When Love Becomes Past Tense Chapter 1

On the day of our wedding, Caleb’s first love got into a car accident.

His eyes were red and frantic. He said he had to go to the hospital immediately.

I begged him not to leave. I didn't want the wedding to be a disaster, and more importantly, I didn't want to disappoint my father, who was critically ill.

Caleb shoved me away violently. "Sienna is in a life-or-death situation right now, and you can't show a shred of empathy? You are a cold-blooded woman!"

I smiled, even as tears streamed down my face.

"Caleb, if you walk out that door today, this wedding has nothing to do with you anymore."

Caleb let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Don't forget who begged me to get married in the first place. Don't worry, even if you got down on your knees and begged me, I wouldn't come back!"

Later, when he finally remembered to call me, a different, familiar male voice answered my phone.

"Shh, she's asleep. Don't wake her."

"Caleb Sterling, I’m asking you one last time. Are you sure you’re going to find Sienna Blake? You don't care if our wedding is ruined?"

"What if I begged you not to go? Sienna texted me three minutes ago. She wasn't in a car accident at all. But my dad... he..."

In the bridal suite of the Plaza Hotel, I was still wearing my Vera Wang gown, but there wasn't a trace of happiness on my face.

My father had terminal stomach cancer. The doctors said it was a matter of weeks.

His last wish before he died was to see me settled, to see someone standing by my side to walk me through life. Only then could he leave in peace.

I didn't want him to leave with regrets, so I moved the wedding up.

But now, the groom was leaving ten minutes before the ceremony.

All because someone told him his first love, Sienna Blake, had been in a car crash and wanted to see him.

Yet, her taunting text from three minutes ago was still on my phone.

I desperately tried to show Caleb the evidence, but he slapped my hand away.

My phone smashed onto the floor.

I stumbled and fell with it.

"Enough! Hazel, Sienna is in a critical condition and just wants to see me one last time. Can't you have some humanity?"

"I don't know how I ever fell in love with a heartless woman like you!"

Looking at him, I knew nothing I did would stop him today.

Suddenly, I laughed.

I laughed at my own stupidity. Roman had warned me beforehand that the relationship between Caleb and Sienna was far more complicated than it appeared. But I chose to trust Caleb unconditionally.

Now, reality had slapped me hard across the face.

Tears slid down my cheeks. I looked at him, my gaze turning steely.

"Caleb Sterling, if you leave today, this wedding has nothing to do with you anymore."

I heard Caleb scoff in contempt, his voice icy.

"You seem to have forgotten which one of us begged for this marriage."

"Relax. You have such a venomous heart; even if you kneeled and begged, I wouldn't say yes."

"A solo wedding? Think about how humiliating that will be."

"But you deserve it."

After dropping those cruel words and stabbing me through the heart, Caleb left without looking back.

I stared silently at the floor for three minutes.

Caleb’s words echoed in my mind.

Suddenly, another voice resurfaced in my memory—

“I know I shouldn't have feelings for my brother’s woman, but I have to let you know. I want to marry you. I’m fascinated by you. I’m serious.”

I slowly picked myself up from the floor and fixed my makeup.

Then, I dialed a number.

"Do you remember what you said to me?"

"Marry me. Right now. Are you coming?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end.

"I'll be there instantly. Wait for me."

After I hung up, the wedding planner stood at the door, looking at me with awkward pity.

"Miss Vance, did the groom run away? What should we... do about the wedding?"

I smiled at her. "Proceed as planned."

"Who said the groom ran away?"