Chapter 4
I staggered to my feet, staring at him in disbelief.
It was nearly eleven at night, and he was throwing me out.
I remembered how, in the past, even when I just wanted to take a walk late at night, he would insist on coming with me.
But now, he held his chin high, unwilling to spare me even a glance.
A sharp ache stung my nose.
How many times today had he lost his temper with me for Vivian’s sake?
No matter what I said or did, in his eyes, I was always in the wrong.
And today was supposed to be our wedding day.
I closed my eyes, swallowed my pride, and fled that suffocating house without looking back–didn’t even bother to grab my things.
***
No sooner had I returned to the Hoffman’s residence than my phone buzzed.
It was a video from Vivian.
I knew I shouldn’t open it, but my finger moved on its own, pressing play.
On the screen, Isaac was holding Vivian tenderly, his eyes closed as he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, his face soft with affection.
His voice was tinged with regret.
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“Vivian, if only I’d met you sooner, I never would have gotten together with Lori. You’re so talented, and so driven in medicine. And her? She just leans on her family’s influence, never takes anything seriously.”
“The Wilcox family has practiced medicine for generations. If I had actually married her, our reputation would have been ruined sooner or later.”
Every word was like a poisoned needle, precisely targeting my most vulnerable spots.
Vivian had effortlessly become his protégé through her father’s medical connections.
That was what he called “talented.”
Meanwhile, I had refused family resources, starting from the bottom and climbing step by step to become the Investment Director at the Hoffman Group.
But in his eyes, that was just “never takes anything seriously.”
So this was what I meant to him–nothing at all.
How could he ever have truly loved me?
I set my phone aside as tears soaked my pillow.
I tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.
Just as dawn broke, Austin called.
“Wifey, did you sleep well?”
His voice was bubbling over with excitement.
“I just landed in Milan. I was so wired on the flight I couldn’t sleep a
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wink. I still can’t believe you actually married me.”
His tone suddenly softened.
“Wifey, I already miss you. Do you miss me?”
Wifey?
That word snapped me back to reality.
It hit me yesterday, in a fit of anger, I’d gone and married Austin.
“Wifey? Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you… regretting it?”
His voice was thick with disappointment.
“No,” I replied softly.
Austin and I had grown up together. I couldn’t say for sure if he truly loved me, but at least I knew who he was.
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The Clayton family was a perfect match for my family–he really was the ideal choice for marriage.
He let out a huge sigh of relief, his energy returning.
“I’ll be back tomorrow! Let’s pick out wedding rings together! I know we rushed the certificate, but I won’t skip the proposal or the wedding–none of those moments should be missed!
“You just focus on being the most beautiful bride. Leave everything else
to me.
I couldn’t help but laugh, agreeing to his plans.
That was Austin.
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With him, everything was always taken care of. All I ever had to do was follow his lead.
But Isaac…
All I could remember was his hurried back, always rushing away. Even our wedding was something I had to bring up first.
He’d frowned and said, “It’s only been five years—don’t you think it’s too soon to get married?”
So this was the difference between loving and not loving. It was so painfully clear.
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