Chapter 2

I found the wedding coordinator in the corridor. Her surname was Chen, and she was about forty. Seeing me emerge in my gown, she looked startled.

“Miss Shen, Mr. Xue said to suspend the ceremony. Are we changing the time, or…?”

“Canceling it,” I said. “It won’t happen today. There’s no need to move it to the afternoon.”

She went still.

“But all the guests are here.”

“Please ask the host to announce that we’ve had to cancel unexpectedly for personal reasons. And that we’re very sorry for the inconvenience.”

She hesitated.

“Has Mr. Xue confirmed?”

“He suggested it.” I paused. “Now I’m confirming it too.”

She asked no more questions, only took out the schedule and began contacting the staff.

I looked at the sheet, densely filled with timings.

11:00 — The bride and groom enter.
11:10 — Exchange of rings.
11:20 — Vows.
11:30 — Photographs.

I had revised that schedule countless times. For the entrance music alone, I’d listened to more than a dozen versions.

Now a few phone calls were all it took to cross out every preparation.

“Ms. Chen.”

She looked up.

“The half hour I asked for—is that possible?”

She checked the venue bookings.

“Your hire runs until twelve thirty. If the ceremony is canceled, we can see the guests out and remove the unnecessary equipment before noon. You can use the remaining half hour however you like, provided it doesn’t affect the next reception.”

I let out a breath.

“Thank you.”

“But, Miss Shen…” She hesitated. “Are you sure you don’t need any staff to stay and help?”

“No, thank you.”

“And the music? Shall we keep your entrance track ready?”

For a moment, I was lost.

“No. I don’t need anything.”

She nodded and left it there.

I was about to return to the waiting room when Mom hurried over. Seeing me still in my wedding dress, her eyes immediately reddened.

“Wangshu, what happened? Why would you suddenly decide not to get married?”

She clasped my hand. Hers was ice-cold. Only then did I notice my own palm was wet with sweat.

“Mom, it’s nothing terrible.”

“How can you say that?” Her voice shook. “Our relatives and friends are all here. You can’t treat marriage like a joke.”

I lowered my head.

She looked at me and suddenly dropped her voice.

“Is it… because of that Yingqiao?”

I didn’t deny it.

Mom sighed.

“That girl says hurtful things. But you and Shiye have been together four years. You can’t let her ruin the marriage. Go and talk to him properly. If he’ll carry on with the wedding, let this go. Please?”

I looked at her.

All these years, what she feared most was seeing me hurt—and seeing me lose the happiness I had struggled so hard to find again. So even though I was the one being wronged today, she wanted me to endure it.

I knew she loved me. She was afraid I would choose a wedding dress a second time and still never make it through a wedding.

“Mom.” I gently squeezed her hand. “I don’t want to think about that yet. I need a little time alone.”

Her tears spilled over.

“Wangshu, why does life have to be so hard on you?”

My throat closed.

Not because of Xue Shiye, but because she sounded exactly as she had five years ago.

Back then, she had held me and asked the heavens, over and over, why they wouldn’t leave her daughter in peace.