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I Was the Bridesmaid—He Was Marrying My Cousin
Novelix
new
Completed
Emma arrives for her cousin Sophie’s October wedding and recognizes the groom in the engagement portrait: Nathan, her boyfriend of three years. He had claimed to be too broke to marry Emma while secretly dating and marrying Sophie. Emma goes through the wedding preparations in silence, then confronts him during the reception toast. Her family’s attempts to silence her only deepen the betrayal. After gathering records that raise questions about Nathan’s business ties to Sophie’s father, Emma reports the facts to the relevant compliance teams, cuts contact, and begins a new life on her own terms.
Chapters (2)
第1章
My cousin Sophie asked me to be a bridesmaid over the long October weekend.
After a four-hour drive, I arrived at her parents' house and stopped cold in the entryway.
A giant engagement photograph hung above the fireplace.
The groom was Nathan Hayes—my boyfriend of three years.
"Emma!" Sophie cried, throwing her arms around me. "Isn't he handsome? We already signed the marriage paperwork. The ceremony's tomorrow."
I pointed at the photograph. "That's your husband?"
"Of course. He's amazing. So, are you seeing anyone?"
I forced myself to breathe. "I was. We just broke up."
Sophie squeezed my hand sympathetically. Then she told me how generous Nathan had been: a big cash contribution toward their first home, an expensive engagement ring, and a new car.
To me, he'd always claimed he was struggling financially. I'd quietly saved more than fourteen thousand dollars to help us start our life together.
"When did you meet him?" I asked.
"Six months ago. A family friend introduced us. He was always traveling for work."
Six months. That was when Nathan's business trips had become constant.
My parents and Sophie's family arrived with groceries. Mom asked where the boyfriend I'd promised to bring had gone. Sophie quickly told everyone I'd just been dumped.
Her mother patted my arm. "You'll find someone as good as Sophie's husband one day."
Then Sophie pressed a pale-pink bridesmaid dress into my hands.
"Try it on. Tomorrow I have a very special job for you."
第2章
I called Nathan from the guest bedroom.
"Hey, babe," he answered. "Missing me already?"
"Where are you?"
"With a client. Just finished a meeting. Are you at your cousin's place?"
He sounded so kind that for a moment I wanted to believe the photograph had been a mistake.
"Nathan, when are we getting married?"
"When business is better, sweetheart. You deserve a beautiful wedding."
I closed my eyes. "We're done."
He claimed the connection was bad and ended the call.
I put on the pink dress and joined the family. Sophie told me to help welcome the groom, stand near her during the ceremony, and hold the champagne tray at the family toast.
That night we shared a bedroom as we had when we were little. Sophie spoke dreamily about Nathan driving hours to see her every weekend.
"He said his ex left him because she wanted too much money," she told me. "He was so relieved I wasn't like that."
I stared at the ceiling.
The man who'd asked me to save every spare dollar had told another woman I was greedy.
"Get some sleep," Sophie whispered. "Tomorrow's my big day."
I lay awake long after she began to breathe evenly.