The Childhood Sweetheart Won

I called a car and went to the nearest hotel.

I peeled off the wedding dress, scrubbed off my makeup, and sank into a hot bath.

By the time I finally felt like myself again, I realized my phone had been blowing up with messages.

Everyone was asking where I was.

Jeremy had sent a series of voice messages.

They were all threats—if I didn't show up in the next half hour, he would have the media paint me as a crazy, runaway bride.

I replied with a simple, decisive "OK."

A second later, his call came through.

The moment I answered, he was yelling:

"Sloane Ashford, have you lost your mind? Have I been too good to you? If you're not back at the venue in half an hour, the engagement is off!"

Just then, room service arrived with my new clothes.

I couldn't be bothered to argue with him.

"We were over two hours ago."

Not long after I hung up, Jeremy appeared at my hotel room door with Callie in tow.

No surprise there. The Nichols family owned nearly every luxury hotel in the city. I wasn't shocked he'd found me.

When he saw me in a bathrobe, my hair still dripping and my face bare, his expression twisted.

"Sloane Ashford! The reception is about to start! Are you planning to go dressed like that?"

I looked at him like he was insane.

"Well, since you wouldn't have me as your witness, I decided to skip the wedding."

He sucked in a sharp breath, a vein throbbing at his temple. He was furious.

"So you really have no intention of going through with this, do you?"

Callie's voice was a practiced blend of feigned grievance and barely concealed triumph.

"Sloane, today is your big day. Both your families are here. How can you be so selfish? Think of how embarrassing this will be for Jeremy."

I gave her a cold look.

"Then why don't you marry him? Just swap out the names in the vows. You won't even need a rehearsal."

She immediately covered her face and began to sob.

She kept muttering that it was all her fault.

It was clear he was pained to see her so upset.

He was about to lash out at me when his phone rang.

It was probably the family elders, calling to hurry them along. He gave them a quick, clipped response, then reined in his anger to persuade me.

"About the kiss this morning, I apologize. After we're married, I promise I'll make it up to you."

"That black card you've always wanted? It's yours. I'll have it sent over."

So he did remember.

But he still gave Callie the ring he should have proposed to me with, letting her flaunt it all over social media.

I should have seen it then. They were the real couple all along.

Seeing that I was unmoved, he licked his lips and leaned in to kiss me.

"You're just jealous I kissed Callie, aren't you? Fine. I'll make it up to you now."