His Wedding, My Return

When my friend moved abroad and asked me to rent out their flat, I thought it would be a good opportunity for Lucy to move in.

I never expected Lucy to burst into tears, clinging to me and begging not to be kicked out.

Just as I was trying to calm her down, Gregory walked into the house. He took one look at the scene and immediately stood protectively in front of her.

"Rosalie, where’s your kindness? How dare you bully Lucy behind my back?" he snapped.

Then, turning to her, he said gently, "Don’t worry, Lucy. This is my house. No one has the right to kick you out."

I forced myself to remain calm and tried to explain. "It’s not that. I just think it’s inconvenient for Lucy to live with us all the time. My friend’s flat is nearby and she’d be more comfortable living on her own."

But instead of listening, Gregory accused me of being narrow-minded.

"Lucy is trying to make it on her own in Edinburgh. She’s still finding her way—she even gets lost at the company sometimes. How can I trust that she’ll manage alone?"

Then he looked me over suspiciously, his expression turning condescending. "Or is it that you’re jealous of Lucy? Afraid she’ll take me from you?"

I stared at him, stunned, barely able to believe the words coming out of his mouth. This was the same man who once swore he’d love only me for the rest of his life.

Suddenly, he felt like a stranger—one I didn’t recognize and was terrified to confront.

Our relationship devolved into a cold war. I moved into the bedroom and he slept in the study.

In the past, these standoffs never lasted more than half a day, Gregory would always be the first to apologize. But this time, the silence dragged on for two weeks.

One morning, I opened the door to find him coming out of Lucy’s bedroom.

He explained nonchalantly, "Lucy had a fever last night. I didn’t want to wake you, so I stayed in her room to take care of her."

It was then that I began to notice subtle shifts in our dynamic.

Lucy stopped coming to me when she needed help. Instead, she went directly to Gregory. Even for things as trivial as needing tampons, she’d ask him to run to the store for her.

Gregory, too, began withdrawing from me. He barely spoke to me and spent all his time at home hovering around her.

Last weekend, neither of them came home.

When I called, I found out Lucy’s mother had fallen ill and Gregory had rushed to the countryside with her after work.

For two days, they didn’t answer my messages or return my calls.

On the third day, when they finally came back, I opened the door to find them in a tight embrace.

Lucy was sobbing into his chest. "Gregory, my heart belongs to you. I can’t bear to lose you..."

He stroked her hair gently. "Don’t worry. I won’t let you marry someone else. I’ll marry you myself."

It wasn’t until they finally separated that they noticed me standing frozen in the doorway.

Gregory pulled me aside, his face lined with frustration.

"Lucy’s mother is gravely ill and doesn’t have much time left. Her only wish is to see Lucy married. To honor her, Lucy was planning to marry some random man," he explained.

He sighed, his voice filled with what sounded like genuine regret. "I can’t just stand by and watch that happen. What’s more, the villagers already think I’m Lucy’s boyfriend. If I don’t marry her, her reputation will be ruined."

My heart ached and tears rolled down my face. "And what about me?"

Gregory frowned, straightening his back. "Rosalie, you’re being selfish. Right now, Lucy needs me more than you do."

He continued, tone calm but dismissive, "I’m not abandoning you. I’m just giving Lucy a wedding."

I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

He betrayed me, hurt me and still had the audacity to paint me as the selfish one.

Had he forgotten why he had proposed to me so hastily earlier this year?

It was because my grandmother, nearing the end of her life, had wanted to see me in a wedding dress before she passed.

Gregory had knelt before me then, promising my grandmother that he would cherish me for the rest of my life.