Chapter 3
Easton stood frozen, like his feet were cemented to the ground.
“What did you say? That’s impossible!”
He suddenly rushed over and yanked the display board from the floor, his hands trembling slightly.
“Did you make this yourself? Did you put it here on purpose?”
After staring at it for a long while, he snapped back to his senses and gave me a thumbs–up.
“Wow, Wanda, you really came prepared! I underestimated you! So what else do you have planned? Let’s see it all!”
His friends behind him looked hesitant.
“Easton, the display board is at the entrance. Could it actually be real?”
“Yeah, is today seriously Wanda’s wedding?”
Easton laughed it off. “Look at her. Who in their right mind would actually marry her?”
His friend quickly agreed. “Right? What kind of rich guy would ever go for someone like
her?”
Tina was still frozen in shock, muttering to herself, “How could it be Gavin Hackett? That’s
impossible!”
A low, magnetic voice cut through the crowd. “Wanda, what are you waiting for? Come up
here.”
The man standing onstage smiled at me warmly and held out his hand.
Dressed in a black tuxedo, he made the dazzling stage look dull by comparison.
Tony, who had mocked me, gaped. “Wow! Wanda, you really splurged this time. You hired
1/4
Chapter 3
an actor that handsome? Not bad. He’s on par with Easton-
+25 Bonus
But before he could finish his sentence, Tina spoke in a trembling voice. “Mr… Mr. Hackett? Is it really you?”
Tina worked for one of Gavin’s business partners. She was always throwing herself at him,
enamored by his wealth and looks.
When she heard he was getting married, she dragged a whole group over just to cause a
scene.
Easton was so stunned that he dropped his e–cigarette on the floor. “He’s the Gavin
Hackett you were talking about?”
I didn’t respond. I simply reached out my hand and placed it gently in Gavin’s.
As I stepped onto the stage, I glanced back one last time at the crowd below.
Easton still hadn’t recovered. He stood there stiff and motionless, his eyes bloodshot
beneath the shadow that fell over him.
I suddenly remembered something.
There was a time when Easton called me to write a research paper for Tina.
I had just taken an overnight train and was completely exhausted.
He met me at the station, shoved a stack of papers into my hands, and said coldly, “You have two days. Finish it by then.”
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked away.
I holed up in a cheap motel outside their college and pulled two all–nighters.
When I finally finished just as dawn broke on Monday, I was nearly dead on my feet.
Easton only said I’d done a good job, and that alone made me forget how tired I was. I felt like I’d just won a prize.
2/4
Chapter 3
I hadn’t even boarded the return train when Easton showed up again.
+25 Bonus
He looked completely defeated, puffing clouds of smoke, his voice hoarse as he muttered,
“Turns out the paper wasn’t even for her. She needed it for her new boyfriend. Once again, I did all the work, and another man reaped the benefits.”
I was about to comfort him when he suddenly hugged me.
“Wanda, I’m so sick of chasing after Tina like a fool. You’re the only one who truly cares about me. Why don’t we be together?”
My heart pounded wildly. I thought my years of devotion were finally paying off.
But before I could say yes, his phone rang.
He pulled away immediately.
On the other end came a sickly sweet voice. One I knew instantly belonged to Tina.
When the call ended, Easton turned to me, his gloom completely gone. “Tina broke up with her boyfriend again. I was just joking earlier. Don’t take it seriously, Wanda. We’re still just
friends.”
The warmth of his embrace hadn’t even faded, and he was already gone.
Back then, I thought I’d wait for him forever.
But after 15 years of being played for a fool, I finally had enough.
Now, I was marrying someone else.
I turned to look at the man beside me. In his eyes, I saw only myself.
The emcee beamed and asked loudly, “Mr. Hackett, do you take Ms. Moore to be your wife, to love and cherish her, for as long as you both shall live?”
Without hesitation, Gavin answered, “I do.”
The sudden rush of joy was overwhelming. It wasn’t until the emcee asked me again that I
3/4
finally nodded.
“Very well, then this ceremony is officially…”
ויי
object!”
Not interesting at all
