Ruining Our Second Wedding

Mona walked out on our wedding.

She did it to run to her ex-boyfriendthe same man who had abandoned her five years ago when she was on the verge of being permanently paralyzed.

A collective gasp rippled through the chapel, the whispers rising like dry leaves. I gripped her wrist, fighting to keep my expression from crumbling in front of our guests.

"Please," I whispered, my voice thick with a desperation I hated. "Not now. Don't leave."

Her eyes flickered with a brief, agonizing conflict. Then, finger by finger, she pried my hand off her wrist. She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Wright. I have to go. I need to know why he left so ruthlessly back then."

Without a backward glance, Mona walked down the aisle, leaving behind a chorus of stunned whispers.

Behind me, my motherwho had a severe, fragile heart conditionbegan to tremble violently. Before I could even process the humiliation of being left at the altar, she collapsed onto the floor.

"Mom!"

The world splintered around me. Somehow, through the panic and the blinding tears, I managed to get her into the ambulance.

Sitting outside the emergency room, my phone buzzed in my trembling hands. Two notifications lit up the screen.

The first was from Jerry: "I told you. The moment I came back, Mona would never choose you. You lose again."

The second was from Mona: "Give me thirty days. Let's take a break for just thirty days, and then I promise I will love only you with all my heart."

I stared at the screen, my eyes as dead as a winter sea. A bitter, self-deprecating laugh escaped my throat.

This time, I wasn't going to let myself lose.

The red light of the emergency room stayed lit for three hours.

My mother had undergone bypass surgery two years ago. She had warned me, softly but firmly, that Mona was not the kind of woman who could ever truly belong to me. But I had been stubborn. I had clung to the belief that Mona loved me with the same quiet, desperate devotion I had for her.

Now, every single one of those sweet, deluded assumptions felt like a violent slap to my face. I could barely breathe.

My father paced beside me, frantic and hollow-eyed. "Wright, what if she doesn't make it? What if..."

"She will," I interrupted him, though the words were meant more to comfort myself than him. "Mom is strong. She'll make it."

But my voice cracked. I had never been this terrified in my entire life.

Then, my phone vibrated again. Another text from Jerrythis time, a video.

It was filmed inside a dim hotel suite. Mona was there, still flushed and disheveled from running out on our wedding, standing in front of him.

"Why did you come back?" she demanded.

Jerry didn't answer. He just watched her. She was the one who lost control first, her eyes brimming with angry tears.

"You walked away without a single word, and now you think you can just breeze back in and ruin my life? Who gave you the right to be this selfish, Jerry?"

I walked down to the empty stairwell, seeking a quiet corner to watch the rest.

The woman on the screenthis unraveled, raw version of Monafelt like an absolute stranger. My friends had warned me more than once that Mona was too cold, too detached with me. But I had always brushed it off. "Shes a high-powered CEO," I'd say, defending her. "Shes built to keep her emotions under lock and key. Thats just who she is."

But sitting in that cold stairwell, the illusion shattered. She was capable of losing her mind. She could cry, she could shake, she could beg. It was just that none of those raw, primal feelings were meant for me. They were reserved entirely for Jerry.

I closed my eyes, forcing down the physical ache in my chest, and pressed play again.

In the video, Jerry didn't offer an explanation. He just stood there, letting her vent, knowing he held all the cards. Monas anger lasted only a moment before dissolving into a bitter, helpless laugh. All her resentment crumbled in an instant. She stepped forward and threw her arms around him.

"As long as you're back..." she whispered.

Jerry wrapped his arms around her waist, his eyes locking with the camera lens. He smirkeda look of pure, triumphant malice.

The video cut to black.

I let out a soft, hollow laugh. Outside, a sudden roll of thunder shook the hospital windows as rain began to pour.

So that's what she looked like when she loved someone. Five years together, and I had never once seen that expression on her face.

I wiped my face and walked back to the waiting room just as the heavy double doors swung open. I rushed to the surgeon, my throat tight. "Doctor, my mother... how is she?"

"She's stable. The worst is over," the doctor said, removing his mask. "But you must keep her calm. Her heart cannot handle any more severe shocks."

I nodded, every muscle in my body coiled tight. "It won't happen again. Thank you, Doctor."

My father collapsed into a chair, weeping with relief, as my mother was wheeled out. Looking at her pale, thin face, I wanted to strike myself. Why had it taken me this long to finally wake up?

Shortly after we moved my mother into a private room, a specialist knocked on the door. "Mr. Simon? I'm the hypertension specialist sent by Ms. Kingsley. How is the patient doing?"

At that exact moment, my phone buzzed. A text from Mona: "Im so sorry. I didnt realize your mother would react so strongly. Ive sent a top hypertension specialist to the hospital. She'll be fine."

My hand shook so hard the phone nearly slipped from my fingers. It was laughable.

Five years. We had been together for five years, and she didn't even know what kind of heart disease my mother had.

I took a deep, steadying breath, keeping my voice level. "We don't need your services. Please leave."

After settling my parents, I walked down to the ground floor to pick up some of my mother's routine prescriptions. Passing the gastroenterology clinic, I stopped dead. Through the crack in the door, I saw Mona and Jerry.

She was holding his hand, her face etched with deep, frantic worry.

The doctor was taking notes. "Describe his symptoms."

Before Jerry could even open his mouth, Mona blurted out the answers. "His stomach has always been sensitive. He never eats warm food when he should, and his immune system is incredibly weak. We've tried holistic remedies, but nothing seems to stick."

My feet felt like they were encased in concrete. Every word she spokedetailing Jerry's health with clinical, intimate precisionwas a needle driving straight into my chest.

She couldn't remember my mothers cardiac history, but she had memorized the digestive quirks of an ex-boyfriend she hadn't seen in half a decade.

I pulled out my phone, dialed my lawyer's number, and kept my voice whisper-quiet. "Draft a divorce agreement. Send it to my email."

Then, I walked into an adjacent examination room. "I need to schedule an urgent endoscopy," I told the physician on duty. "My stomach pain has been unbearable."

The doctor looked up, her brow furrowing as she recognized me. "Wait, I remember you. We caught your early-stage gastric ulcer last month. Why hasn't there been any follow-up? It's gotten incredibly severe."

A dull ache flared in my chest.

A month ago, while Mona was away on a business trip, I had started experiencing sharp abdominal pains. The biopsy came back showing an early-stage ulcer. I hadn't told her because I wanted to wait until after the weddingI thought I'd tell her when we were finally in a quiet, happy place.

I never could have guessed that Jerry would return, or that she would leave me standing at the altar like a fool. I was still wearing my tuxedo trousers, wrinkling under the hospital lights, looking thoroughly pathetic.

"I just neglected it," I said quietly. "Please, just schedule the test."

The doctor sighed, typing into her computer. "Fine. Tomorrow morning at nine, Exam Room One. Just check in at the front desk."

I thanked her and walked back to my mother's room.

I pulled out my phone. Our mutual friend group chat was buzzing with activity. Mona had just added Jerry back into the group.

"Welcome back, Jerry! I knew you two would find your way back to each other," one friend wrote.

"Exactly. You two always belonged together anyway," another chimed in.

"Uh... guys? Wright is still in this chat, remember?"

There was a sudden, heavy silence.

I smiled bitterly. These people had only tolerated me because of Mona; they had never actually respected me.

A second later, a system notification flashed across the screen: "You have been removed from the group by Mona Kingsley."

My lips went dry and pale. A direct message from Mona popped up immediately: "Ill add you back in thirty days. Be good."

I stared at those words for a long moment, then closed the app without replying. Once my medical tests were done tomorrow, there would be nothing left to bind us.

Two days later, my mother woke up, and my tests were completed. I returned to Kingsley Enterprises to submit my resignation.

I had barely sat down at my desk in the executive suite when the elevator doors slid open. Mona and Jerry walked out together.

She stopped in front of my desk, adjusting her blazer. "Is your mother's blood pressure under control?"

I clenched my fists beneath the desk, keeping my voice dripping with cold sarcasm. "She's doing perfectly, Ms. Kingsley. Thanks to your expert recommendation."

Monas brows knit together. She hated this sharp, cynical version of me. She was used to a Wright who hung on her every word, eager to please. Shifting her gaze away in annoyance, she turned to Jerry. Her expression softened instantly into something almost worshipful.

"You'll start as my chief personal assistant here in the executive suite," she told him. "Once you're familiar with our operations, I'll move you to project management."

Jerry glanced at me, a smug smile playing on his lips. "Sounds great. I'm still a bit rusty, Mona. Maybe Wright can show me the ropes?"

I looked up, the anger burning in my throat. "I decline."

Jerry didn't flinch. He just quietly waited for Mona to handle it.

Sure enough, her cold, authoritative voice cut through the room. "You don't have a choice, Wright. This is a business, not a playground. Your personal preferences don't dictate my decisions."

She didn't wait for my response. She grabbed Jerry's hand and led him into her private office.

My hands and feet grew cold. Outside, the morning sun vanished behind a sudden flurry of snow, and a draft from the window made me shiver. I sank back into my chair, hyper-aware of the quiet snickers from the other assistants.

By afternoon, I had finished drafting my formal resignation letter. Before I could print it, Mona called me into her office. Her face was dark with fury as she threw a thick folder at my feet.

"Wright, is this job a joke to you? You put down three hundred million for a thirty-million-dollar bid! The entire legal team is scrambling to clean up your mess!"

I knelt to pick up the papers, my heart hammering. I scanned the numbers. "This is impossible," I said, my voice rising. "I audited this draft five times. The numbers were perfect."

Then, my eyes drifted to Jerry, who was standing by the window. The subtle, pleased curve of his mouth made my blood run cold.

"It was you," I whispered.

It made perfect sense. His sudden eagerness to learn this morning, sitting right next to me for hoursfinding out my computer password would have been child's play for him.

"Wright!" Mona snapped, her voice shaking the glass walls. "Are you seriously trying to shift the blame?"

I closed my eyes and took a slow breath to steady myself. "Let's check the security feed. Jerry probably didn't realize that the little decorative clock on my desk has a built-in camera."

Jerrys smile faltered for a fraction of a second. I caught it.

Mona remained silent, her lips pressed into a thin line. Her hesitation was like a physical blow to my chest.

Without waiting for her permission, I grabbed Jerry by the sleeve and dragged him out into the main bullpen, where dozens of employees were already whispering.

"Wright, stop" Mona called out behind us, but I ignored her.

I pulled up the camera feed on the main presentation screen for everyone to see.

The footage was clear. At 12:23 PM, while the rest of the floor was out for lunch, Jerry had sat at my desk. Every keystroke, every deliberate modification to the bid contract was recorded in high definition.

Monas face drained of color. Whispers broke out among the staff.

"It was Jerry? Why would he do that?"

"Are you blind? Hes her ex. It's a classic power move to get rid of the fianc. Let's see who Mona protects."

"My money is on Jerry. You rookies don't know how crazy she was about him back in the day."

I kept my back straight, refusing to show how much their words stung, or how much Monas heavy, agonizing silence was tearing me apart.

Jerry looked at me, a cold, mocking smile returning to his face. He turned to Mona, completely devoid of remorse. "It was me," he said casually. "I changed the files to frame Wright. You can fire me if you want."

He stepped closer to her, holding her gaze. "Are you going to fire me, Mona?"

My chest tightened. "She has to," I thought. The proof was undeniable, and he had admitted to corporate sabotage. There was no way she could justify keeping him. I held my breath, waiting.

After a long, agonizing pause, Mona looked away from Jerry and addressed the crowd. "The matter is closed. I will personally cover any financial losses incurred by this mistake."

Jerrys smirk widened as he cast a pitying glance my way. A collective murmur of disbelief swept through the office.

It felt like a physical strike to my face.

"On what grounds?" My voice shook, but I couldn't stop myself from asking.

Mona looked at me, her expression incredibly defensive. "Jerry is my boyfriend now. He made a lapse in judgment, and as his partner, I am taking responsibility for his mistakes."

A hollow laugh escaped me. "Your boyfriend? Mona, did you forget we have a signed marriage license? He's a homewrecker"

"Wright!" she snapped, her eyes freezing me in place. "He is not."

I looked down at the polished floor, the last of my hopes crumbling away. Jerry's confidence hadn't come from his own cleverness; it had come from Mona's unconditional protection.

I didn't want to fight anymore. "Fine," I whispered. "He isn't."

She ordered everyone back to work, then ushered me into her office and closed the door. She reached out, wrapping her arms around me, her tone softening. "Im sorry, Wright. I didn't mean to snap. But I told youjust give me thirty days. After that, I am entirely yours."

My fingernails dug into my palms, the pain grounding me. I forced a faint smile. "Okay. I believe you. By the way, I have a few routine documents that need your signature."

I slipped my resignation letter and the divorce papers into a stack of standard corporate contracts and handed them to her.

The abrupt shift in topic caught her off guard, but seeing my calm demeanor, she let out a sigh of relief. Without reading a single page, she signed her name at the bottom of each sheet.

Back at my desk, I scanned and sent the signed divorce agreement to my lawyer, then walked down to HR to hand in my resignation. I sat through the remaining hours of the day in silence. When dusk fell, I took one last look at the office where I had spent five years of my life, left my ID badge on the desk, and walked out.

In the parking garage, Jerry was leaning against my car. I tried to walk past him, but he stepped in my way.

"See? I told you," he sneered. "The moment I come back, you're out. If you have any self-respect left, Wright, sign the papers and walk away. Why cling to a woman who doesn't love you?"

I stopped, looking at him with quiet contempt. "Is that so? Too bad that until the legalities are finalized, you're nothing but a cheap affair."

"Why you" He lost his temper and swung, his fist connecting heavily with my jaw. "You bastard!"

"Jerry!" Mona's voice echoed through the concrete structure.

She hurried over, her eyes lingering on my swelling cheek for a brief moment. I waited for her to scream at him, to demand why he had just assaulted her fianc.

Instead, she turned to me. "I'm sorry, Wright. I apologize on Jerry's behalf. To make it up to you, I'll make sure our wedding in thirty days is the grandest event this city has ever seen."

Jerry smiled, casually draping an arm around her shoulder.

My whole body went numb. My eyes burned with unshed tears. Before I could say a word, she led him away toward her car.

The garage fell silent. I stood there alone, my jaw throbbing.

Finally, the truth settled in. Mona didn't care about Jerry's flaws, his manipulation, or how he had abandoned her in the past. She knew exactly what he was doing, and she chose to protect him anyway. Because she loved him.

Jerry was right. I had lost completely.

My first defeat had been three years ago. Jerry had texted me out of the blue, claiming that Mona kept a photo of him in her wallet that she let no one touch. I hadn't believed him until I checked her wallet late one night. When I threw the photo away, Mona screamed at methe first time she had ever raised her voice in our relationship.

The second defeat was a year ago. Jerry had messaged me saying that every May sixth, the anniversary of his mother's passing, Mona would spend the day with his family in his place. That day had also been my fathers sixtieth birthday. I had begged her, practically on my knees, to cut ties with Jerrys family and come home with me. But Mona had simply brushed my hand away and walked out the door without a second glance.

The third defeat was at our wedding, when she abandoned me without a backward glance.

And now, this was the fourth.

I got into my car and was about to start the engine when my father's name flashed on the dashboard screen. When I answered, his ragged, hysterical crying filled the car.

"Wright... your mother... she's..."

The world seemed to stop spinning. Panic seized my throat, and my hands shook violently as I sped back to the hospital.

But when I reached the room, all I found was a bed draped in a white sheet.

My knees gave out. I stumbled forward, sinking to the floor, my hands reaching out to touch her cold forehead.

"Mom?" My voice cracked, tears blinding me. "Mom! What happened? She was fine yesterday! Why?"

My father was collapsed in a chair nearby, weeping uncontrollably. "Some man sent her a text... he sent her a video showing you being humiliated at the office. He told her you were completely abandoned and that she should convince you to let go..."

I closed my eyes, a name burning in my mind. "Jerry."

Mona appeared in the doorway of the hospital room, looking deeply uncomfortable. She tried to wrap her arms around my trembling, grief-stricken body. "Im so sorry, Wright. Jerry didn't mean to... he was just so scared of losing me that he acted rashly..."

I shoved her away with everything I had left. I looked at her, my throat tight with disgust and despair. "Mona... how did I ever love someone as rotten as you?"

I pointed at the door. "Get out. Get the hell out!"

Her face went pale, and she let out a long, weary sigh. "I will make this up to you, Wright. The wedding preparations are still under way. In thirty days, I'll send Jerry away and we can start fresh. Just take this time to calm down."

She turned and left.

When I opened my eyes, the sorrow was gone, replaced by a cold, quiet hatred.

The next morning, my father and I quietly buried my mother. Then, we booked one-way tickets to Los Angeles.

But before I boarded the plane, I made one phone call. I reached out to the coordinator at the luxury estate where Mona was planning our rescheduled wedding. I transferred fifteen thousand dollars to his account, requesting that he deliver three specific wedding gifts to Mona on our supposed big day.

Three surprises she would remember for the rest of her life.