Nine Weddings Fled I Left Him First

Chapter 2

"Julian, I'm only going to ask you one thing. Are you going to finish the ceremony or not?"

He frowned, avoiding my eyes. Then he said it.

"No. I'll be right back after Nadia finds her earrings. Just wait a little longer."

Hearing him say it out loud, I felt lighter than I expected. Not hurt. Relieved.

I stood quietly on the stage, watching the whole ridiculous farce play out.

Then one of the groomsmen spoke up.

"Found them. The earrings were in Nadia's clutch the whole time. In the inner pocket."

Every eye in the room snapped to Nadia.

She had just been sobbing like her heart was breaking, insisting the family heirloom was gone, sending the entire hall into a panic. And in the end, the earrings had been sitting in her own bag the whole time.

Her face turned red. "Julian, I'm sorry. I panicked. I forgot I put them in the inner pocket."

Julian's expression turned complicated.

Tessa stepped forward quickly.

"Panicked? You cried about losing something that was in your bag the whole time? All these people have been running around for you, and a simple 'I forgot' is supposed to fix it? You ruined Clara's wedding. Happy now?"

This time, Julian said nothing.

Nadia saw no one was coming to her rescue. She started crying and made to leave.

"Julian, is that what you think of me too? How could I ever ruin your wedding with Clara? If you don't want me here, then I'll go."

Julian wavered again. Of course he did. The moment Nadia cried, he always wavered.

"Enough." Julian stepped forward at once, blocking her path.

"Everyone panics and forgets things. There's no need to keep attacking her."

He looked up at me, brows tight, shaking his head helplessly.

"Clara, stop making things hard for Nadia. She's timid. It's just a ceremony. Give me three minutes."

I couldn't help it. I laughed.

"Julian, last time was our seven-year anniversary. And our wedding. One phone call from Nadia, and you left me in the hall alone until the hotel closed. You said we'd do it next time."

His expression changed. He walked quickly to the edge of the stage, his voice dropped so low only I could hear.

"Clara, that time was my fault. Just go on stage first today, okay? I promise. This is the last time. After this, I'll do whatever you say."

He held his hand out to me, palm up. The way he used to when he was coaxing me.

I looked at that hand and remembered seven years ago, the first time he held mine. The same gesture.

"Julian, do you remember how many times you've promised me 'the last time'?"

His hand froze in midair.

I watched him standing there, guarding Nadia behind him, and felt my heart sink, inch by inch, until it went numb.

"I will finish this wedding today. But the groom might not be you."