I Was Just the Backup Bride

On the day my grandmother Nana was in critical condition, Scott accompanied me back to my small hometown. For a second, I thought he had finally decided to put me first.

But at the hospital's billing counter, he left his phone in my hand when he went to use the restroom.

The screen lit up. It was a group chat notification from his friends.

"Scott, are you seriously at the hospital with Elly right now?"

"Aren't you afraid shell find out you only agreed to marry her because Aurora refused to see you?"

"What's there to fear? Elly is so easy to handle. A few sweet words and shell believe anything."

"Seriously, though. If Aurora comes back, are you still going to marry Elly?"

Scott replied two minutes later:

"Stop asking stupid questions. If Aurora comes back, this wedding is off."

I stood in front of the payment window, my hands trembling so hard I couldnt even insert my credit card into the slot.

Catherine walked up just then to drop off some food. She caught a glimpse of the screen and let out a sharp laugh.

"Well, Elly. It turns out youre nothing but a placeholder bride, huh?"

"And here you are, telling Nana every day how good he is to you. Hilarious. If Nana heard this, shed jump right out of her hospital bed."

Late that night, as I sat on the bench outside the ICU, I quietly canceled my bridal photoshoot reservation with Scott.

Then, I opened my laptop. I took my pending transfer request to Chicagothe one I had submitted just to be closer to himand changed it to an application for International Medical Relief.

When Scott returned from the billing department, he held a cup of iced coffee.

He popped the straw in and handed it to me, his voice soft and gentle.

"Drink something first, Elly. The private nurse is watching Nana."

I stared at the coffee cup but didnt reach for it.

In the past, I would have fallen for this gesture instantly.

When he was two hours late for our dates, I would make excuses for him.

When he refused to make our relationship public, I would tell myself he was just a private person.

Only today did I realize it wasn't that he didnt know how to love. He just didnt love me.

Seeing me frozen, Scott reached out to brush my hair back.

I stepped half a foot away, leaving his hand hanging in the cold air.

Catherine stood nearby, watching the drama unfold with a smug smirk.

"Come on, Elly. You're not seriously going to throw a tantrum over some silly guys' group chat, are you?"

"Guys talk big before marriage. You should be throwing a party that you're even marrying into the Franklin family."

"Did you honestly expect him to treat you like a worshiped goddess?"

My face darkened.

"Catherine, Nana is still in there."

Catherine shrugged.

"Im just speaking the truth. So what if he has someone else in his heart? Hes still marrying you in the end, isn't he?"

I looked up, my eyes cold. "Shut up."

Catherine gasped, startled, and then rolled her eyes.

"The date is set, invitations are sent out. Who are you putting on this show for?"

Scott finally sensed something was off. He looked at me, his brow furrowing.

"Elly, did you look at my phone?"

I handed the device back to him. "Yes, I did."

Scott put the phone in his pocket. I expected him to get angry at me for invading his privacy.

Instead, he avoided my gaze, nervously tapping on his Apple Watch to check the group chat.

Sometimes I hated having such perfect eyesight. I saw the new message pop up on his wrist:

Aurora just landed in Chicago. Scott, you going to pick her up?

The next second, he tapped a quick reply on his watch.

Stop texting. Don't let Aurora see this.

A quiet laugh escaped my lips.

So, it didn't matter what I saw. What mattered was that Aurora didn't see.

Hearing my laugh, Scott looked up, a flash of panic crossing his face.

"Elly, they were just joking."

"Were the things you said a joke, too?"

Scott fell silent.

That silence was louder than any confession.

Catherine scoffed from the side.

"Elly, that's enough."

"Nana is holding on just to see you get married. If you call off the wedding now, aren't you afraid youll literally kill her?"

Slap!

A sharp crack echoed through the quiet hallway.

Catherine clutched her burning cheek, staring at me in absolute disbelief.

"Elly! Are you out of your mind?"

I looked at her, my voice dead calm.

"Make one more joke about Nana, and Ill have security drag you out of this hospital."

Catherines eyes welled with tears as she turned to Scott for support.

But Scott didn't say a word to defend her.

Ignoring them both, I turned and walked into the ICU.

Nana hadn't woken up yet. The oxygen mask covered her face, her breathing so shallow it felt like it could slip away at any second.

I sat by her bedside and took her frail, thin hand.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. It was a notification from the hospitals HR portal.

Your application for International Medical Relief has been submitted. It cannot be withdrawn once approved.

I tapped "Confirm."

On the bed, Nanas fingers twitched slightly.

I leaned down, tucking the blanket around her shoulders, and whispered:

"Nana... I think I need to go somewhere far away."

This time, I was done waiting for someone to choose me.

Nana woke up briefly the next morning. The first thing she did was look for Scott.

"Where is Scott?"

Scott was in the hallway taking a business call, but when he heard the nurse call him, he hung up immediately and rushed in.

He leaned down and held Nana's hand, his tone perfectly warm and attentive.

"Im here, Nana."

Nana offered a weak, tired smile.

"Good. Now I can rest easy."

"Elly has always been too soft. She keeps all her pain to herself. You have to protect her for me from now on."

Scott's eyes reddened. "I will, Nana. I promise."

As he spoke, his Apple Watch lit up again.

It was a text from Aurora:

I'm back in Chicago. I heard you're out of town... Is it because of her?

Scott glanced down.

That single glance was enough to shatter what little hope I had left.

A few seconds later, he tapped a quick reply:

No. My fiance's grandmother is in critical condition. I can't leave right now.

I looked down, the sharp scent of antiseptic stinging my throat.

Nana didn't see any of this. She was still smiling, her voice raspy and faint.

"My Elly finally has a home..."

I squeezed her hand, not daring to make a sound.

The doctor called me into his office shortly after, telling me Nanas organs were failing and that I should prepare for the worst.

When I walked out, Scott was standing by the stairwell, on the phone.

"Aurora, don't overthink it. I really can't leave right now."

I couldn't hear what she said on the other end.

After a brief silence, his voice dropped to a whisper.

"We can talk about the wedding details later. You just got back, just focus on resting."

My footsteps paused at the doorway. Scott turned and saw me, his expression tightening.

"Elly."

I walked right past him.

He chased after me, grabbing my wrist.

"Let me explain."

"Explain what?" I turned to look at him. "Explain that you didn't stay here for me? Or explain why the wedding can be discussed 'later'?"

Scott pressed his lips together. He was rarely cornered by me like this.

I used to be so understandingso eager to please that if he even frowned, I would be the first to apologize.

Catherine, returning with breakfast, immediately shoved herself into the conversation.

"Elly, Nana is literally dying in there. Can't you be a little mature? Do you have to pick a fight right now?"

I looked at her.

"By 'mature,' you mean I should just pretend to be blind?"

"So what if a guy has an ex in his mind? Isn't that normal?" She rolled her eyes. "If you actually had what it takes, youd make him forget her. If you can't, accept your place and stop playing the victim."

Scott frowned. "Catherine, shut up."

In the afternoon, Aurora actually showed up.

Holding a bouquet of fresh lilies, she stood near the nurse's station, looking so pristine and out of place in this drab hospital.

When Scott saw her, he froze.

Aurora looked at me first, a polite, faint smile on her face.

"Hi, Elly. I heard your grandmother was ill, so I thought I'd stop by and pay my respects."

I turned my gaze to Scott. "You told her?"

Aurora quickly spoke up for him.

"Don't misunderstand, Elly. Someone mentioned it in our mutual friend group."

She turned back to Scott. "Scott used to hate hospitals more than anything. I didn't expect him to stay here overnight for you."

Those words felt like a slap to my face.

I was the one who had been sleeplessly guarding Nana.

Yet, the moment Aurora arrived, everyone assumed Scott was the one making the grand sacrifice.

Scott said quietly, "Aurora, you should leave."

Auroras eyelashes fluttered, looking hurt.

"Scott... am I bothering you? Should I not have come?"

Scotts tone instantly softened. "No, thats not what I meant."

I couldn't stand to watch them anymore.

As I turned to walk away, Catherine whispered in my ear:

"See that? They actually look like a couple. Youre just a placeholder trying to force your way into a frame you don't fit in."

I didn't look back.

That night, my phone buzzed with a refund notification from the bridal shop.

A moment later, the coordinator sent a follow-up text:

Hi Elly, sorry to bother you, but are you sure you want to cancel?

Scott originally booked this exact theme for Aurora a couple of years ago before they canceled. We thought he was finally getting to use it.

I stared at the screen, my heart sinking into a cold, dark abyss.

So, even the wedding theme wasn't chosen for me. I was just filling a slot that Aurora had abandoned.

Nana passed away in the early hours of the third day.

Before she went, she had a brief moment of absolute clarity.

Only Scott and I were in the room.

She weakly reached out, taking my hand and pulling Scotts hand over to rest on top of mine.

"Scott... Elly is a good girl, but she keeps everything inside."

"Please don't make her carry things alone anymore."

Scott's eyes filled with tears. "I won't, Nana. I promise."

Nana then looked at me, her voice barely a whisper.

"Elly, don't be afraid... Even when Im gone, you have to live a good life."

The tears I had been holding back finally poured down my cheeks.

She passed away peacefully.

Scott reached out to hug me, but I instinctively pulled away.

His arms hung in the air for a second before slowly dropping to his sides.

The funeral was arranged in a rush.

My parents flew in from out of town. Their first question wasn't whether Nana suffered at the end. Instead, they dragged me into a corner of the chapel.

My mom whispered urgently, "When is the Franklin family wire transferring the wedding fund? Your father's business is in a really tight spot right now."

I stared at her. "Nana just died."

Her expression soured.

"I know you're grieving, Elly, but the living still have bills to pay."

"Once you marry into the Franklins, our family will finally be secure."

Catherine, scrolling on her phone nearby, let out a chuckle.

"Mom, stop pushing her. Elly is too busy throwing a tantrum at Scott right now."

My dad frowned.

"The wedding date is set. All our relatives know. Don't embarrass us at a time like this."

An overwhelming wave of exhaustion washed over me.

They weren't worried about my happiness. They were worried about losing face if I called off the wedding.

And, of course, they were terrified of losing their cash cow.

At the church, Scott played the part of the perfect, grieving future grandson-in-law, looking even more solemn than my dad.

The relatives praised him, whispering about how lucky I was and how Nana had chosen well.

On the last day of the funeral services, Aurora showed up again.

Scott was stunned when he saw her. "Why are you here?"

Aurora said softly, "I wanted to pay my respects to her. Please don't be mad at me for showing up uninvited, Scott."

The surrounding relatives immediately began to whisper and stare.

Catherine leaned in close, mocking me. "Wow, Elly. Even his first love showed up. You sure have a lot of influence as the fiance."

Aurora walked up to me, her eyes filled with a perfectly practiced look of sympathy.

"I'm so sorry for your loss, Elly."

She glanced at Scott. "Scott must be exhausted from these past few days. Try not to make things too hard on him."

I looked at her and suddenly found myself smiling.

"Aurora, do you even know whose funeral this is?"

She blinked, taken aback.

I said, "My grandmother is the one lying in that casket. Not Scott."

Her face went pale. Scott instinctively stepped in front of her.

"Elly, Aurora is just trying to be nice."

I turned my eyes to him.

"So, her telling me not to make things hard on you is her being 'nice'?"

Scott choked on his words.

Auroras eyes pooled with tears, looking as though she was the one being bullied.

"I really didn't mean it that way..."

I didn't bother responding.

Arguing with them here would only turn Nanas final send-off into a trashy soap opera.

On the drive back to Chicago, Scott insisted on driving me.

The silence in the car was suffocating.

Finally, he spoke. "We can postpone the wedding. We'll do it whenever you feel ready."

I stared out the window. "I never said I wanted to do it at all."

The car abruptly screeched to a halt by the curb. Scotts face was incredibly dark.

"Elly, don't say things you don't mean just because you're angry."

"Nana just passed away. I don't want to fight with you."

"I am completely sober and rational, Scott. Let's call off the wedding."

He stared at me as if I had lost my mind.

"Just because of a group chat?"

"Its not just that."

I looked at him and unbuckled my seatbelt.

"Scott, I didn't just decide to leave you out of the blue."

"Ive just finally accepted the fact that you never truly wanted me in the first place."

I pushed the car door open and stepped out.

He jumped out of the car and grabbed my arm.

"Elly! Where do you think you're going?"

I peeled his fingers off my arm, one by one.

"Anywhere is better than sitting next to you."

That night, Scott called me over a dozen times.

I didn't answer a single one.

Finally, one last text lit up my screen.

Marriage isn't a game, Elly. We will talk when you've calmed down.

I stared at it for a long moment before replying with my final text:

There is nothing left to talk about.

Then, I put his number on Do Not Disturb.

Even after we got back to Chicago, Scott didn't cancel the wedding preparations.

When his mother, Paula, called me, her voice was cold but wrapped in polite condescension.

"Elly, Scott told me you've been stressed lately."

"We understand you're grieving, but a wedding is a family merger. Its not just about you."

I asked quietly:

"If Aurora agreed to marry Scott today, would you still want me to walk through your doors, Paula?"

The line went dead silent for a moment before Paula's voice sharpened.

"Elly, watch your mouth."

I laughed softly. "Does the truth hurt that much?"

Paula clearly didn't expect me to talk back. Her polite facade shattered completely.

"Do you seriously think Scott can't find anyone else?"

"Let me tell you something. The only reason the Franklin family accepted you is because you were quiet and obedient."

"If you keep acting up like this, youre the only one whos going to end up embarrassed."

"Then lets be embarrassed together."

I hung up.

That night, I packed all my documents into a folder.

My ID, my medical license, my physical exam reportseverything was ready.

My colleague, Cole, walked past my desk and stopped when he saw the paperwork.

"Are you really going through with the International Medical Relief deployment?"

Cole was an ER attending. He was two years older than me, a man of few words but incredibly steady and reliable.

I nodded. "The roster is being finalized."

He frowned slightly. "The conditions out there are much harsher than you think."

"I know. But staying here is worse."

Cole didn't try to change my mind. Instead, he reached into his white coat, pulled out a box of cold medicine, and placed it on my desk.

"Supplies are limited over there. Getting sick is a nightmare. Keep this with you."

I blinked, surprised. "Thank you, Dr. Cole."

He looked at me. "Don't be so formal."

Once the official deployment list was posted, the hospital arranged for us to leave for pre-deployment training immediately.

I didn't tell a soul.

On the morning of my departure, the sky was a dusty gray.

As I rolled my suitcase into O'Hare Airport, a text from Scott popped up.

I rescheduled the bridal shoot. You can choose whatever style you want this time. I'll listen to you.

I shut off my screen and didn't reply.

As the plane lifted off, I took one last look at the Chicago skyline below.

This city held too many of my humiliations, and the ghost of a man I once thought I'd spend forever with.

Now, it was all left beneath the clouds.

The day after I left, Scott went to the hospital to find me.

His car was parked by the curb, the backseat filled with new bridal catalogs.

Sensing my usual delay, he finally lost his patience and called my phone.

Still, no answer.

Frowning, he walked into the ER lobby and stopped at the front desk.

"Hi, could you page Elly from the ER? I'm here to pick her up for a wedding appointment."

The nurse blinked. "Dr. Elly?"

"Yes, her."

Scotts tone was casual, as if speaking of something entirely routine.

"Shes throwing a bit of a tantrum and isn't picking up her phone. Just tell her I'm waiting downstairs."

The nurses expression turned incredibly strange.

A younger resident doctor nearby looked up at him.

"Who are you to Dr. Elly?"

Scotts brow furrowed.

"Im her fianc."

The resident fell silent for a few seconds before speaking in a low voice.

"You don't know? Dr. Elly is gone."

Scott froze. "What do you mean, gone?"

"The International Medical Relief team left yesterday. She was in the first wave of volunteers."

It felt like the air was instantly sucked out of the room.

The bridal catalogs in Scotts hand slipped, clattering loudly onto the polished floor.

But he didn't even notice.

After a long pause, his throat tightened, his voice cracking.

"What did you just say?"