Lovestory — Chapter 1

Rhys Harvey and I were to be married on our seventh anniversary. The next day, I waited for him at city hall. He never arrived. Instead, I saw his social media post announcing his marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Kaitlin Braun. A photograph showed them holding their marriage certificate.

"Hello? Are you here to register your marriage?"

I stood outside city hall, watching happy couples pass. I felt utterly alone and abandoned.

"Hello?"

The staff member's repeated question jolted me back to reality. As I looked up, my mind went blank, and tears welled in my eyes. I nodded.

Seeing my tears, the staff member asked with concern, "So... where is your husband?"

My husband?

Glancing at a picture of Rhys and Kaitlin on my phone, I forced a smile. "He married someone else," I said, then turned and walked away, ashamed of my distress.

Just a week ago, Rhys had proposed in front of my family, vowing to spend his life with me as his wife. But now…

Tears streaming down my face, I frantically searched my phone for evidence of a mistake. But the marriage certificate in the picture confirmed the truth. We'd been together for seven years; he'd promised to never leave me. His promises echoed in my mind.

Finally, I slumped to the floor. He'd never forgotten an anniversary or my birthday. Every year, he'd give me gifts, plan celebrations, and pick me up from work, regardless of the weather. To others, he was the perfect boyfriend; my colleagues envied me. Even yesterday, he'd held my face, looked at me with affection, and said, "Bridget, we're getting married tomorrow, and you'll be my wife." He'd kissed my forehead gently.

I’d been overwhelmed with joy, fantasizing about a lifetime of companionship. We were supposed to grow old together. Little did I know it was all a lie.

The setting sun was blood red. Ignoring the sympathetic glances of passersby, I wiped my tears, leaned against a wall, and struggled to stand. I wanted to see Rhys. Something had to be wrong. This couldn't be true. Rhys wouldn't marry another woman.

I took a taxi home. As the car pulled up, I rushed toward my house, nearly tripping. Just as I reached for my keys, I overheard a conversation between Rhys and his friend, Jordan Morton.

"I married Kaitlin."

Rhys's deep voice cut through me. Clutching my keys, I forced a wry smile. He’d shattered my world.

"Kaitlin?" Jordan exclaimed on the other end of the phone. "Damn it, didn't you say you loved Bridget? How could you marry Kaitlin?"

Rhys sighed, his voice weary. "Kaitlin has a terminal illness; her time is running out. Her biggest wish was to marry me. We were childhood sweethearts, and I couldn't refuse her because… I loved her."

Those last three words felt like a knife to my heart. I gasped for air, overwhelmed by pain. "Rhys, you love her? What about me?" Tears flowed freely. "Rhys! How could you?!"

Jordan roared, the sound of a chair being overturned audible. "Rhys! Couldn't you have had a small, private ceremony to fulfill Kaitlin's wish? Why make such a spectacle? You're a jerk!"

I expected Rhys to admit his mistake, but he only sighed. "I've loved Kaitlin for over a decade. If we were to marry, it had to be grand and glorious. A secret wedding would insult our love. I didn't want her to feel aggrieved in her final days."

Hearing this, I collapsed to the ground, leaning against the cold wall, and wept. He’d loved Kaitlin for over a decade. What was I to him?

Jordan asked, "What about Bridget? Did you ever think of her? She was waiting to marry you."

I looked towards the door.

Rhys replied smugly, "I treated her well for years, and she loves me deeply. She says I'm her one and only. She'll never leave me. Besides, her parents are gone. Without me, she has nowhere to go."