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Chapter 5
Nina left Julian’s number with the staff at the clinic and stepped out into the chilly Aspenridge air.
Moments later, her phone buzzed with a message.
Wedding rehearsal. Bridesmaid needed. Below it was the address of a church.
She stared at the screen for a long second, then sighed and called a cab.
The chapel was modest, but everything about it had been carefully curated–white doves in cages, pale roses lined up along the pews, sunlight filtering through stained–glass windows. Not extravagant, but sincere.
Julian had always been like this when he loved someone–meticulous, wholehearted. Willing to give everything.
Inside the bridal lounge, he and Samantha were poring over a bouquet catalog, heads bowed in discussion. The scene hit Nina with a
silent ache.
Samantha turned as Nina entered, eyes lighting up. “Perfect timing! Can you check if my jewelry’s on right? Oh–shoot, I forgot the
bracelet!”
She opened her case and pulled out a bracelet. A silver chain with twin embedded stones.
Nina’s breath caught. That was the custom couple’s bracelet she had designed two years ago—for her and Julian.
He had promised to get it made and gift it to her on their seventh anniversary.
Her voice came out low. “Where did you get that?”
Samantha smiled. “Julian gave it to me. The night the power went out last year–he stayed over, and we made it official. He surprised
me with this that night.”
Nina’s throat went dry. “What day was that?”
“February seventeenth,” Samantha said after a brief pause.
Nina swayed on her feet.
February seventeenth.
Their anniversary.
Her mind blanked. She could barely hear anything else.
Moments later, someone called Samantha’s name and she left the room.
Silence fell. Julian remained.
Nina stared at the floor. Her voice trembled. “You told me you were at the ER that night.”
Julian stood still. Then he said quietly, “I lied.”
She blinked. “So February twenty–third? You said it was a hospital team dinner.”
“It was Samantha’s birthday.”
“March sixth–you said there was a late surgery.”
“We were at an amusement park.”
“March fifteenth?”
“She had a nightmare. I stayed over.”
Julian met her gaze, unwavering. This time, he didn’t wait for her to ask–he just continued.
“April seventh, I told you I had a three–day conference—but I was in Palmcrest Beach with her. April thirteenth, we hiked Mount Horizon. April twenty–second, we visited Clearwater Lake. May third, we got back from a trip to Japan. She said she wanted to get married. So on May fourth, I broke up with you.”
Phapter 5
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Chapter 5
He said it all without flinching.
Nina’s chest rose and fell, like she couldn’t catch her breath. Her voice cracked.
“You… you’re telling me you lied to me for months? That you were already with her–while still with me?”
Julian didn’t answer.
She wanted to scream. Shake him. But all she could do was whisper, “Why? Why did you do this to me? I didn’t do anything wrong.”
His voice was quiet. “Does it matter now?”
Nina’s vision blurred. If this had happened a year ago, she would’ve demanded an apology, railed at him for his betrayal. But now- now she was dying.
In a few days, she’d be gone.
And suddenly, it all felt pointless.
The door creaked open. Samantha returned, smiling brightly. “Rehearsal’s about to start. What were you guys talking about?”
Nina quickly turned away and wiped at her face. “Nothing.”
She followed them out into the church.
The officiant stood at the altar, explaining the order of the ceremony. Nina stayed near the back, silent.
“The bride will enter from the main doors,” he said. “The maid of honor will escort her, then place her hand in the groom’s.”
Nina clenched her fists.
“Then the vows,” the officiant continued. “Julian, do you remember your lines?”
She looked up.
Julian was holding Samantha’s hand, looking down at her like she was the only person in the world.
“I vow to take this woman as my wife. To comfort her, protect her, cherish her, and hold her as my treasure. In sickness and in health, in wealth and in want, I will stand by her—forever.”
His tone was warm. Devoted.
He had never looked at Nina like that.
She stood motionless in the corner, chest aching, breath shallow. This–this was the wedding she used to dream about.
The same man who, ten minutes ago, calmly confessed to tearing her heart apart.
And now she was expected to smile and play the supporting role while he lived out his fairytale.
It was beyond cruel.
Nina turned toward the exit.
And then the officiant’s voice rang out-
“Next, the maid of honor will come forward to deliver her blessing to the couple.”
