Chapter 3

Ryan sent me a video.

Grandma was pacing by the entrance, looking anxiously outside every few seconds.

At the slightest sound, she hurried toward the door, tripped over a chair, and fell hard.

My heart clenched.

Grandma had always said her only wish was to see me married and happy.

She’d started sewing my wedding quilt six months ago. She had even knitted a few baby sweaters.

Whatever method Ryan had used to get her to that hotel, I had to go there and demand an explanation.

I took out my phone and searched for today’s date.

Official accounts across several platforms were wishing everyone a happy Halloween.

Those posts couldn’t all be wrong.

Then I remembered the welcome sign outside the hotel in my previous life. It had clearly said November 3.

What on earth was going on?

I sent Ryan everything I had found.

A few seconds later, he called me on video.

His hair was a mess, and his glare was sharp enough to cut me.

“Emma, you’re still sending me news from days ago to screw with me?”

“Forget what day it is. I want you at the wedding venue. Now!”

He fell silent for a few seconds, rubbed his brow, and softened his voice.

“Emma, whatever’s happened, just come here first. Our families are all here. We’ll apologize to everyone together, and then we can put this behind us.”

“Your grandmother is too old for this stress.”

My parents leaned into the frame.

Mom looked exhausted, but her voice was gentle.

“Sweetheart, please come. Even if you mixed up the date and overslept, your father and I won’t blame you.”

My throat tightened.

“But today’s the thirty-first. My wedding is on the third.”

Dad snatched the phone, his face dark with anger.

“What have I always taught you? When you make a mistake, take responsibility. You’re a college graduate, for God’s sake. How can you not know the date?”

“Get over here right now and apologize!” He hung up.

Whatever happened, I had the experience of my previous life to guide me. This time, I could avoid the danger.

I made up my mind. I was going to find out what Ryan was hiding.

I hurried back to my hotel and changed.

The moment I got into a cab, I checked the display.

Just like in my previous life, it still read October 31.

My mind was a tangled mess. Had someone altered all their calendars as some kind of prank?

I had barely sat down before I spoke urgently to the driver.

“The Crestview Hotel, please.”

He froze for a moment. In the rearview mirror, a flicker of fear crossed his eyes.

“Are you sure?”

I nodded.

The cab sped down the road, the scenery sliding past the windows.

The hotel I had booked for the wedding wasn’t terribly far from the beach, but it was still a two-hour drive.

The driver put on some soft instrumental music.

As my tension eased, drowsiness crept over me.

When I checked my phone again, we were half an hour from the hotel.

I rubbed my eyes. Then I read the notification on my screen, and cold sweat broke out all over me.

A story was trending.

#DelusionalBrideGetsWeddingDateWrong—Groom’sMotherDiesOfHeartAttack