The Runaway Bridegroom: A Text on the Night Before Chapter 1

The day before our wedding, my fiancé entirely skipped the rehearsal.

Later that night, my phone buzzed with a text from him.

[Sophie is pregnant. The baby is not mine.]

[But I need to get a marriage certificate with her first. Her hyper-conservative family will disown her if she has a child out of wedlock. I have to give the baby my name on paper.]

[We need to postpone our wedding for three years. Do not contact me during this time.]

[Figure out a way to explain this to our parents. Whatever you do, do not ruin Sophie's reputation. Just tell them you got cold feet.]

I stared at the glowing screen. My fingers moved mechanically, typing a single word.

[Okay.]

It was the truth, anyway. I really did not want to marry him anymore.

* * *

Almost immediately after his text, his childhood best friend posted an update on Instagram.

It was a picture of two hands intertwined, wearing matching platinum bands, forming the shape of a heart.

Inside the heart rested an ultrasound scan. Seven weeks pregnant.

The caption read: [He said he would give us a home.]

The comments section was flooded with mutual friends congratulating them, saying they finally made it official, promising huge wedding gifts tomorrow.

Not a single person mentioned me.

It was as if tomorrow's wedding had always belonged to the two of them, and I was just a ghost who had never existed.

A bitter smile touched my lips. I double-tapped the picture to like it.

Then, I left a comment.

[Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together.]

My comment blended perfectly into the sea of blessings. It did not stand out at all.

But less than a minute later, my comment was deleted.

My phone rang immediately. Lucas's voice came through the speaker, dripping with impatience and irritation.

"Valerie, what is your problem? Are you trying to cause a scene?"

Words completely failed me.

"I am not causing a scene. I was genuinely wishing you both happiness."

But Lucas was completely deaf to my sincerity. He was entirely convinced I was out for blood.

"Give me a break. Do you think I do not know your true intentions?"

"Everyone knows tomorrow was supposed to be our wedding! You jumping in with that passive-aggressive comment was just a calculated move to make Sophie look like a joke!"

"Apologize to her right now! She has been crying non-stop because of what you wrote!"

Through the receiver, I could hear the faint, pathetic sound of a woman sobbing.

"Forget it, Lucas! It is my fault for asking you to help me. I will just book an appointment tomorrow and terminate the pregnancy! So what if I can never be a mother? It is better than being branded a homewrecker!"

Lucas's tone instantly melted into something sickeningly sweet. He began coaxing her like a fragile child.

"Sophie, stop it. You are not a homewrecker. Once we sign those papers tomorrow, we will be legally married. A real, recognized couple!"

"Do not listen to her thoughtless garbage. If anyone dares to mock you, I will ruin them!"

Sophie only wailed louder.

"But what about Valerie? Her heart must be breaking! I should really just get rid of the baby so your wedding can go on..."

Lucas's voice grew even softer, laced with frantic worry.

"Sophie, please. I already worked everything out with her. She just has to wait three years and she will get exactly what she wants. It is not like I am disappearing forever."

"Please stop crying. You are going to upset the baby."

"And if you ruin your beautiful eyes, how are you going to be the most gorgeous bride tomorrow?"

A watery giggle finally broke through Sophie's tears.

Lucas let out a heavy sigh of relief. When he addressed me again, his tone was slightly less hostile.

"Valerie, why are you staying quiet? Apologize to Sophie right now."

My nails dug into my palms. I hated myself for having the momentary weakness to comment on her post.

But I had done nothing wrong. Why should I be the one to grovel?

"And if I say no, Lucas?"

He froze for a second before his voice spiked in disbelief.

"Valerie, if you keep throwing this tantrum, things are going to get very ugly! Sophie is pregnant. Her hormones are all over the place, and you are deliberately making her cry. You are being completely unreasonable!"

"Fine, if you will not apologize, you can make up for it with your actions. Call all our friends and relatives immediately and tell them you are the one who backed out!"

As if terrified I would refuse, he abruptly ended the call.

Seconds later, a text popped up.

[Valerie, I am begging you. Stop making a scene. I am just signing a piece of paper with Sophie. It means absolutely nothing. Delaying our wedding is just my way of making sure you get the perfect, dream wedding you deserve at a more suitable time.]

A suitable time.

Those familiar words stung my eyes until they watered.

What exactly was a suitable time?

I had listened to that exact excuse for eight years. I had waited nearly three thousand days and nights for him to marry me.

And my reward was watching him become another woman's legal husband.

Lucas, I am done waiting.

Because we are completely unsuitable for each other.

Suddenly, the message disappeared. He unsent it.

A new one arrived.

[I had to unsend that. It is not good for Sophie to see it. She is pregnant and overthinks things easily. Just do what I asked. I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you after these three years!]

A dry laugh scraped its way up my throat.

I stared at the screen for two minutes. Right on cue, he unsent that message as well.

So, was he lying to me or lying to himself?

If he was purely helping Sophie out of the goodness of his heart, why was he so terrified of her seeing his promises to me?

If the child in her belly truly was not his, he was certainly going to extreme lengths to protect her.

But what if the baby was his?