Chapter 5

I brushed past them.

The groomsmen and Ethan stood frozen.

"Wait, what?"

"She's actually leaving?"

Ethan watched my resolute back and caught up, grabbing my hand.

His voice held barely detectable panic.

"Mandy Foster, what the hell are you doing?!"

"We're breaking up. Exactly what it sounds like."

"Are you done with this tantrum? Don't you see everyone's waiting for you?"

I looked back at the twenty-four wedding cars. Not a single person was waiting for me.

"They're waiting for you."

"Waiting for you to finish reversing for your precious childhood sweetheart, scatter rose petals for her, and see her off one last time."

Ethan clenched his jaw, too guilty to respond.

I pulled my hand free and kept walking.

He shouted furiously.

"Mandy Foster! If you leave today, you'll never get another chance to come back to me! Don't you dare regret this!!"

No one answered him.

Let him perform this farce alone.

That person sent me a shared location. The distance was closing.

I walked quickly with my bridesmaids.

The groomsmen saw things escalating and kept scratching their heads.

"Ethan, you should go after her and smooth things over! Otherwise she really will leave."

Wendy stuck her head out the car window.

"Ethan, this is all my fault. I made Mandy angry."

"Should I go apologize to her?"

Ethan's furrowed brow smoothed out instantly.

"It's bad luck for the bride to get out midway. Stay put. Don't worry about her."

"But what if Mandy really leaves?"

Ethan touched the diamond tiara on her head.

"Be good. Today's your most important day. I'll make sure this road is completely clear for you."

"Don't worry. She's been chasing me for years. She won't go far. She's probably waiting in some shady spot for me to come apologize!"

Wendy smiled and nuzzled his palm like a kitten.

"Ethan, the wedding dress you gave me is beautiful. The diamond necklace, earrings, tiara, and bracelet—Wendy loves them all."

"Even though I can't marry you, you'll always be in my heart."

Ethan was distracted and didn't really hear what Wendy said.

He suddenly realized—Mandy wasn't wearing any decent jewelry today.

Ethan looked in the direction Mandy had gone.

Would her heels hurt if she walked too long?

The sun was so strong—did she even put on sunscreen?

She'd rather walk away with her bridesmaids than stay. Was she really that angry?

He turned around and quickly got the convoys moving.

"Wendy, I'll see you off to here."

Wendy threw open the car door, jumped out, and shouted something at him.

He floored the gas pedal. The wind was too loud—he couldn't hear a thing.

"Ethan, look at you! Saying you'll let go and then actually letting go. Just walking away like that—you're so flexible!"

"This is wild! Let's go! Time to pick up the bride!"

He was grinning ear to ear in the driver's seat.

For the first time, he believed the saying "boys will be boys."

He could already imagine how happy Mandy would look when she saw him catch up to her so quickly.

She'd probably cry from happiness.

Ethan wore his sunglasses, lips curving up involuntarily.

But the mountain road twisted and turned. The further he drove, the less confident he felt. The more anxious he became.

Fifteen minutes passed. He didn't see a single soul.

"Ethan, did Mandy hitch a ride and take off?"

"Shut up. We were blocking the road. What ride could she hitch?"

"Right, right! Don't talk nonsense! She's probably hiding somewhere waiting for us to find her!"

"Keep driving."

Ethan pulled out his phone, hands shaking slightly. He called Mandy.

After a few rings, she hung up mercilessly.

He called again. She blocked him.

He sent messages, tried SnapChat—everything disappeared into the void.

He gripped the steering wheel, furious.

"Hey! Ethan, look! There they are!"

"They're at the fifth curve!"

Ethan focused and looked. His whole body relaxed.

"Whoa! She even called a car and got herself a longer train for her dress!"

"So she went to prepare a surprise for Ethan!"

"Nice one, Mandy! You know how to make him happy!"

Ethan couldn't suppress the smile spreading across his face.

Just then, his business rival of over a decade, Lucas Sterling, called.

Ethan was in such a good mood he casually hit accept.

With just one sentence from the other end, the phone slipped from his hand.

"Ethan, thanks for giving Mandy to me."

Ethan gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles, his foot slamming the gas pedal nearly to the floor.

Because he saw me, holding my dress train, climbing into Lucas Sterling's wedding car.