Chapter 3
Julian stiffened. His jaw tensed. “It’s late. Let’s talk about it another time.”
But I wasn’t letting this one go.
“You always say that. Next time, next time. I’m done waiting.”
He looked like he was about to snap at me, tell me I was pushing too far—but then he looked at my face. My eyes. And the fight drained out of him.
Maybe he sensed it, too.
That if he said no this time, he might never get another chance.
He sighed. “Alright.”
I smiled like I’d won something. Like it mattered. But inside, the System’s cold voice buzzed in my skull.
[Host, his heart’s no longer with you. What’s the point of keeping the body if the soul’s already gone?]
I froze.
Then I shoved the voice down like always. Smile intact.
We left that night.
By the time we reached the coast, it was already noon the next day. Sun high. Salt in the air. We checked into the hotel, and I barely dropped my bag before pulling out my phone.
I’d bookmarked a video.
“People say this town’s big for weddings,” I said, holding it up to Julian. “Let’s have one. Just us. A do-over.”
His brows drew together. “We already had a wedding. Why do you want another one?”
He sounded nervous.
Good.
“To relive the magic,” I said, wrapping my arms around him. My smile felt fake, but he didn’t call it out.
He paused, then gave in. “Fine. If that’s what you want.”
He handed me the reins, went straight to the balcony with his laptop and started working like this was just another business trip.
I didn’t care. I got busy.
I found a local wedding planner, made the calls, booked the setup.
Everything confirmed. Everything ready.
I walked to the balcony to tell him.
Then I stopped.
Julian was on the phone.
His voice was low, intimate.
“Be good, okay? I’ll see you next time.”
Pause.
“She dragged me to the coast last minute, nothing I could do. Just pick out something nice and I’ll send it as an apology.”
I couldn’t breathe.
I hadn’t heard him talk like that to me in… God, how long?
And that girl—she could whine, beg for attention. And he’d give it. Me? I’d just get accused of being clingy.
Julian hung up and turned. He flinched when he saw me standing there.
“Who were you talking to?”
He snapped like a rubber band. “You dragged me out here, Isla. I still have work. Or is that not allowed now, too?”
I swallowed hard.
“I’m not trying to stop you,” I said, faking a smile. “Just came to say—I booked the wedding.”
His face didn’t change.
“Good. Then go take a walk or something. I’ve got stuff to finish.”
And with that, he slid the balcony door shut. Kept his back to me.
I sat on the couch.
Watched him through the glass.
One hour.
Then two.
Then five.
Five hours, thirty-four minutes, and twenty-one seconds.
He never looked back.
The countdown burned above my head.
And for the first time, I really knew:
Julian Carter didn’t love me anymore.
By sunset, the beach wedding was set.
Locals watched from the sidelines as we walked down the makeshift aisle in rented outfits, like strangers pretending to be a couple.
Behind the veil, I stared at him. My eyes were red. Burning.
“Julian,” I said. “Do you remember what you said at our first wedding?”
Maybe the atmosphere got to him. Maybe it triggered a memory.
He nodded. “Of course. I, Julian Carter, vow to love Isla Monroe—forever. Through every day and every year.”
I pressed. “And if you break that vow?”
He smiled, like it was a joke.
“Then I deserve to lose you forever. That would be my greatest punishment.”
His voice echoed through the mic. Loud. Clear.
It hit me like a wrecking ball.
I didn’t want to cry.
But the tears came anyway.
He made a vow.
So now it’s time to pay.
Julian blinked, caught off guard.
He hadn’t seen me cry like that in a long time.
Not even when he ignored me. Not even when I found those videos.
His expression softened.
“Come on, it’s not our first wedding,” he said gently. “Why all the tears?”
He reached up to wipe them away.
And that’s when we heard it.
“Mr. Carter!”
A woman’s voice. Crisp. Confident.
I turned.
She stood at the edge of the venue. Pretty. Polished.
I knew that face.
I’d seen it a thousand times.
In every video someone ever sent me.
She was the girl.
