Chapter 3

Claire Carter POV

When Grayson's mother, Helen, entered the makeup room, there wasn't a trace of a smile on her face.

She first glanced at me, then looked at Grayson, her voice deliberately low. "Everyone's waiting for you outside. Why hasn't the ceremony started yet?"

The wedding coordinator's forehead was covered in sweat. "Helen, the bride is still adjusting her veil."

Helen's expression immediately darkened.

"Stop wasting time on these trivial matters! The ceremony is about to start. All of the Jones family's guests are here today. Claire, don't keep everyone waiting!"

I sat before the mirror, my shoulders still bare above the wedding dress.

That gown had been worn by Sylvia. That veil had been touched by Sylvia. The pearl hairpin still carried her perfume.

And Helen said I was the one wasting everyone's time.

I looked up at Grayson.

Grayson didn't speak up for me. He only said to Helen, "Mom, please go outside. I'll handle this."

The door closed again.

Only the two of us remained in the room.

Grayson stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Claire, there can't be any problems today. I'll explain what happened this morning after the wedding ends."

I looked at him.

"You want me to put on the dress and go out there smiling, even though I know what happened in that room?"

Grayson's brow furrowed tightly.

"You're already my wife. There's no need to fight with Sylvia over these small things."

Wife.

That word coming from his mouth felt like a dull blade slowly pressing against my heart.

Three years ago, when my ex-fiancé left me standing at the wedding, everyone told me to just endure it.

It was Grayson who took me away.

He'd said, why should an innocent person bear the consequences of someone else's mistake?

Now he was the one pushing me back into that position.

I opened the ring box and took out the vow card, holding it in front of him.

"Read the first line."

Grayson glanced at me, then took the card.

When he opened it and saw that line, his throat seemed to catch on something.

I asked, "Can you still read it out loud now?"

Grayson closed the card, avoiding my eyes.

"Now isn't the time to talk about this."

I took the vow card back from his hand.

I tore the paper down the middle. The sound was soft, but it made Grayson's face change color.

I didn't hit him. I didn't cry.

I simply pressed the torn card back to the bottom of the ring box, then handed the box to my bridesmaid.

"Hold onto this. Don't give it to the host."

The bridesmaid froze, instinctively looking at Grayson.

I repeated, "Don't give it to the host."

Outside, the host had begun speaking. Applause filtered through the door.

The makeup artist placed the new veil on my head.

This time, the veil hadn't been touched by anyone else. But looking at myself in the mirror, I still felt like this wedding dress was suffocating me.

Grayson stood behind me. Seeing I was finally cooperating, he visibly sighed with relief.

He probably thought I would still endure it.

He thought that, just like the past three years, I would swallow all my grievances for him, for the Jones family, for the perfect completion of the ceremony.

When the banquet hall doors opened, the lights fell on me.

The guests turned to look. Applause erupted instantly.

Grayson stood at the end of the red carpet in his tidy suit, looking like a groom truly waiting for his bride.

I walked forward step by step.

My gaze moved past Grayson to the front row.

Sylvia sat there.

She'd changed into a different dress. The missing pearl hairpin was now pinned to her chest.

That was my hairpin.

Sylvia looked up and smiled at me, her fingers lightly touching the hairpin, as if reminding me.

Even something this small, she could take.

I reached Grayson.

The host smiled and said, "The groom has finally waited for his bride."

Applause erupted again.

Grayson extended his hand toward me.

That hand had touched Sylvia's waist this morning. Now it reached toward me, wanting me to continue performing in this wedding.

I looked down at it for a moment but didn't place my hand in his.

I looked up at Grayson, my voice not loud but clear enough for the nearest rows to hear.

"Are you sure the person you've been waiting for today is me?"