My Bride's Groom was Her High School Sweetheart

We hadn't even made it back home, but Chloe's phone kept buzzing every now and then. Every single one was a message from Jaxson checking to see if she got home safe.

So I unlocked her screen, thinking I should just shoot back a polite response on her behalf. But right before I typed anything, I saw her last message with one of her friends.

[This fake marriage is my last shot. If he doesn't come back, I'm really done.]

[Share the news about my wedding in the class group chat, but don't tell anyone else.]

My finger froze on the screen, and I slammed the phone shut and shoved it into Chloe's bag like it was on fire.

Suddenly, I couldn't breathe. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get air into my lungs. Each time I tried to inhale, it felt like I was suffocating. I didn't even realize the tears were spilling out of my eyes again, hot and fast, soaking the collar of my shirt.

No wonder she asked me to marry her out of the blue three days ago when I least expected it. I had no ring, no plans, nothing ready.

She just brushed it off. "Don't bother," she said, like we weren't really going to a wedding.

She just had one request. "Don't tell our families."

I thought I had finally done it—I had won her over after eight long years.

But it turns out the wedding wasn't for her and me at all.

It was just a ploy to make her high school sweetheart jealous enough to come back. That was her real plan.

At that moment, any lingering hope I had for us was gone. I felt completely drained.

It didn't matter anymore. I was leaving soon, and they could do whatever they wanted.

When we got home, Chloe sobered up a bit. She didn't say a word to me; she just went straight to the bathroom to wash up.

I followed Jaxson's advice and made her some honey water. I figured, what the hell? I might as well make the last few days decent.

I'd barely sat down on the couch when my supervisor called, asking about my work handover before I left.

Right after hanging up, Chloe's annoyed voice cut through the silence, sharp and annoyed.

"Leavin'? Where are you goin'?"

She was drying her hair, looking at me with that blank expression I'd gotten so used to.

I handed her the honey water, trying to sound casual. "Just a business trip."

She didn't push for more, which hit harder than I wanted to admit.

She took the cup, ready to drink, but then her face twisted in irritation when she probably smelled the honey.

"Who taught you this?" she snapped, glaring at me. "Come on, stop reading crap on the net! What works for some people doesn't work for everyone!"

She slammed the cup on the table and stormed off to the bedroom.

I sank onto the couch with a bitter smile.

Of course. What worked for her high school sweetheart to win her wouldn't work for me.

The next day was supposed to be our photoshoot for the wedding. She woke up like it was nothing special at all, still as cold and distant as ever.

But after seeing how she acted so sweetly around Jaxson, I knew better now. It wasn't her personality—she just didn't care about me.

We had breakfast in silence. As we were leaving, she looked at her phone and said, "Let's not take the photos at the park. Let's go to the uni instead. I saw it's been trending online lately."

I knew exactly right then why she wanted to change locations: Jaxson had posted some nostalgic school stuff that morning.

I could've called her out on it, but I just didn't want to make things worse.

I was leaving in a day and a half.

The least I could do was keep some dignity.

Before we headed out, I just knew how the day would go, so I didn't even bring the wedding dress.

Of course, she didn't even ask about it or notice it was missing.

The photographer took us to the uni's sports field.

Chloe scanned the place for a minute, and then her eyes lit up as soon as they landed on a familiar figure standing in the shade of a tree.

It was Jaxson.

Without even looking at me, she turned and bolted toward him.

Like he was the groom.

I glanced at the photographer, and he looked confused.

I gave him an apologetic smile, saying, "Sorry for the trouble. Let's call it a day. Don't worry. You'll still get paid."

As he left, the image of Chloe running to Jaxson played in my head like a broken record.

I felt like I was losing her for real.

And it stung more than I ever expected.

The photo shoot.

The wedding.

The eight years.

I saw it all ending right there the second Chloe was back in her high school sweetheart's arms.