Chapter 8
Lucian’s family are old–school Catholics.
Our wedding was held in a church.
After reading from the Bible, the priest looked at us and asked,
པ
“Lucian Graves, do you take Sloane Whittaker to be your wife?”
“To love her and only her, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer?”
“I do.”
As soon as Lucian said it, my eyes welled up with tears.
I didn’t know why, but that cliché vow suddenly felt so real, so moving.
Maybe this–this kind of love–was what I’d been chasing my whole life.
Then the priest turned to me and asked the same.
“I…”
I was just about to say “I do.”
When the church doors suddenly slammed open.
“Sloane!”
Jace barged in, completely drenched in sweat like he ran a marathon.
“Sloane! You can’t marry him!”
He yelled and rushed toward me, but the Graves‘ security tackled him instantly.
His screams echoed through the chapel, like he was some tragic romance novel hero.
And we were the villains–me the heartless ex, Lucian the rebound.
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Nine Years Wasted–Now I’m Marrying Your Pival
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I ignored the outburst, placed my hand on the Bible, and said it loud and clear,
“I do.”
The whole place erupted in applause.
Just like that, I became Mrs. Graves.
While the guests clapped and cheered, another commotion stirred outside.
“What’s going on?”
Lucian asked.
A bodyguard leaned in and whispered, “That guy brought reporters.”
‘He’s trying to cause a scene.”
froze. I reached for Lucian’s hand to explain-
But he gently placed his hand over mine.
‘Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”
His calm voice made me feel safe in a way I’d never known.
watched him, dressed in his tailored tux, stride toward the church doors.
didn’t hear what was said outside.
was swarmed by guests offering congratulations, barely keeping up.
hat night, after the ceremony ended,
checked my phone and saw the top trending headline.
JaceExposed
urns out Jace had livestreamed the whole thing.
le’d tried to accuse Lucian of “stealing” me.
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Nine Years Wasted–Now I’m Marrying Your Rival
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Chapter 8
But Lucian fired back in front of the cameras, exposing everything-
Jace’s affair with Zoey, her pregnancy, the abortion he pressured her into.
Zoey even showed up herself, confirming it all on record.
Just like that, Jace was done for.
My mom, who held shares in his company, pulled out immediately.
Then so did the vendors, the investors, the partners.
The whole thing collapsed overnight.
Jace was finished.
That was my only thought reading the news:
He’s done.
“Tired?”
Lucian’s voice broke my thoughts.
He had taken off the tux jacket, just wearing a dress shirt now.
And wow-
I finally noticed he had an insanely good body.
[ blushed and looked away.
‘I’m fine.”
‘Did everything today go the way you hoped, Mrs. Graves?”
He smiled as he sat down beside me and gently applied ointment to the blister on my heel.
‘Yes. Thank you.”
I whispered, not daring to meet his eyes.
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Nine Years Wasted–Now I’m Marrying Your Rival
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Chapter 8
Because I knew if I looked into them, I might never look away.
“We’re married, Sloane,” he said gently.
“You don’t need to thank me for everything.”
“But it’s okay,” he added..“I’ll wait for you.”
And then, he leaned in and kissed my forehead.
