Chapter 5
I sent a question mark in response, and she replied, “Maybe I’ll consider telling you after Jeremy and I get married.”
I turned off my phone. Whether she told me or not didn’t
anymore.
The next day, Gavin came to pick me up. I didn’t have much to pack, and I left anything related to Jeremy behind in the apartment.
The day before getting our marriage license, Gavin introduced me to his parents. Only then did I realize he was the youngest son of the Campbells, the wealthiest family in Los Angeles. No wonder he never worried about his company’s losses. He had an older brother and sister who were both married with kids, while Gavin, at 27, was still unmarried because he’d always been a bit of a free spirit. Being born to his parents later in life, they’d indulged him in everything, even when it came to choosing a spouse. This marriage pressure was meant to settle him down.
Since I was an orphan, I’d been afraid his family might not accept me. But to my surprise, they were all very kind. They each prepared gifts for me and carefully attended to my feelings, even chiding Gavin for waiting until the last moment to bring me home before our marriage. For the first time, I felt the warmth of family.
For years, Jeremy had been the closest person in my life; we were both lovers and family to each other. But after today, that would no longer be true.
On the day we got our license, I thought it would be a simple process. But Gavin had
arranged an entire wedding venue. As the makeup artist worked on me, Jeremy called. His arranged an entire wedding venue. As the makeup a voice was tight with anger as he asked, “Amanda, why is all your stuff gone? Where did you
go?*
“I’m getting married today. Didn’t Georgia bring you the invitation?”
As soon as I said this, a video call request popped up. I accepted, and the moment our eyes
met, I saw bloodshot rage in his eyes.
“Is this it?” He held up the red invitation and, right before my eyes, tore it to pieces. “Why couldn’t you wait for me?”
10:11
Too Late to Say Sorry
82.8%
Just then, I heard Gavin’s voice from outside the room. Without saying anything else to Jeremy, I hung up. We had come this far–what was there left to say? He was no longer the Jeremy I once knew.
When it came time for the vows, Gavin’s intense gaze seemed almost overwhelming, as though he were speaking to someone he deeply loved. But there was no love between us, only a transaction. I could
understand why he looked at me that way. As he spoke his surfaced unintentionally. This wedding scene was something we had practiced countless times. I’d never imagined marrying anyone other than him.
vows,
memories of to
As the ceremony neared its end, Jeremy burst in, rushing toward me with red eyes and gasping for breath. Just as he was about to reach me, Gavin stepped in front of him, blocking his way.
“Jeremy, what do you think you’re doing? Last I checked, you’re still Georgia’s boyfriend,
aren’t you?”
Jeremy stared at me intensely, then suddenly shoved Gavin aside, grabbing my wrist. “Come with me. I’ll explain everything. I won’t involve myself with her anymore, okay?”
This frenzied look of his brought back a childhood memory of him risking everything to defend me, nearly beating a boy who bullied me half to death. Just then, Georgia came running in, crying out desperately.
