We got home at two in the morning.
Ethan was rushing to explain: “Lily, Sophie’s pregnant, she can’t drink, that’s why I…“]
Ethan had never told me about what happened between him and Sophie, and he definitely never mentioned the pregnancy.[]
He thought I didn’t know anything, which is why he felt comfortable parading Sophie around in front of me. But there’s no such thing as a perfect secret.
I knew everything, yet I still had to play along with his charade.
Like right now–I had to pretend I was clueless and ask him: “When’s Sophie getting married? Who’s the father?“]
Ethan went quiet for a long time, then finally shook his head and said he didn’t know.
I couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.
That inexplicable laugh made the already guilty Ethan even more panicked.[]
He quickly changed the subject: “Lily, we’re getting married in just a few hours. We should get some rest, don’t you think?“]}
Ushook my head: “I’m too nervous to sleep. Since I’m moving out tomorrow, why don’t you help me pack?“[]
Ethan went along with whatever I wanted.[]
So we stayed up all night going through everything–all the photos we’d taken together, gifts we’d given each other, mementos from twenty–something years of memories.]]
Every item we found brought back memories for Ethan, his eyes lighting up with happiness.[]
“Lily, this is the scarf you knitted for me. I never wore it once–look, it’s still like new.”
“This notebook has my high school diary entries. You cried your eyes out when you read them, remember?”
He kept reminiscing excitedly, but he didn’t notice that his girl sitting across from him hadn’t smiled once all night.[]
By the end of the night, we’d filled dozens of boxes that covered the entire living room.]
Once dawn broke, the bride and groom weren’t supposed to see each other anymore, so Ethan had to go back to the Blackwood house.]
Before leaving, he held me reluctantly.
“I don’t want to let you go. Good thing in just a few hours, I’ll be taking you home as my wife.
Lily, promise me you’ll never leave me. Not ever.” “0
! let him hold me, looking down without saying a word.[]
I couldn’t promise him that. Because today was going to be our goodbye.
After his car pulled out of the villa, the housekeeper came up and asked what to do with all the boxes.
I didn’t even look up as I headed upstairs: “Burn them all.“[]
This wedding–three months in the planning–began with fireworks lighting up the sky.[]
Under everyone’s gaze, my father walked me slowly down the aisle.[]
The guests looked at me with admiration in their eyes.[]
Ethan’s eyes were filled with pure love.[]
Thinking about how his years long dream was finally coming true, his heart was beating so hard with nerves it felt like it might burst from his chest.
He reached out his hand, taking the bride from Mr. Carter.]
Standing with me under the spotlight, listening to the officiant’s words behind us, surrounded by friends and family–he felt like he was floating, rushing to say those words: “I do”
The trembling excitement in his voice was so obvious it made the guests chuckle.[]
The officiant continued with the next vow: “Miss Carter, do you take Mr. Blackwood to be your husband? To love and honor him, through riches and poverty, youth and old age, staying by his side through all of life’s journey
The “I do” everyone was waiting for never came.[]
20.0
Chapter 3
The air went silent for a moment, and all the curious eyes turned to me.
Something made Ethan’s heart skip a beat.
He quickly looked up at me, only to find my ga F
He followed my line of sight but saw only darkness.
Seeing the situation about to spiral out of control, the
on
ང་
e.0
the entrance.
cleared his throat and started reading the vows again.
Halfway through, the closed doors were suddenly pushed open
outside.
www
