The Groom Who Wasn't Invited

When my parents learned I was pregnant, they were overjoyed. The baby would be a Hayes, they declared, inheriting everything. There was no question of their grandchild being born into scandal. They also informed me that Julian had already drafted several wedding plans for my consideration.

I booked a flight for three days' time.

Back at the apartment, I began to empty the walk-in closet in our bedroom. Mementos I had cherished for years: the first line of code Corbin wrote for me, photos from our travels around the world. I had just finished packing my last suitcase when Corbin walked in.

"Still awake?" His eyes swept over the half-empty closet and the suitcase on the floor, his tone nonchalant. "What's with the packing? Going somewhere?"

I ignored his question. "How was the pep talk?" I asked coolly.

"Good. Peyton's project is in a critical phase. We need everyone at the top of their game for the IPO."

"Ah." I nodded, turning to leave the room.

The next second, his arms wrapped around me from behind. He carried the scent of an expensive, niche perfume that wasn't mine—a heavy, musky sandalwood. Peyton's signature fragrance. The smell made my stomach roil, and I instinctively shoved him away.

His body tensed. He stared at me for two beats, then let out a dry chuckle. "Still stewing about the travel package? Don't be so sensitive, Auden." He straightened up, loosening his tie with an exasperated sigh, as if placating a difficult child. "Fine. I'll have my assistant book you a trip anywhere you want tomorrow. Happy now? Let's just get to bed. I have an early board meeting."

As he turned toward the bathroom, I watched his back and said quietly, "I promised my parents I'm going home to get married. Next week."

His hand froze on the doorknob. When he turned back, his patience was gone. He frowned, his voice laced with annoyance. "Auden, stop this nonsense. I already told you—I'm a CEO. I can't just drop everything and get married without a plan. This is about us, not some silly promise you made with your best friend."

"Then…" I took a sharp breath, clinging to one final, desperate hope. "If I were pregnant… would you marry me now?"

Shock flickered across his face, quickly replaced by irritation. He pressed his fingers to his temples. "Don't throw dramatic hypotheticals at me to derail the IPO, Auden. What I need right now is stability, not a surprise. The company is at a critical juncture; this is the most important stage of my career. Getting married now would be a massive distraction. And don't use a hypothetical pregnancy to manipulate me. I'll have a child on my timeline, when I'm ready, and when it's all been perfectly planned."

Each word was an icicle, piercing my heart. The pain was sharp and final. In that moment, I let go of the last eight years.

Seeing the glisten of tears in my eyes, Corbin's expression softened into a familiar, placating sigh. "Just give me one more year. Once the IPO is stable, we'll have the wedding of the century, I promise—"

His next empty promise was cut short by his ringing phone. It was Peyton. A server had crashed. He was needed. After he hung up, Corbin left. He grabbed his briefcase and a change of clothes from the closet, and he never came back. My sudden talk of marriage had clearly spooked him, and this "emergency" was the perfect excuse to escape the pressure.

He had no idea that by the time he decided to return, I would be long gone.