ring, there's no taking it back. Morettis marry for life. The only way out is death."

The ballroom fell so quiet that I could hear people breathing.

Then Damian asked, with all the solemnity of a vow, "Will you marry me?"

I held out my hand. "I will."

He searched my face for another moment before lowering his head and pressing a kiss to the back of my hand. His fingers trembled almost imperceptibly as he slid the ring onto my finger.

At 11:58 a.m., Gabriel pronounced us husband and wife.

Applause filled the ballroom.

For the first time in a long while, I felt completely at peace. This time, I wasn't the one being left behind.

I posted a wedding photo on X.

Evelyn: This time, the groom didn't keep me waiting.

By the time Adrian and Chloe arrived at St. Matthew's, it was already 1:35 p.m.

The doctor examined Chloe and, once again, found nothing seriously wrong. Still, she clung to Adrian's hand, insisting she was scared and refusing to go through with the next test.

Adrian sighed and sat down on a bench in the hospital hallway. He pulled out his phone, wanting to text me.

He wanted to tell me how much he was looking forward to the wedding, how much he was looking forward to our future, and how much he hoped I would forgive him.

In his mind, we would become the most exemplary couple. We'd have three kids. We'd mow the lawn together on weekends.

But those beautiful visions felt like mist, as if a single gust of wind could blow them away.

And for the first time, Adrian felt a flicker of unease.

Ten minutes later, his business partner Ryan called.

"Congratulations! Just saw the wedding photos."

Adrian frowned. "What wedding photos? I wasn't even there. Who did she marry?"

Silence filled the other end of the line.

Adrian went still.

Chloe was saying something beside him, her head resting against his shoulder, but he no longer heard a word.

Finally, Ryan spoke, "Adrian, you're not the groom."

His next words landed like a blow.

"She married your worst enemy, Damian Moretti."