Chapter 10
Near dawn, Ethan finally got home.]]
He tossed his jacket on the couch and yawned, looking around the empty living room.]
“Why’d everyone blow up my phone yesterday?” he asked the housekeeper.[]
She was dusting the shelves. “Your parents invited the Collins family for dinner. They were–“[]
Ethan cut her off at the mention of “Collins,” still annoyed from their last encounter.[]
“Come on, Stop! Whatever. Don’t mention the Collins family to me anymore.”
He went straight to his bedroom.
When he woke up around noon the next day, his parents were having lunch.]
They waved him over. “Ethan, call Avery and ask if they’ve arrived-“]
He sat down with a cold expression. “Oh, Can’t. Gotta check out the wedding venue.“[
His mom didn’t push it and made a video call herself.
Just as the call connected, Sophia called him too.
Ethan’s face softened immediately. He put in his earbuds.
“Babie, You’re up early! I’ll come get you for breakfast.”
He stood up to leave. As he passed his mom, he glanced at her screen.]
There was Avery smiling softly, with what looked like a hotel room behind her.
Why wasn’t she at home at this hour?
Something felt off, but before he could ask, Sophia was ordering breakfast.
“Honey, I want pasta carbonara. Come over and
we’ll go together.”
He headed to the door, faintly hearing his mom’s conversation.
“Avery, did you arrive safely? How’s the weather there?”
Arrive where?
The Collins family must be on vacation, he figured.
But he didn’t dwell on it, rushing out the door.
For the next month Ethan was buried in wedding preparations and got home late every night.
Time cooled his anger. Gradually, he let go of the bar incident, figuring that once Avery apologized, they could put it all behind them.
But Avery seemed to have vanished completely. No messages, no sightings, nothing.
Ethan wasn’t worried. Given how close their families were, the Collins would definitely attend his wedding.
Even if Avery didn’t want to come, her parents would make her.
He was so confident he even rehearsed what he’d say when they made up. How gracious he’d be when he forgave her.
But right up until the day before his wedding, whenever he drove past the Collins house, it remained dark.
He even stopped to ring the doorbell once, waiting a long time with no answer.]
Staring at the dark windows, Ethan felt a strange unease.
He pulled out his phone and opened his that with Avery
The last message was still his birthday invitation
He typed out a message:
“Just FYI, my wedding’s tomorrow.“1
Chapter 10
His finger hovered over the send button for a long time. In the end, he didn’t press it.
In his relationship with Avery, he was used to being in control.]
He refused to be the first one to cave.
But all night he felt restless, barely sleeping.
The next morning, he was up at 3:30 AM getting ready.
After the traditional morning ceremony where he picked up his bride and they toasted her parents, they headed to the wedding venue.
He’d been to this hotel countless times before, always feeling excited about his dream coming true.[]
But today, looking at the dreamy, romantic decorations in the ballroom, Ethan felt strangely disconnected.[]
Was he really getting married?
Was he really taking Sophia as his wife??]
The moment he’d dreamed of for so long was finally here.]]
Yet somehow, he wasn’t as certain as he used to be.
