I Vanished Before the Wedding

Just three days after we got engaged, I stumbled across a private story posted by the girl he had grown up with.

'Too bad the boy who confessed to me ninety-nine times is marrying someone else in ten days.'

In the photo, he trailed behind her through a crowded mall, his arms loaded with shopping bags, looking as if he had rehearsed the scene a hundred times.

Curious, I scrolled down to read the comments.

'No way. The childhood-best-friend and first-love storyline still lost? Girl, that hurts.'

'Lost? He's getting married and still spending the whole day shopping with her. She didn't lose anything.'

'I feel bad for the bride. I'm seriously waiting for confession number one hundred to happen at the wedding, followed by a runaway groom scene.'

Watching strangers bicker in the comments, I quietly pressed the like button, blending into their chaos.

None of them knew that in just ten days, I would be the one stepping away from the altar.

The fake-death package I'd ordered was already in motion.

While my fiance and his childhood sweetheart mourned the love they claimed was out of reach, I quietly counted down the days until I could disappear for good.

The Outsider Wearing His Ring

Three days after our engagement, Callum Pierce's friends threw him a little celebration.

I drove downtown to pick him up from the hotel restaurant.

The door to their private room had been left slightly ajar. Laughter drifted into the hallway, loud and effortless.

I stepped closer.

Through the crack, I saw Callum sitting next to Mara Collins, the girl he'd known since they were kids. They were pressed so close their shoulders nearly touched.

Mara was laughing as she reached over and pinched his cheek.

My stomach tightened.

Callum caught her wrist and lowered her hand.

"Mara, I'm engaged now." His voice was calm, almost gentle. "You can't keep acting like this. Natalie won't like it, and I don't want to make her unhappy."

For one foolish second, warmth rushed into my chest.

I almost smiled.

I was about to push the door open when one of his friends spoke up, "So what made you decide to marry Natalie all of a sudden?"

A short laugh followed.

"I thought you were just passing time with her."

My hand froze on the door.

Callum looked at Mara.

Nothing changed on his face.

"My mom's been pushing me to settle down. Natalie is the perfect fit. She's sweet, pretty, obedient, rich, and has no family to complicate things."

Then he gave a small shrug. "She's basically my mother's dream daughter-in-law."

The words hit harder than a slap.

Before I could move, Mara gave a tiny gasp.

She had cut her finger on a steak knife.

Callum was on her in an instant, taking her hand like she'd been seriously hurt. "Mara, can you be careful for once?"

Mara tugged her hand back, pouting. "I thought we needed boundaries. Let go."

Callum let out a helpless laugh. "You rejected me ninety-nine times. Am I not allowed to be a little mad?"

His tone softened almost immediately. "Okay, I'm sorry. Let me see."

Then he lifted her injured finger to his mouth.

One of his friends groaned. "God, you two are still like this after all these years?"

Another voice chimed in, amused and a little drunk. "You should've ended up together. Instead, some outsider gets the ring."

The word 'outsider' sank into me.

I thought back to the first time Callum introduced me to his friends—the sideways glances, the smirks they tried to hide.

Back then, Callum had wrapped an arm around my waist and explained it away. "They just think I got lucky, finding a woman as beautiful as you."

Now I understood.

They had never thought he was lucky. Instead, they had thought I was ridiculous.

Inside the room, Callum was carefully wrapping a bandage around Mara's finger.

"She doesn't want to be trapped in a marriage," he told them, his voice low. "I respect that."

Mara burst out laughing and gave him a slap on the shoulder. "Oh, come on. Natalie barely knows anyone here, so I'll be her bridesmaid."

She leaned toward him, eyes bright with mischief. "Then it'll be like you're marrying me. More exciting that way, right?"

Callum didn't pull away.

Mara tilted her head, looking at him as if she already knew the answer. "You'll always be there for me, won't you?"

Callum reached over and ruffled her hair. His voice softened so much it made my chest ache. "Always. I'm your backup plan."

The room went quiet for half a second.

Then one of his friends sighed. "Just don't let Natalie find out. Women always sense this kind of thing. If she makes a scene, it'll be a mess for everyone."

I stood in the hallway, perfectly still as I watched them through that narrow crack for a long time.

Then I turned and walked away.