She stood in front of the mirror, her fingers brushing down the fabric of the wedding gown she never thought she’d wear again. Soft lace, delicate beading–Sebastian said he wanted something simple but elegant, just like her. And for once, she believed it. She had hesitated at first, unsure if her heart was ready to love again so freely, so fully.
But with Sebastian, there was no pretending anymore.
She smiled to herself as she fixed her hair, her eyes bright. “I’m really doing this,” she whispered. “I’m really getting married again.”
Not out of duty. Not because someone needed a placeholder. But because she was in love.
Sebastian waited outside the room with a bouquet of white roses, tapping his foot, pretending to be impatient.
“You’re going to wear a hole in the carpet,” Lucas teased from across the hallway.
Sebastian grinned. “Worth it. She’s worth every second.”
The preparations were simple, elegant, intimate. Family and close friends. No pretense, no staged smiles. Just truth, and two people who chose each other.
Meanwhile, across the city, Colton sat on the edge of his bed, shirt halfway buttoned, the room dark despite the morning sun. The curtains were still closed, his half–empty whiskey glass on the nightstand.
Ellie’s name slipped from his mouth in a hoarse whisper.
Shania stirred beside him, sheets tangled around her bare legs, her mascara smudged from the night before. Morning light seeped through the curtains, casting pale slants of gold across the cold marble floor.
She turned toward Colton, her voice still thick with sleep. “You’re dreaming about her again, aren’t you?”
Colton didn’t answer. He sat at the edge of the bed, staring into nothing, his hands slack in his lap, knuckles pale.
Shania pushed herself upright, irritation creeping into her voice. “It’s been weeks, Colton. Weeks. And you’re still moping like she died.”
Still, he didn’t speak.
She scoffed. “This is pathetic. I stayed. I’m here. I’ve always been here. But all you do is sulk like some lost puppy waiting for his owner to come back.”
“I didn’t ask you to stay,” he said quietly, eyes still fixed on the floor.
Her face twisted. “Excuse me?”
“I never asked you to stay,” he repeated, sharper now. “You stayed because you wanted to win. You wanted to prove something. You wanted me when she was already gone.”
Still, he didn’t speak.
She scoffed. “This is pathetic. I stayed. I’m here. I’ve always been here. But all you do is sulk like some lost puppy waiting for his owner to come back.”
“I didn’t ask you to stay,” he said quietly, eyes still fixed on the floor.
Her face twisted. “Excuse me?”
“I never asked you to stay,” he repeated, sharper now. “You stayed because you wanted to win. You wanted to prove something. You wanted me when she was already gone.”
Shania’s voice rose, high and breaking. “Because I loved you, Colton! Because I thought you’d finally see me! I gave you everything. My time. My heart. My body. And still–you call her name in your sleep.”
His head dropped into his hands. “Shania, please…”
“No! Don’t ‘please‘ me now.” She stood, grabbing her robe with trembling fingers. “Every time I touch you, you pull away. Every time I talk about the future, you go quiet. You pretend I’m her in bed, don’t you? That’s what you do.”
“That’s not fair.”
“What isn’t fair is me wasting years on a man who never loved me the way he loved someone who left him.”
He looked up at her then, eyes red–rimmed. “She didn’t leave me. I destroyed her. There’s a difference.”
Shania flinched.
“I used her,” he went on, voice low, hollow. “I made her think she was just convenient. I let everyone else treat her like she didn’t matter. And when she finally found the strength to walk away, I–I realized I had nothing left.”
Shania shook her head, eyes stinging. “You’re unbelievable. You’re in love with a ghost. With a version of her that never even existed in your eyes when she was yours.”
He didn’t deny it.
“I thought once she was gone, you’d finally see me,” she whispered. “I was the one who stayed. Who held your hand through your darkest nights. But you only ever looked for her
in me.”
Colton’s silence was answer enough.
Tears streamed down Shania’s face, hot and angry. “I wish I never came back. I should’ve stayed gone when I left you the first time.”
She stormed across the room, grabbing her purse and heels. “Goodbye, Colton. And don’t bother calling. I won’t play second to a memory anymore.”
She slammed the door behind her.
Colton didn’t move. The silence she left behind felt heavier than her shouting.
He sat there, still shirtless, still broken, the faint scent of her perfume lingering like a
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Colton’s silence was answer enough.”
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Tears streamed down Shania’s face, hot and angry. “I wish I never came back. I should’ve stayed gone when I left you the first time.”
She stormed across the room, grabbing her purse and heels. “Goodbye, Colton. And don’t bother calling. I won’t play second to a memory anymore.”
She slammed the door behind her.
Colton didn’t move. The silence she left behind felt heavier than her shouting.
He sat there, still shirtless, still broken, the faint scent of her perfume lingering like a wound.
His butler knocked once before stepping in gently. “Sir?”
Colton didn’t look up.
“The board is expecting you at the investor gala in Germany this evening. Your absence is drawing concern.”
Colton lifted his head slightly. “Germany?”
“Yes, sir. You confirmed the date two months ago. Shall I prepare the jet?”
Colton stood slowly, brushing a hand through his unkempt hair. His eyes were tired,
shadowed by sleepless nights and silent regrets.
Germany.
He exhaled long and slow, then handed the butler his empty glass.
“Call for the jet,” he said quietly. “I’ll go.”
That evening, Ellie sat beside Sebastian as the final touches of the gala venue were being arranged. She wore a deep emerald gown, a soft contrast to Sebastian’s classic black tux. They looked every bit the power couple they had become–only now, it was real.
“You ready?” Sebastian asked, sliding an arm around her waist, lips brushing her temple.
“Are you?” she smirked. “You’re the one who said we should finally tell the world.”
He raised a brow. “Are you nervous?”
“A little.”
“Then let’s be nervous together.”
They laughed softly. Lucas joined them briefly, adjusting his tie awkwardly. “You two are way too sweet. It’s getting hard to pretend you’re not completely in love.”
Ellie nudged him. “We’re not pretending anymore.”
And then the night began.
The Rhys family gala was always a high–society event–flooded with press, dignitaries, investors. This year was no different. But there was a buzz in the air, an excitement as the media whispered that there was an “important announcement” to be made by the Rhys. family.
Ellie chose to enter late, as Sebastian’s grandfather had requested. He wanted to make it
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way too sweet. It’s getting hard to pretend you’re not completely in love.”
Ellie nudged him. “We’re not pretending anymore.”
And then the night began.
The Rhys family gala was always a high–society event–flooded with press, dignitaries, investors. This year was no different. But there was a buzz in the air, an excitement as the media whispered that there was an “important announcement” to be made by the Rhys family.
Ellie chose to enter late, as Sebastian’s grandfather had requested. He wanted to make it grand.
So she stayed back, hidden for now, while Sebastian walked through the crowd, speaking with business partners and smiling politely.
Meanwhile, across the ballroom, Colton stepped into the venue.
He was in a black suit, sharp, handsome–but there was a coldness to him now. Something hollow.
He greeted a few investors, eyes scanning the room out of habit. Looking. Hoping.
He didn’t even know what he was hoping for.
And then–he heard it.
A quiet tap of a glass.
Sebastian’s grandfather stood at the podium.
“Good evening, everyone. Before we proceed with the formalities, allow me to share. something very close to my heart…”
The crowd grew quiet.
“Tonight, we celebrate not just business and legacy–but love. I am proud to officially introduce to the world… my grandson and his wife.”
Everyone turned toward the entrance.
The doors opened.
And in walked Ellie.
Dressed in emerald silk, hair swept back in soft waves, her hand held gently by Sebastian’s as they made their way down the grand staircase.
For a moment, time stopped.
Colton stared.
He couldn’t breathe.
The glass in his hand slipped, shattering against the marble floor.
Heads turned. Murmurs rippled across the room.
Colton’s heart thundered in his chest. His vision blurred–not from alcohol, but from something worse.
It was her.
