Chapter 1
Behind the door, I wore the wedding dress Nina Davis had designed herself, holding the carefully chosen bouquet, my heart filled with anxiety.
It still felt like a dream - I could hardly believe that Gregory Lopez and I were actually getting married.
Ten years. When I first met him, he was a gloomy teenager, insecure, timid, and quiet. I seemed to see my own reflection in him, so I gradually got closer to him. Two cold people, trying to warm each other up.
Now, before me stood carved doors surrounded by lilies. I smiled, waiting for them to open so I could walk step by step toward my happiness. From now on, I would finally have a real home.
The wedding march had already started playing. I took a deep breath, counting down in my head, when suddenly the doors burst open. Gregory's anxious face appeared before me, phone in hand, rushing past me.
"Gregory, where are you going?" Without thinking, I grabbed the corner of his jacket.
A sense of unease crept over me. He could abandon me countless times before, but this was our wedding. Not this time.
"Emma, Sophia's in really bad shape right now. She's your sister, too. If something happens to her, we'll both regret it forever." Gregory's face showed undisguised anxiety. He frowned and said quietly, "So please, just this last time. I'll make things clear with her."
"Gregory, today is your wedding day with my sister. Don't worry about me. I don't want her to hate me. If my leaving can make you two happy, I'm willing." Sophia Brown's familiar voice came through the phone.
"Sophia, I'm coming right now. Don't do anything rash." He spoke gently into the phone, looked at me deeply, then turned and left.
I tried to grab his hand, even touched his fingers, but in an instant, the warmth at my fingertips disappeared. He walked away without looking back, leaving me standing there alone, at a complete loss.
My good friend Nina immediately came to my side. "Emma, are you okay?"
My eyes stung, tears gathering. I dug my nails hard into my palm - the red manicure pressed deep into my skin. The pain helped me stay calm.
How could I be okay? Today was supposed to be my wedding day with Gregory, and at the most important moment, he walked away without looking back to find his Sophia, my so-called sister.
"What's going on? Why did Gregory suddenly run off?" Gregory's parents rushed over, demanding answers.
I said calmly, "He has more important things to do. Let's cancel the wedding. We'll just treat today as a gathering with friends and family."
My marriage to Gregory wasn't just the result of our relationship - it was proof of the union between the Brown family and the Lopez family.
I used to dismiss talk of arranged marriages. I thought our ten years together were a bond no one could match. I firmly believed what we had was pure love. But the second Gregory turned and left, I finally realized - I'd been weaving myself a dream.
If it were really about love, he wouldn't have left today.
Even if what we had was real love, he's shown me over and over - ten times, a hundred times - that when the chips are down, he'll pick my sister Sophia every single time without hesitation.
He'd left me behind so many times. This time, I didn't want to wait for him to come back.
"This is ridiculous! The Brown family and the Lopez family have been preparing this wedding for so long. All our friends and family are here - how can you just cancel it?" William Lopez frowned, his tone cold. "Gregory's grandfather is still in the hospital. What if he finds out?"
"Exactly - you two have to go through with it. You're already at the altar, so to speak. Sure, you're missing the bells and whistles, but you're still tying the knot." Gregory's mother, Grace Smith, quickly put on a smile, trying to coax me.
But what kind of wedding has no groom? A groom who, on our wedding day, once again chose Sophia over me - why should I still marry him?
"If you find this difficult, I'll tell the guests myself." I smiled at them, lifted my heavy dress, and walked step by step across the red carpet toward the stage I'd so carefully arranged.
William shot me a warning look, stepped forward to take the microphone from the MC, and said with a composed smile, "Sorry, folks, Gregory might have to duck out for a moment - something urgent came up. We're going to hold off on the ceremony and do it at the end, but the party's still on! Please eat, drink, and have a good time. Sorry for the hiccup, and thanks for rolling with it."
He smiled at me again. "Emma, you've always been such a sensible girl. I'm sure you understand Gregory's situation, right? Don't worry, I'll make sure Gregory gives you an even bigger wedding."
A wedding? I didn't want one anymore.
"Mr. Lopez, you probably can't make decisions for Gregory." Below sat friends and family invited by the Lopez and Brown families, along with some business partners. Some things weren't appropriate to say right now, but I couldn't just swallow my anger.
"Emma, it's Gregory's fault. He must have had something really important to leave like that. We'll definitely give him a good talking-to when he gets back. The banquet is starting - you've been tired all morning, sit down and eat something." Seeing my expression darken, Grace quickly came forward and grabbed my arm.
Fine. The dignity they wanted to preserve - I'd help them out one last time. Not for anyone else, but for Robert Lopez, Gregory's grandfather. That much he deserved.
I nodded with a smile. "I won't eat. Sorry, I need to go."
Holding up my long dress, I turned without hesitation and strode toward the exit.
"Emma, wait for me!" Nina chased after me. "Where are you going?"
The moment I walked out of the hotel, I looked up at the sky. Dark and gloomy, not a trace of sun visible. It looked like rain - just like my mood right now.
"I... just want to walk alone for a bit."
Nina grabbed my arm, her eyes full of concern. "Don't be like this, Emma. If something's wrong, talk to me. Gregory, that bastard - leaving you alone on your wedding day. When he gets back, I won't let him off easy."
I shook my head gently at Nina. "Don't bother."
"What?" Nina seemed confused by what I said.
"I said, don't bother. Since he doesn't want to get married, I'll let him have his way. Today's wedding is already over anyway. Nina, I want to be alone. Please, just give me some space."
A taxi happened to be stopped at the hotel entrance. I waved, and it pulled up. I pushed Nina's hand away and got in alone.
The dress was too big - the train got caught outside the car door. I frowned and tugged at it, and the round pearls scattered, falling one by one.
Those were small details I'd asked Nina to add after seeing the original design. I loved pearls - understated, not flashy. Maybe I was wrong from the start. What I liked wasn't necessarily what was right. Those fancy decorations were never meant to last.
My mind went completely blank - I couldn't even cry. I thought Gregory and I were childhood sweethearts who'd finally made it to the finish line, but it turns out all that beauty was just a house of cards. It fell apart before we could even touch it, like some cruel joke.
Too lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice that I'd gotten in the car without giving a destination, yet the taxi kept driving farther and farther. The scenery outside the window grew more and more remote.