Chapter 3

The excited screams from the crowd yanked me out of the memory.

"Kiss! Kiss!"

I could pick out my best friend Queenie's voice clearly, the loudest and most sincere of them all.

"You two better be happy! Edward Sanchez, if you dare treat your bride badly, I'll come after you!"

Edward smirked and flashed an OK sign at the crowd.

He bent down, ducked under Miranda's veil, cupped the back of her head, and pulled her into a deep kiss that made everyone envious.

The cheering grew louder.

The tips of Edward's ears went red. Holding Miranda's soft little face in his hands, his whole expression softened.

I had never seen him like this.

So content, so happy.

Like a general home from a won war, holding in his arms the prize he'd craved most.

Just as Miranda wanted, he posed with her for over a thousand photos in her wedding gown.

That afternoon she even changed into a toasting dress and went table to table, toasting his parents and every guest present, their love spilling right off the screen.

Until everyone forgot.

That this wedding was supposed to be mine.

I laughed at myself inside.

That special way of kissing, I had once brought it up to Edward too, full of hope.

He'd only looked at me with distaste. "Are you five? I'm not going to fool around with you in front of everyone and embarrass myself."

I closed the video and typed out a message to the wedding planner.

【I don't mind paying more. Keep the evidence safe for me, and in a week make a big public splash out of this couple's wedding. I'll put two million into advertising with your company.】

Walking out of the hospital, I suddenly thought of that man.

I found him at the very bottom of my contacts and made the call.

"Charles Delgado, that thing you said before about marrying me, does it still stand?"

Where he was, it was the middle of the night.

At my words he jolted upright, his breath ragged. "Anya, wait for me."

I drew in a slow breath. "Mm. Tomorrow's Friday here. Let's meet at the courthouse."

By the time I got home, it was deep into the night.

The whole apartment was silent, only the red wedding decorations everywhere throwing back glare until my eyes ached.

Lowering my gaze, I saw the note scrawled on the table.

【Miranda's back is hurting, I'm taking her for treatment. Made you dinner, remember to eat, don't be picky.】

I stared at the sticky food in the takeout box.

He thought I didn't know this was leftovers he'd packed up from the wedding banquet.

More than half the box was crushed peanuts and mango. I'm allergic to both.

He hadn't forgotten. He'd simply never cared enough to remember.