The Wedding That Never Was Chapter 3

That teasing shout froze me in place.

Future Mrs. Hayes?! They called that girl the future Mrs. Hayes...

Then what was I?

I dug my nails into my palms, watching helplessly as Sarah peeled a piece of candy and held it up. Adrian obediently lowered his head, allowing her to place the candy into his mouth.

Someone joked from the side, “Colonel Hayes never eats sweet, greasy stuff like that. He only eats it if his future wife gives it to him.”

Another round of cheers.

I stood in the shadows, my heart throbbing with pain.

The sentry who brought me over scratched his head awkwardly. “They’re just joking, Miss Vaughn. Don’t mind them...”

“It’s fine.”

I shook my head, stopped him from calling out to Adrian, and turned to leave.

Only after walking out of the base did I feel like I could breathe again.

I looked down at the exquisite box of chocolates, and in the end, I tossed it into a roadside trash can.

When I got home, the house was empty.

The lonely atmosphere made me feel cold.

I sat slumped on the sofa, staring blankly at the photos of Adrian and me from a few years ago on the TV stand.

In the photo, I was smiling in a white evening gown, held in the arms of him in his Navy dress blues.

We both had brilliant smiles on our faces.

I took out a rosewood box and unfolded the letters Adrian used to write to me.

“Ilara, the temperature is dropping today. Wear an extra layer.”

“Ilara, my mission is over. I want to see you.”

“Ilara, haven’t seen you in two weeks. I miss you so much.”

Adrian was a man of few words, but his love for me was evident in those brief sentences.

But later, when we both got phones and switched to texting, his care for me became less and less.

The last text Adrian sent me was two weeks ago.

“Busy at base. Do not disturb.”

Suddenly, it started raining heavily outside.

The unusual silence made me anxious, my heart pounding erratically.

I curled up on the sofa holding those letters. My reflection in the window pane looked pale.

“I’m not sick... Adrian loves me the most...”

I whispered to myself, my head gradually becoming dizzy, losing track of time.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open.

Hearing the sound, I looked over in a trance and saw Adrian standing in the doorway.

I immediately stood up, feeling a surge of joy. “Adrian, you’re back?”

Adrian frowned at me. “You went to the base yesterday?”

I paused. I hadn't done anything wrong, yet I felt flustered. “I... I wanted to give you a surprise.”

Adrian’s brow seemed to furrow with annoyance.

“Don’t go next time.”

I was stunned. His tone was exactly like when he gave orders to his subordinates.

I lowered my head, my heart tightening again.

Then Adrian added, “This training session will be over soon.”

I didn't know what expression to make.

If it’s over, will he spend time with me?

But I didn't dare to have expectations anymore...

I could only lower my eyes and murmur, “Okay.”

Then I stood up, not wanting to talk about it anymore. “I’ll go run a bath for you.”

Adrian looked at his dripping combat uniform and silently agreed.

Standing at the bathroom door, I touched my cold face and exhaled deeply.

I waited for a long time before walking out.

“Adrian, the water is ready...”

Before I could finish, I saw Adrian holding a pill bottle, turning to look at me with a dark face.

His opening words were a cold interrogation: “You lied to me?”

I froze, recognizing the empty antidepressant bottle.

But Adrian poured out a few Vitamin C tablets from it. “Depression?”

“Ilara Vaughn, is it fun to lie to me?”