Chapter 12
Two days later, at the wedding venue.
The officiant’s voice rose with the swelling music.
“Benjamin, do you take Victoria to be your wife, to stand by her through thick and thin, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health?”
Silence fell over the room.
Benjamin’s mind drifted.
He remembered their first Christmas together.
She stood in the snow, barely visible against the whiteout, her cheeks frozen red as her boots crunched through the powder.
She held a candy apple like a microphone.
She asked: “Benjamin, do you take Elizabeth as your wife, to stay together through sickness and health, wealth and poverty?”
At that moment, Benjamin smiled at her but took a bite of her candy apple.
“I do.”
An awkward silence fell over the scene.
The host called his name several times before Benjamin snapped back to reality.
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He frantically scanned the surroundings, circle after circle, but never caught sight of Elizabeth.
Now, unease tightened its grip on his heart.
Had she come, she would’ve seen the venue glittering with her favorite crystals, adorned with her beloved white roses and lilies. Had she looked closer, she’d have noticed the menu matched what she’d written in her romance diary.
Everything was arranged exactly to her preferences.
He wanted her to see it all and regret her choices.
Benjamin felt dazed as the wedding ceremony drew to a close.
On their first wedding night, thunder cracked suddenly. Lying on the red silk–covered bed, his thoughts drifted far away.
The day they broke up, rain poured just like this.
She feared thunder, so he’d tenderly covered her ears–yet she’d uttered words he could never move past:
“Let’s break up.”
When he demanded reasons, she replied, “Benjamin, do breakups need reasons?”
“It’s simple: I’ve fallen for someone else. I don’t love you anymore.”
“Don’t degrade yourself, Benjamin.”
Another thunderbolt split the sky. Instinctively, Benjamin pulled the woman beside him close. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
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Victoria chuckled softly. “Benjamin, I’m not scared of thunder at all.”
“Could it be… you’re the one who’s afraid?”
Benjamin froze and released his grip. It was Elizabeth who had been afraid of thunder.
His thoughts tangled and churned, leaving him nearly sleepless all night.
Perhaps wanting to prove his married life was blissful, Benjamin rose early.
He prepared a lovingly crafted breakfast for Victoria.
He deliberately made sandwiches, frying bacon and eggs before sprinkling sesame seeds.
He immediately photographed the meal and posted it on Instagram: “First day of marriage.”
Complete with a heart emoji.
Elizabeth was extremely jealous―he refused to believe someone like her, who loved to stir up trouble, could just sit still?
Hadn’t she done all this to win his forgiveness?
He refused–absolutely refused to let her think he couldn’t find happiness without her.
When Victoria came for breakfast, she didn’t touch her food.
Looking aggrieved, she said: “Benjamin, I’m allergic to sesame.”
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Benjamin suddenly remembered–Elizabeth was the one who loved sprinkling sesame on sandwiches.
He replied flatly: “Alright, I’ll remember next time.”
When Benjamin arrived at the office,
an HR staff knocked abruptly: “Mr. Hayes, Elizabeth resigned without completing exit procedures. How should we handle her belongings?”
Benjamin’s gaze fell upon the box in the HR’s arms.
Inside lay only a few notebooks and a daily–use cup. He flipped through the pages,
then froze upon discovering a protective amulet.
He’d gifted it for her birthday–blessed at the monastery to protect her from harm.
But now it was broken, shattered into pieces!
