I Was Left Behind at the Altar

Idiotic Wife

Rachel looked at me, and her face fell. "Why'd you show up? Mom didn't invite you!" Before I could say anything, she dragged me away.

I was still holding a crutch because of my broken bone, and I nearly fell when she yanked me, so I shook her hand off. "Don't pull me. I can walk by myself."

Icily, Rachel demanded, "I don't know why you're here, but no one gave you an invite. If this is about declaring how I'm yours, then you're not welcome here. It's also Jonathan's moment."

That was shocking. I blurted, "Someone did send me an invite. You."

She opened her mouth, and she was a little nervous. "I don't remember that. You could be lying."

Melanie came after us, saying, "Jonathan's in a bad mood lately, Leo, so I asked Rachel to bring him alone. Can you go back for now? I don't want him getting mad."

Oh wow. Mother and daughter both forgot what they told me. Still, it was fine. They didn't welcome me, so I saw no need to stay back.

I nodded and was about to leave, but Jonathan came out. He actually tried to keep me around. "Melanie, Rachel, I won't get mad about Leo being here. He's hurt. It's not easy coming all the way here. He should stay."

I acted like I didn't see the smug look in his eyes. Calmly, I replied, "No, thank you, but thanks for the offer."

Rachel sidled up to me and stopped me from leaving. "No, you're staying. He doesn't mind an uninvited guest, so you'd best take that offer. Don't give him attitude. Leave, and our wedding is canceled. You quit your job for me. If you leave me, you'll have nothing left."

I froze. Rachel spent ten years trying to steal my heart, but I never planned on going out with her.

Then, one day, an oncoming truck was going to crash into me, but she pushed me away and took the hit instead. Before she was carted away, she held my hand tightly. "I'd die to save your life. Just… Just give me a chance in the next life."

That was touching enough for me, so I quit my job despite a lot of people asking me not to. I came back just to get married to her. I quit my job out of love, and she was using it to threaten me.

I took a deep breath. "Fine, cancel the wedding. I don't care." And I left without even a moment of hesitation.

…

I did not notice the confusion in Rachel's eyes. That night, I packed up all my stuff and got ready for the next day's flight, but Rachel came back in the middle of the night. She was surprised to see the home empty.

"Where's the photo wall? I spent a lot of time making that. Where are the pictures I took of the vacation?"

I answered half-heartedly, "It fell to the ground and broke, so I tossed it away."

Rachel hugged me from behind. "Why aren't you looking at me? Are you angry?"

She sighed. "Honestly, why couldn't you just let it go? The whole family's there. I was already introducing Jonathan to them, and then you just showed up. Do you know how awkward it was for us? If you'd just put the presents down and left, none of that would've happened."

I felt her holding my hand and sliding something down my ring finger. It was a ring, of course, but not the one I made.

"Stop throwing a tantrum. I will fulfill my promise. The wedding's tomorrow. Jonathan will not get in our way. Promise me, show up, alright?"

She was going to kiss me, but I moved away. Her face shifted. She was about to say something, but then someone called. I knew that ringtone. The caller was Jonathan. Rachel quickly left the room for the call.

…

A while later, she said, "I need to go out. Remember to show up tomorrow." The door slammed shut. Yet another sleepless night for me, then.

…

I wasn't going to attend the wedding, but I changed my mind, since I had to give the ring back to Rachel. However, the scene stunned me. Instead of me, the groom for the event was Jonathan.

His name was sprawled all over the banner, and he was in a white suit, a bouquet in his hands. The guy was standing at the entrance, welcoming the guests to his wedding.

His grin got wider when he saw me. "You thought this was your wedding, Leonardo? Rachel promised she'd give me the wedding today, but I told her I needed a witness. Yes, it's you. And so, she invited you. You should thank me, or you wouldn't even be here today."

Then, he put on a weird smile. Alarm bells rang in my head, but it was too late. He tossed the bouquet of roses at me, and the thorns drew a scar over my face. Droplets of crimson fell, and my line of sight was dyed in red.

Rachel noticed the commotion and came running, but she shoved me aside instead. Disappointed, she looked at me and roared, "I invited you out of the kindness of my heart, and you attacked Jonathan? I gave you a ring! What more do you want? I was going to take that marriage license, but I've changed my mind! It's your fault!"

She looked dark, and she took Jonathan away. Even through my blurred line of sight, I saw Jonathan's gloating smile. I dragged my useless leg along, but eventually I got back up and placed a letter and the ring at the entrance.

…

And I made my way to the airport, sparing not even a glance for the scene.

Rachel and Jonathan were on the stage. Jonathan slid a ring down Rachel's finger. "Will you marry me?"

Rachel was all smiles, and she was about to say yes, but someone barged into the hall. It was a bodyguard, holding a ring and a letter.

"This is bad, Ms. Larson. It's Mr. Riviera! He's gone! He booked a flight abroad, and the airplane's taking off! Forget the wedding! You need to get Mr. Riviera back!"