Runaway Groom, Thanks for Setting Me Free

"That's impossible! Why would the Hammonds…" Joshua's instinctive reaction was to refute me, his eyes awash with panic.

"She's definitely lying, Joshie! The Hammonds would never… She's just angry that you ran off from the wedding, so she hired a few people to put on this act and scare you!"

Isabel insisted I was lying, and Joshua's gaze lingered briefly on my face. The uncertainty in his eyes vanished almost instantly.

"That's enough, Ellie. I know you're upset that I left you for Izzy's sake, but you shouldn't joke around like that when it comes to marriage. Austin…"

He paused to take another look at my disguised face before clenching his teeth, saying, "Austin cares a great deal about looks. Why would he ever marry you? As long as you admit that you're just lying and apologize to me, I can still—"

"Still what?" I cut him off evenly. "Still continue treating me like your backup plan? Keeping me on the hook until you get tired of your first love before you finally come back to me?

"Do you really think I'm so pathetic, Joshua? That I can't live without you?"

My questions rendered him speechless, and his expression shifted between varying shades of anger.

Seeing this, Isabel immediately leaned into his arms like a frail woman and said in a tearful voice, "Let's go, Joshie. We shouldn't stick around any longer. It'll only make Ellie even angrier.

"I'm sure she's just too angry to think straight right now. Once she comes back to her senses, she'll see who truly cares about her."

After saying that, she didn't forget to shoot me a taunting look.

Meanwhile, Isabel's words had given Joshua the out he needed. He exhaled heavily and looked at me. "I'll give you some time to calm down, Ellie. Once you've thought things through, you can call me anytime."

Then, with his arms supporting Isabel, he walked right through the door without looking back.

Ironically, just moments after he left, the doorbell rang. Boaz showed up with two assistants to deliver a massive box to me.

Upon opening the lid, I saw a custom-made wedding gown crafted by a renowned international designer. The diamonds sewn into the fabric sparkled in the light.