Part 3Ruined Lace: The Bride Who Walked Away

I held my bouquet and walked out onto the stage alone. The only people standing at the altar were Nathan's parents.

My own parents had passed away years ago. Aside from the brother who had just splashed wine in my face, I had no blood relatives left in this world.

Ignoring the shocked gasps of the hundreds of guests, I calmly took the microphone from the officiant.

"I apologize for appearing before you all looking so unpresentable. Please forgive me."

Nathan, finally snapping out of his daze, rushed onto the stage and grabbed my arm.

"Chloe, what the hell are you doing?"

"Doing exactly what you wanted."

"As everyone can see, my fiancé, Mr. Sterling, didn't even bother to put on a tuxedo..."

"He claims I manipulated him into this wedding. So let's just say I'm tired of manipulating. I officially announce that my engagement to Nathan Sterling is canceled! From this day forward, our lives have absolutely nothing to do with each other!"

I dropped the mic, shook off Nathan's grip, and walked off the stage.

Behind me, the banquet hall erupted into absolute chaos.

In front of me stood Carter, his face completely drained of color, his eyes frantic.

He reached out to grab me, but his hand stopped mid-air when he saw the glaring, dark red stain on my dress.

I didn't stop for anyone. I tossed the bridal bouquet aside and brushed past Carter without a second glance.

At the entrance, a furious Riley had already pulled the car around.

"Chloe! Get in!"

It wasn't until I sat down in the passenger seat that I realized my hands were shaking.

In the rearview mirror, my ruined makeup was streaked with silent tears.

Riley pulled two tissues and handed them to me, cursing Nathan's name to hell and back.

"He used to be such a sweet kid! How did he turn into such a monster?!"

"He... he used to like you so much! That bastard changes his heart faster than he changes his clothes!"

Her voice slowly trailed off when she noticed I had buried my face in the tissues, remaining completely silent.

"Chloe..."

"I'm fine, Riley, really. I just... I really miss my mom."

The car fell dead silent. I leaned my head against the window, watching the scenery blur past, feeling an overwhelming sense of how much time changes everything.

It turned out I was the only idiot who had stayed rooted in the past, refusing to move on.

The truth was, when we were kids, Carter and Nathan treated me so well. They really did.

My mother was a globally renowned wedding dress designer.

She always told me she was going to design the most unique dress in the world for me, that she wanted to personally watch me wear her love and blessings to marry the man of my dreams.

That was the year Nathan and I were promised to each other.

He used to blush bright red when he tried to hold my hand, only for my older brother to forcefully squeeze between us.

"Get away! They said when you're older, not right now!"

The adults would burst into laughter, and I would shyly hide in my mother's embrace as she gently stroked my hair.

Back then, my mother hadn't been diagnosed with stomach cancer. There was no adopted sister named Mia in our house.

Everyone I loved revolved around me.