The Wedding Dress I Returned Alone

3: 3

Early the next morning, I went to the office.

Paul and I worked at the same internet company. He was technical director; I was a product manager.

The plan had always been that once we married, I'd quit and be the woman standing behind him.

Now, clearly, there was no need.

I dropped my resignation letter straight onto the HR manager's desk.

She looked up at me, startled.

"Nadia, you're leaving? Aren't you about to get married?"

"Not anymore."

My voice was flat, without the slightest wobble.

"Please process my handover as quickly as possible."

I had barely stepped out of HR when I ran into Paul in the hallway.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he was still in yesterday's clothes.

He'd obviously spent the whole night at the hospital with Diana Pruitt and hadn't even gone home.

The moment he saw me, he strode over and grabbed my wrist.

"Nadia, where the hell were you last night?"

"I called you all night and you didn't pick up once. Getting bold now, are you?"

"Do you have any idea how worried I was?"

I wrenched my hand free.

"Mr. Matthews, we're at work. Have some dignity."

Paul froze for a second, and his face darkened.

"How long are you going to keep this up?"

"I got home last night and found the place cleared out. You didn't even take your ring!"

"Is this the way you're going to force me to back down?"

Coworkers passed by in the hallway, throwing us curious looks.

I stepped back, putting distance between us.

"I'm not making a scene, and I'm not forcing you into anything."

"I'm just informing you. We're over."

"I've turned in my resignation. I'll finish the handover over the next two weeks."

"Beyond work, there's nothing between us."

Paul let out a furious laugh, as if he'd heard the biggest joke in the world.

"Nadia, you're serious?"

"All because I went to see Diana yesterday? You'd throw a fit over that?"

"Do you have any idea how much danger she was in?"

"The doctor said another half hour and she'd have died!"

"You're getting jealous over a woman who nearly died. Do you have any compassion at all?"

He grew more worked up with every word, his voice ringing down the hallway.

I looked at this man I had once loved so deeply.

And felt only that he was a stranger.

"She nearly died. What does that have to do with me?"

I held his gaze.

"Am I her attending physician?"

"Am I the one who gave her gastritis?"

"Paul, if you feel for her, then go be with her. Go take care of her."

"I give you my blessing."

"You're free now. Go be her savior."

I turned to leave.

Paul blocked me again.

"Say what you mean!"

"What do you mean, give us your blessing? Diana and I are completely innocent!"

"Just because your own mind is filthy, don't drag everyone else down into the gutter with you!"

At that moment, a frail voice drifted over.

"Paul, please, stop fighting."

Diana stood a little way off in an oversized white shirt, her face pale.

She was still carrying a thermos.

"Nadia, don't blame Paul."

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have called him when I was sick."

"If you have to blame someone, blame me. Don't let me come between the two of you."

As she spoke, her eyes reddened.

She looked on the verge of collapse, fragile enough to break your heart.

Paul dropped me at once and hurried to her side to steady her.

"Why are you out of the hospital? Didn't the doctor tell you to rest?"

Diana gave a weak little smile.

"I was afraid Nadia would misunderstand, so I made some porridge and brought it over."

"Paul, hurry and explain things to Nadia for me."

She turned to look at me, but there was a flicker of provocation hidden in her eyes.

I watched the two of them, the perfect devoted couple.

And my stomach turned over.