Chapter 3

Natalie

The next day, Harper told me Elias was swamped with wedding prep. He was managing every detail, treating the event with the exact same obsession he had when we got married.

Yet, despite being so busy, he still had someone deliver meals to my door on time.

He was really covering all his bases. It must have been exhausting playing the perfect friend.

On the day of the wedding, Harper dragged me to the venue.

We sat in the darkest, furthest corner. Up at the front, I could see Elias and Lydia intimately linking arms, surrounded by a crowd of groomsmen.

"I remember Elias's first wedding being a huge production," one groomsman chuckled. "Damn, I didn't think he'd get lucky enough to land a gorgeous bride like Lydia this time."

Hearing that, Lydia tightened her grip on Elias's hand.

Elias immediately spoke up to smooth things over. "Natalie and I are already divorced. Today is Lydia's wedding. Let's keep the past out of this."

Seeing Elias cut ties so cleanly, the groomsmen 也附和道. "Lydia is young, beautiful, and talented. Natalie can't even compare."

"Elias, Lydia is trusting you with the rest of her life. Don't let her down, man."

Elias offered a sweet, perfect smile. It was the exact same smile he used when he promised to love me forever.

"Don't worry," Elias said smoothly. "I won't let her down, and she won't let me down."

My eyes dimmed. Beside me, Harper ground her teeth.

"What kind of trash logic is that?" she muttered angrily. "Since when does the mistress get the moral high ground?"

Just then, someone in the crowd yelled, "It's a celebration! Come on, kiss the bride!"

The groomsmen quickly joined in. "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

Elias stared deeply into Lydia's eyes. He played his part perfectly.

Surrounded by the cheering crowd, Lydia reached up and gently touched Elias's jaw. She stood on her toes and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.

The cheers hit a fever pitch.

It was so loud, but to me, the room felt completely silent.

I couldn't lock down his heart back then. Now, I had lost him completely.

I gave a self-mocking smirk. At least my memories were fading quickly. The pain wasn't nearly as sharp as it should have been.

My phone screen lit up. It was my boarding alert.

"Harper," I said quietly. "I have to go."

Harper pulled me into a tight hug, her eyes red. "Go. Leave this garbage behind and chase your dreams."

She pulled back and smirked. "As for this place, I prepared a big gift for them."

"I'm out," I laughed, patting her shoulder. I didn't even care what her gift was.

After all, in thirty minutes, every last trace of my love and memory of Elias would vanish forever.

I grabbed my suitcase and walked toward the exit. Up on the stage, Elias was holding Lydia's hand. He casually glanced toward the back and saw my silhouette. Pure panic flashed across his face.

But he quickly dismissed it.

Even if I did show up to the wedding, there was no way I would just leave without saying a word, let alone drag a suitcase around.

The venue lights dimmed. Elias and Lydia stood in the center of the stage. They exchanged rings and stared sweetly into each other's eyes.

The crowd started chanting for another kiss.

Suddenly, a massive banner dropped from the ceiling.

Harper stood right beneath it, holding a red megaphone. She curled her lips into a wicked smile. "Wishing the home-wrecker Lydia and the cheating scumbag Elias a long, miserable life together! Hope you deserve each other!"

Lydia's face instantly went paper-white. She looked at Elias in a pure panic.

Seeing Harper, Elias's face flushed with anger. "What the hell are you saying?! Natalie and I are legally divorced! Lydia is not a mistress!"

Harper let out a cold sneer through the megaphone. "What a hypocrite. You couldn't let go of your ex-wife, so you promised to remarry her just so you could have this wedding guilt-free. Do you have any idea how much pain she's been in these past seven days?"

Elias's eyes turned icy. "That is none of your business. I gave her the drug. She doesn't remember a single thing."

"You idiot," Harper fired back. "That drug doesn't cause instant amnesia. It takes seven full days to forget the person you love most. She saw every single thing you did this week."

Harper lifted her chin, staring down at him with undisguised mockery.

"You don't even know who the lead developer of that drug is, do you? It was Natalie. Your ex-wife."

Elias froze.

"And let me tell you one more thing," Harper sneered. "There is no antidote. Natalie has completely forgotten you. She is never coming back. So enjoy your perfect little life!"