My Runaway Groom’s Regrets

Amara’s POV

WEDDING CEREMONY

"Amara, what do we do now? Adrian is an hour late! He was supposed to be here on time!" My mother's voice rose in panic, her personal assistant Jasmine frantically seeking ways to calm her down.

“Mom, calm down... he’s on his way, don’t worry.” I bit my lower lip, my hand trembling with anxiety, as I dialed Adrian's number again. Where could he be? I'd called him countless times, but his phone kept going unanswered.

As I looked around, everyone was pleased to see me in panic; they enjoyed watching me and my mom like clowns in their eyes, and suddenly, we just became a laughing stock in front of family and friends!

My best friend Jessie approached me, clutching her green bridesmaid gown. "Amara, I think we should—"

"No, I know he's coming. We should wait for more minutes, okay?" I said as I kept calling Adrian.

Jessie said, "The priest has left; he has another wedding to attend today. I’m so sorry, Amara…"

Adrian Baltimore, CEO of one of the country's most powerful companies, stood me up at the altar on our wedding day....

Tears streamed down my face as I gave up hope, shaking my head in disbelief. Then, to my horror, gasps erupted from the crowd. My mother clutched her chest, her face contorted in pain.

“Call an ambulance!” Jasmine yelled in panic at the audience. “Mrs. Smith is having a heart attack!”

“MOM!” I rushed towards her but it was already too late.

Her breath was ragged as she cupped my face, whispering softly in a heavy breath, "Amara... I am so... sorry. Please... please... take care of yourself... do what's best for you... I love you... my daughter." Her eyes fluttered closed and hands slipped off. Tears streamed down my face as a choked sob escaped my lips. "Mom! Mom! Please..." I screamed, my voice thick with despair.

In that shattering moment, my heart ached with a grief so deep that it felt like it would break me in two. My mother's sudden death had turned my wedding day into a funeral.

On the morning of the burial, I made a decision. My supposed relatives, the ones who had mocked us in life, wouldn't be there to witness her final goodbye. They didn't deserve the honor. Jessie, my only true friend, stood beside me, her eyes filled with silent understanding.

Jessie whispered apologetically, "I'm sorry for your loss..."

Then I broke down in front of her, my eyes were full of sad tears, while my shoulder shook into sadness.

I whispered with a broken voice, “Mom…”

***

The following day, I locked myself in my room, crying all day. My heart was so heavy that every time I closed my eyes, I relived the events of my wedding day. The memory of my mom's saddened face when she heard Adrian wasn't coming haunted me, and I couldn't help but believe it contributed to her sudden death.

I sat up on my bed while wiping away my tears, and then I opened my phone again to call Adrian. But the bastard has not been answering any of my single calls!

As I scrolled through my insta, my hand trembled in anger as I saw Mia Peters, Adrian's first love, post an intimate photo of them together on our fucking wedding day!

"SHIT!!!"

My heart sank heavily, and to my anger, I sent Adrian the photo of our wedding and texted him, "Why did you miss our wedding day?! Where on earth were you?! I was waiting for you!"

A few minutes later, I received his reply, and my face turned blue as I read it carefully, saying, "Mia needed me at that time. I'm sorry."

I threw the phone against the wall and screamed loudly, "Bullshit!"