“I know you weren't there, but I went with Irma's suggestions.”
“She thought a Korean-style lawn wedding would be perfect, and I figured you girls all like pretty much the same things, so I locked it in.”
I laughed, weak and hollow.
Irma again.
He always assumed she and I wanted the same things.
But he'd forgotten. On my last birthday, he'd ordered me a mango cake, going off Irma's tastes.
I'd taken one bite and broken out in hives all over, ending up in the hospital.
Irma had chased after us, eyes red, sobbing out an apology.
“I'm so sorry, I had no idea Deborah was allergic to mango, otherwise I never would have blended it into juice for the cake……”
And now even the wedding.
He could plan it with someone else, without me.
If that was how it was, then what did this wedding have to do with me at all?
It struck me as funny, and the laugh slipped out before I could stop it.
Spencer's rigid body suddenly went slack.
“Deborah, since you're laughing, I'll take that as a yes.”
His voice softened all at once.
“Deborah, let's stop fighting, okay? Things were so much better before, when we were happy together.”
“I'm honestly looking forward to it now. What you'll look like in a wedding dress, marrying me? The most beautiful bride in the world, no question.”
My gaze drifted slowly toward the distance, and a mocking smile touched my lips.
“You'll get the most beautiful bride in the world, all right.”
Just that the woman.
Wouldn't be me.
As for the wedding.
I'd give him one hell of a surprise.
For two solid weeks, I dodged every chance to see Spencer.
Either I claimed work was keeping me busy, or there were other matters I had to handle.
Spencer wasn't pleased, but time after time, he let it go.
“Fine, I'll let you work these last two weeks.”
“Once we're married and you're Mrs. Stephens, there's no reason for you to be out working at all.”
Then came the wedding day. Spencer and his family stood at the venue, waiting more than two hours.
And still there was no sign of me, no sign of anyone from my side either.
“What's going on, Spencer? Didn't you say eight o'clock? It's almost ten now.”
“If this drags on any longer, the whole ceremony's going to run late!”
Spencer checked his watch for the ninth time, his face gone ashen.
“Give it a little longer.”
“Maybe something happened. I know Deborah. She's not the type to be late.”
But not a single relative from the bride's side had shown up, and that was clearly wrong.
Spencer reached his limit, picked up his phone, and dialed that number again, the one that never went through.
Then, the next second, someone cried out：“The bride's here!”
Spencer's head shot up, joy breaking across his face, and he hurried over to meet her.
But the bride in the wedding dress was Irma,
and his expression iced over in an instant.
“Irma, your usual nonsense I can let slide, but do you understand what today is?”
“Today is my wedding with Deborah.”
“Who told you to put on that dress? Take it off!”
Irma fidgeted, her eyes welling up.
“Spencer, why are you snapping at me?”
“Deborah's the one who ran out on the wedding. She said she was giving the bride's spot to me, that I should marry you instead.”
The color drained from Spencer's face. “What did you say?”
“If you don't believe me, go find Deborah yourself!”
“Though by now, she's probably already on a flight out of the country, halfway overseas, don't you think?”
