Ten Years Wasted The Bride Who Never Showed

I called Jude Lyons four times from the scene of the accident.

He rejected every one. Then a text came through.

【In a meeting. Whatever it is, we'll talk tonight.】

A second later, his secretary's new post popped up on social media, captioned:

“Thanks to the boss, I got my first crab of the season. So good!”

What I noticed was the little pink fan on the table. Plugged into his charger.

I lay on the stretcher, and suddenly everything hurt.

Ten years together, and Jude had always been obsessive about order.

He hated broken rules. He resisted any change imposed by someone else, rejected anything or anyone that disrupted his rhythm.

The charger, for instance, fell squarely inside his rules.

Once, when my phone wouldn't charge, I tried his. He found out, threw the charger away, and didn't speak to me for a week.

It only ended when I caved and wrote him a formal written apology.

But now someone else had broken his rules and walked into his life without a scratch.

Five minutes later, I saved the photo and sent it to him.

【We're done. You have twenty-four hours to move out.】

……

The nurse glanced at me and asked quietly,

“When is your family getting here?”

“That wound needs stitches in the ER, and someone has to sign for you.”

I thought for a moment, then texted my best friend.

Twenty minutes later, Jude showed up. Ethel Henson trailed behind him.

My wound had just been taken care of and Frieda Delgado was wheeling me to the payment window when she spotted him. Her face twisted with open contempt.

“Oh wow, Mr. Lyons. Visiting your ex and you brought your little secretary along?”

Jude's brow furrowed. He didn't answer her. Instead he walked straight to me, crouched down, something almost soothing in his voice.

“Marina, what did the doctor say? What about the driver who hit you?”

“It's nothing. Six stitches.”

“Driver took off. I already filed a report.”

I pulled away from his hand and answered flatly.

He drew his hand back, awkward, a flicker of guilt crossing his face.

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ignore your calls.”

I looked at him and cut him off, calm.

“I know. You don't need to apologize.”

“We don't have anything to do with each other anymore.”

His expression shifted. His voice dropped.

“Marina, we've been together ten years. You're really breaking up with me over a charger?”

I let out a quiet laugh, my gaze drifting past him to Ethel.

“What, should I wait until she's in your bed?”

“Miss Sullivan, I know you have issues with me, but you can't just humiliate me like this.”

Ethel's voice cracked, her eyes rimming red.

“Mr. Lyons and I have a strictly professional relationship.”

“I get hives when I overheat, so I just borrowed his charger for a minute. I won't do it again.”

I was about to ask if there wasn't a single portable charger available nearby when Jude shot to his feet.

He stepped in front of Ethel, shielding her.

“Marina, are you done?”

“Is this really necessary, going after her like this?”

I tilted my head up to look at him, my nose stinging.

“Who's the one making a scene here?”

“You.”

Not a second of hesitation. His voice was cold.

“Apologize to Ethel.”

My eyes dropped to the watch on my wrist. I swallowed the ache in my throat.

“That's never going to happen.”

“You have less than twenty-three hours left. Pack your things and get out.”

“And I'll be letting both families know in the group chat that we split on good terms.”

Then I slid the engagement ring off my finger and held it out to him.

“You know how Mrs. Lawrence feels about cheating.”

Panic flashed through his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but behind him, Ethel let out a sharp gasp.