MANTROPEN SON
11.11%
Chapter 2
When I stepped out of the bathroom, I caught one of his friends murmuring to him.
“Nate, are you sure? You really don’t care about Isabelle anymore?”
His voice was flat. “She’s just damaged goods–used up and tossed aside. Would any of you want her?”
The words hit like a punch. I froze.
The ceremony began. Vanessa, noticing my state, kindly replaced me with another bridesmaid.
From the farthest corner of the room, I watched Nate sink to one knee and slide a ring onto her finger.
Vanessa’s smile was radiant as she said, “I do.”
Jealousy burned in my chest. I wanted to run up there, to scream at Vanessa for stealing my boyfriend, for hiding him from me all these years.
I wanted to demand answers–why Nate pretended not to know me, why he never came back, why everyone had lied.
I wanted to ruin their perfect day.
But I didn’t.
Instead, when they sealed their vows, I was the first to clap. Loudly. My applause drew stares from the guests around me, but I didn’t
care.
When Nate’s eyes finally met mine, I held his gaze, my vision blurring as tears I’d fought to hold back slid free.
Something flickered in his eyes, but it was gone in a heartbeat. His expression was cold and unreadable, like black ice.
My nails dug into my palms until I felt pain. I felt like I was on the brink. I pulled out my phone and typed:
[Nate, I won’t wish you a happy marriage.
I curse you. I curse you to love and lose forever.]
I hit send. A bitter laugh escaped me. What was the point? The woman he loved was already his wife.
I couldn’t stay for the reception. If I did, I might lose control completely.
Over a year ago, when his trail had gone cold again, I’d tried to take my own life. I failed–my neighbor found me and called for help.
When I woke in the hospital, Margaret Carter, Nate’s mother, was at my bedside, gripping my hand, tears streaking her face. She begged me to keep living–for him.
But a world without Nate was a world drained of light.
We had been inseparable since our teens, dating since high school. Right after college, we’d started planning our wedding.
Then his company collapsed under crushing debt. They said he jumped from a building. After that, he disappeared.
I went to every police station, questioned every possible witness from that day. No one had seen him. No one knew where he’d gone.
And now… he was back.
But he no longer loved me.
Chapter 2
