He Said the Divorce Was Temporary, So I Made It Permanent

Chapter 3

Heavy rain fell outside the hotel on the day of the wedding.

The ceremony was about to start when I arrived. White roses filled the lobby. Guests chatted over champagne, and not one of them seemed to think the wedding was strange. All they knew was that Adrian was granting a dying girl's last wish. No one gave a thought to his wife.

I found Sophie outside a second-floor lounge. Her gown was cut like the one I'd worn, and my mother's veil fell to her waist.

She didn't look nearly as sick as Adrian had described. She even smiled when she saw me. "You came after all."

I held out my hand. "Give me the veil."

Sophie ran her fingers over the pearls along the edge. "The ceremony's about to start. Can't you wait until I'm done with it?"

"No."

The smile slowly left her eyes. "You've already handed me your husband. Why be so petty over a scrap of old netting?"

Several bridesmaids and the wedding planner arrived to move her toward the ceremony. They stopped in the doorway when they heard her.

I didn't shrink from their stares. "You're right. It's just an old piece of netting. But the dress you're wearing was altered to match the one I wore three years ago. The white roses, the piano music, the vows in the chapel—those all came from my wedding too." I looked at the ring on her left hand. "You even copied the wedding ring Adrian swore would be the only one of its kind."

The hallway slowly went quiet. Several guests turned toward us, and the way they looked at Sophie shifted.

I met her eyes and asked slowly, "Other than the bride's name, is there one thing at this wedding that actually belongs to you?"

Sophie's face turned ugly. "So what? At least Adrian wants to marry me."

"Yes, he does." I nodded. "That's why I signed the divorce agreement and had my attorney file it. I didn't come here to steal the groom. I came to take back what my mother left me." I put out my hand again, my voice level. "As for a man who can't even marry you without copying our wedding—keep him, if you want him."

Whispers rippled around us. Sophie's eyes went red. She yanked off the veil and threw it on the floor, then deliberately pinned one corner under her heel.

I bent to pick it up—and she suddenly stumbled backward, clutched her chest, and screamed. "Elena, why did you push me?"

The next second, Adrian came rushing down the corridor. He caught Sophie and pulled her protectively against him. "What did you do to her?"

The accusation came so fast he didn't bother to check what had happened.

"I didn't touch her."

"She can't handle any stress right now."

"So you believe anything she says?"

Adrian didn't answer.

Sophie clutched his lapel, tears spilling instantly. "Don't blame her. She only humiliated me in front of everyone because she can't stand to lose you."

One short sentence, and she'd convicted me all over again.

Disappointment came into Adrian's eyes. "Elena, I thought you'd at least understand what's at stake."

I gathered up my mother's veil and looked at him. "I gave up my place as your wife. I even left you the wedding. Adrian, what else do you expect me to sacrifice for the greater good?"

His expression stiffened.

I didn't wait for an answer. "Don't worry, I won't ruin your wedding. The second I signed, who you marry stopped being any of my concern."

Holding the veil, I turned toward the stairs. The whispers behind me got louder, and Sophie's face went darker.

"Elena, stop!" She shoved Adrian away, lifted her skirt, and hurried after me. Adrian frowned and followed her toward the stairs.

At the landing, Sophie suddenly grabbed my wrist.

The landing was narrow. Her yank threw me off balance.

Sophie screamed too, tipping backward over the railing.

Before she fell, she hooked a hand into Adrian's collar.

Adrian lunged forward and caught her in his arms.

I missed a step and plunged downward.

He caught my wrist just in time, or I would have fallen right then.

For a moment, he was holding me with one hand and Sophie with the other.

"Adrian, pull me up."

He gritted his teeth and tried to haul me up.

Behind him, the guests snapped out of it and came running.

Just a few more seconds and someone would reach us.

But then Sophie suddenly went limp.

"Adrian, my chest hurts..."

She slid downward.

The drag sent Adrian lurching forward.

His shoe was already on the edge of the step.

He looked down at me.

Someone behind him shouted, "Hold on!"

Just a few seconds was all it would have taken.

But Sophie slipped down another stretch.

Instinctively, I grabbed his sleeve.

"Don't let go, I'm preg—"

Before I could finish, Adrian panicked and let go of my hand, wrapping both arms around her.