A Love Only the Past Knows

Faced with Seth's relentless provocations, Ryder decides to walk away from his life with Laura. To facilitate his exit, he meticulously plans a perfect wedding ceremony designed to satisfy both Laura and Seth. However, Ryder intends for his own departure to be the day's true climax. When he finally leaves, the aftermath is chaotic; Laura loses all control at the altar, destroying the entire event in a state of madness as she realizes the man she expected is gone forever.

Chapters

Chapter 7

Laura barely slept that night, and by the time she woke up the next morning, Ryder was already gone.

Looking around the empty house, she felt a wave of irritation.

Her phone buzzed with a notification. It was a message from Seth.

Seth: [Laura, it's already 9:00 a.m.! Why aren't you back at the office yet? Don't tell me you're still sleeping in?]

He added a skeptical sticker at the end.

Laura's annoyance flared, but she forced herself to reply calmly.

Laura: [I'm on my way. If anyone comes looking for me, just handle it for now.]

Meanwhile, Ryder had already settled into Harry's place, dragging his suitcase inside.

He was busy coordinating with the wedding planners, making sure every detail of the upcoming ceremony was adjusted—swapping the groom's name with Seth's.

The invitations had been reprinted, the suit tailored for Seth was ready, and even the wedding photos had been photoshopped to include him.

The final task was notifying Seth about his role in the wedding.

"There's no need to notify him," Ryder muttered. "He's bound to show up and cause a scene anyway."

He stared at the edited wedding photos on his laptop. "Showing up is easy. Getting him to wear the suit will be harder."

Suddenly, an idea struck him.

"Harry, the day before the wedding, can you pick up the suit and deliver it to Seth's place? Tell him it's from Laura," he said.

Harry frowned but eventually nodded.

Glancing at his schedule, Ryder saw the countdown—three days left until his departure.

Harry sighed. "Time flies. Soon, we won't be able to meet up whenever we want."

Ryder chuckled. "It's fine. Once I settle down over there, I can fly back to see you anytime you want."

For two days, Ryder hadn't contacted Laura.

By the afternoon of the third day, as Ryder boarded his flight, Laura suddenly felt a pang of unease, her chest tightening with an inexplicable dread.

She quickly grabbed her phone and called him, but the call didn't go through.

Panicking, she dialed Harry instead. "Where's Ryder? Why isn't he answering his phone?"

On the other end, Harry rolled his eyes so hard it seemed like they could hit the ceiling.

"Seriously? Ryder's been swamped these past two days with wedding prep. He's exhausted! On top of that, he's been helping take care of my grandma. He doesn't have time to keep checking his phone!" he lied.

Laura was momentarily speechless.

"Sorry, I was just... worried about him," she mumbled.

"What, do you think my house is some kind of danger zone?" Harry retorted.

"No, that's not what I meant, I just—" Laura started.

"Alright, alright. I'll let him know you called. Happy now?" Harry cut her off.

Before she could respond, the line went dead.

Laura tried to reassure herself. Maybe she was just overthinking things.

Back at the office, Seth sauntered in and casually stood behind her chair, starting to massage her shoulders.

"Laura, I haven't seen Granny Bambra in ages. Will she attend the wedding?" he asked.

Laura shook her head. "Her health isn't great. She can't handle big, lively events like this. Why are you suddenly asking about her?"

"No reason, just wanted to check in on one of your elders," Seth replied.

The mention of elders reminded Laura of Alexander.

Technically, Alexander was one of Ryder's elders, but since they were about to get married, he was practically hers as well.

She called Alexander to let him know about the wedding date.

"So the wedding's still happening as planned?" Alexander's tone carried a hint of curiosity, which Laura found odd.

"Yes, why? Is there a problem?" she asked.

Alexander gave a forced laugh. "Oh, no, no problem at all. It's just that the orphanage is undergoing renovations, and the place is full of kids right now. I really can't get away."

"That's alright. You handle your work. After the wedding, Ryder and I will visit you and the children," Laura said.

After hanging up, Seth started pestering her to join him for dinner.

Laura studied him for a long moment, her intense gaze making him squirm uncomfortably.

"Something wrong, Laura?" he asked.

"No," she finally said, pulling her eyes away. "I'm just tired today. Go have dinner on your own."

Fresh off his flight, Ryder saw Harry's message and found a quiet spot to call Laura back.

"I'm fine, just tired," he reassured her.

"If you're so tired, stop overdoing it. Whatever's left to prepare, let me handle it." Laura's tone was anxious, but it only made Ryder's forced smile grow heavier.

To an outsider, it might have seemed like she still cared for him.

"It's all taken care of. Don't worry. Oh, by the way, I've got a surprise planned for you. But you'll have to wait until the wedding day to find out what it is," he said.

The mention of a surprise caught Laura off guard, stunning her for a moment before she said, "A surprise? Oh! Okay! Thank you, hubby! You've worked so hard!"

After the call ended, Laura felt her earlier worries dissipate.

See? Ryder still loved her.

Far away in a foreign land, Ryder blocked her number after ending the call.

Continue to next part

On the eve of their wedding anniversary, Harvey Clarke insists his feelings for his former flame, Cassie Moss, are buried in the past. However, during their celebration, a sudden report of Cassie’s death causes Harvey to spiral into a public breakdown. When his wife attempts to intervene, his facade of devotion vanishes. He lashes out with cold resentment, accusing her of being pleased by the tragedy. Their marriage instantly fractures under the weight of his hidden grief and sudden hostility.

Modern Mystery Romance

8.1

Arranged Marriage To The Infamous Billionaire Playboy

8.1

Born into luxury, Hermione Watson-Pierce has always felt like merely a pawn in her parents' ruthless game of power. She learned to suppress her emotions, earning herself the title of the "Ice Queen." Just then, Aiden Mendes bursts into her life-a charming playboy known for his reckless reputation. Aiden chooses to cope with his inner turmoil through a lavish lifestyle, using his charisma and striking looks to keep others at bay. A looming threat forces them to face a contracted marriage or risk losing their inheritance. When they first meet, Aiden is struck by an unexpected attraction, as if it were love at first sight. Yet, his notorious reputation precedes him, and Hermione makes no effort to hide her disdain. As their contractual marriage evolves into a battle of wills, Aiden must work to melt Hermione's icy heart, proving that he is more than what meets the eye. But can he persuade her to rise above her prejudices and bravely pursue love?

Billionaire Modern Romance

9.7

Handprint on the Window

9.7

A single handprint on a bathroom window shatters a wife’s world, exposing her husband’s secret infidelity. In this gripping mystery story, a small mistake leads to a life-altering discovery of betrayal. Refusing to remain a victim, the protagonist embarks on a mission to identify the other woman. Her goal is clear: she will find the person who helped destroy her marriage and ensure that both her husband and his mistress pay dearly for their actions.

Modern Mystery

7.8

Married To The Vulture Of Wall Street

7.8

I had exactly forty-five minutes to get married, or I would lose the voting shares needed to stop my father from laundering millions through our family foundation. Everything was riding on this one legal signature at the City Clerk’s office. But just as I reached the front of the line, my phone buzzed with a high-definition photo of my fiancé, Preston, tangled in sheets with a junior associate at a SoHo hotel. The man I was about to tie my life to was a fraud, and my deadline was ticking toward zero. When I shoved the evidence in his face, he didn't even flinch. Instead, he gripped my wrist until the bone ground together, whispering that I was just a "junkie" fresh out of a Swiss clinic and that no one else would ever marry a liability with a personality disorder. My father was already standing by with a fraudulent medical affidavit, ready to force me into a conservatorship and strip me of my freedom the moment the clock hit 5 PM. They had spent years using my fake "instability" as a leash, treating me like a broken doll while they bled the company dry. I was the only one with the evidence to take them down, yet I was being discarded like a sunk cost by the very men who were supposed to protect me. I looked at Preston’s smug face and realized I didn't need a husband; I needed a predator. I scanned the room and spotted Dominik Mack, the "Vulture of Wall Street," a man who specialized in hostile takeovers and stripping men like my father of everything they owned. I walked straight up to the most dangerous man in New York and offered him a business transaction. "Do you want to get married?" I asked. He looked at my trembling hands, then at the man chasing me, and adjusted his collar with clinical detachment. "Deal," he said. I didn't just find a groom; I found an accomplice. This wasn't a wedding anymore—it was a declaration of war.

Action Modern Romance

7.6

Pregnant and Divorced: I Hid His Heir

7.6

Vivian clutched her Hermès bag, her doctor's words echoing: "Extremely high-risk pregnancy." She hoped the baby would save her cold marriage, but Julian wasn't in London as his schedule claimed. Instead, a paparazzi photo revealed his early return-with a blonde woman, not his wife, at the private airport exit. The next morning, Julian served divorce papers, callously ending their "duty" marriage for his ex, Serena. A horrifying contract clause gave him the right to terminate her pregnancy or seize their child. Humiliated, demoted, and forced to fake an ulcer, Vivian watched him parade his affair, openly discarding her while celebrating Serena. This was a calculated erasure, not heartbreak. He cared only for his image, confirming he would "handle" the baby himself. A primal rage ignited her. "Just us," she whispered to her stomach, vowing to sign the divorce on her terms, keep her secret safe, and walk away from Sterling Corp for good, ready to protect her child alone.

Billionaire Modern Romance

8.3

Shattered Dreams, Lingering Years

8.3

On the day Brett Graham threw his big victory celebration, he held my hand and told everyone I was his destiny. Even though we were already divorced. He declared to the whole room that he didn't regret his life-or-death decision, especially since his wife had been among the captives. Too bad the truth was, on that battlefield, the person he was trying to save wasn't me. It was his mistress. Just as Brett thought his bright future was finally within reach, the name on the military commendation medal turned out to be mine. Looking down at Brett from the stage, I spoke frankly to the cameras. "I believe if a peacekeeping soldier, during a hostage exchange with the enemy, only cares about the safety of his lover, it's a true disgrace to the profession."

Action Modern Romance

A Love Only the Past Knows

Chapter 7

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