He Invited Me to His Wedding Novel Chapter 7 – Grace clung to Ethan’s arm, her voice trembling.
“Ethan, please, don’t be angry. Let me explain.”
“I only lied because I wanted a wedding with you. I wanted to marry you I love you, Ethan!”
Ethan shoved her away, his eyes blazing.
“We were over a long time ago! The day you chose a different college and left me behind, you should’ve known it was the end!”
“The only reason I agreed to that wedding was because I thought you were dying. If I’d known it was all a lie, I never would’ ve gone along with it!”
“You destroyed me, Grace. Do you even realize that?”
Grace’s eyes filled with tears as she reached for him again.
“I can fix it! We can start over. I’m willing to marry you for real this time. You’ve never stopped loving me
you don’t have to pretend anymore!”
Ethan’s face twisted with disgust.
“You’ re delusional. The only person I’ve ever loved is Lily. I just want to be with her!”
Grace laughed bitterly.
“Oh, come on. If you really loved Lily Bennett, you would’ ve married her years ago! Ten years, Ethan — and
you never gave her a title.”
“If she’s the only one in your heart, then why did you agree to hold a wedding with me?”
Ethan’s voice cracked as he shouted,
“Because you lied to me!”
“Lied?” she snapped. “No, Ethan
-you wanted that wedding. You’ ve always wanted it. Stop pretending
otherwise. You love me you always have!”
“Come with me. We’ll finish our ceremony together!”
Ethan’s expression darkened. He pushed her off him with such force she stumbled back.
“Get away from me. You make me sick.”
I watched the two of them, the chaos and drama swirling like bad theater, and shook my head.
“They’ re nauseating,” I said flatly to Andrew. “Let’s eat somewhere else.”
He took my hand without a word and led me out.
Behind us, Ethan’s voice rang out, desperate and hoarse.
“Lily! Don’t go! Lily!”
He tried to run after me, but Grace threw herself at his legs, clutching him tightly.
“Don’t you dare leave me! What will I do if you go?”
The sound of his shouting faded as our car pulled away.
Andrew glanced sideways at me, his tone gentle but teasing.
“Honey, don’t waste your happiness on people who don’t deserve it.’
I turned to him with a grin.
“Who says I’m unhappy? I’m thrilled. Their wedding’ s a total disaster – serves them right.”
He laughed with me, our voices mingling with the hum of the city outside.
“Then maybe it’s time we plan our own wedding,” he said, half-joking.
My eyes lit up.
“I want to hold it at the top of Skylight Spire – I want the whole world to know I’m marrying you.
“Then that’s exactly where we’ll do it,” he said without hesitation.
A week later, Ethan called again.
“Lily, can we meet? You left something important at my place, and I want to return it to you personally.”
“I don’t remember leaving anything behind,” I replied coolly. “Whatever it is, throw it away. I don’t want it.”
“Please, just one last meeting. After this, I swear I’ll never bother you again.”
I checked the location he sent a public place.
He wouldn’t dare try anything in front of witnesses.
“Fine,” I said finally. “But this is the last time.”
The next day, I arrived at the Grand Regent Hotel
and froze the moment I stepped through the doors.
The lobby glittered with red and gold décor, the air heavy with the scent of roses and candlelight.
It was a full-blown traditional ceremony exactly like the kind I used to dream about.
Then Ethan appeared, dressed in a formal red suit. He dropped to one knee before me, holding out a ring an Asteria Diamond Ring that sparkled under the chandelier light.
“Lily Bennett,” he said, voice trembling, “marry me.
I couldn’t help it – I laughed.
“So this ‘important thing’ I left at your place… was this ring?”
“Yes,” he said earnestly. “It belongs to you. It always will.”
He gestured around at the scene, his eyes shining with desperation.
“You once told me you wanted a traditional wedding – with lanterns, red ribbons, and everything just like this. I’ve made it real, Lily. This is your dream wedding.”
“All you have to do is say yes and it’s ours.”
“Ethan, it’s over between us,” I said quietly. “I’m Mrs. Grant now.”
He shook his head, eyes red, voice trembling.
“No, you’ re just angry. You’ re upset that I held that wedding with Grace.”
“I was wrong, Lily. I’ve already canceled the ceremony it never even happened.”
“Please, if you’ re willing to start over with me, I don’t care that you got a marriage license with someone else.”
“I should’ ve married you first. Whatever kind of wedding you want – I’ll give it to you now.
“Lily, I love you. Please, I’m begging you — give me another chance. I can’t live without you.”
I stared at him for a long moment, then slowly shook my head.
“Ethan, it’s over. There’s no going back.”
“If you asked me here today just to apologize, to try and win me back…” I took a steady breath. “Then let me make it clear – there’s no ‘us’ anymore.”
Tears streamed down his face I had never seen him cry like that.
“Lily,” he choked out, “we’ ve been together for ten years. I thought we’d be forever. I never imagined there’ d be a day when we wouldn’t be together.”
“How am I supposed to live without you?”
My eyes burned, but my voice stayed steady.
“You should’ve thought of that when you agreed to marry Grace Miller.”
“When you left me pregnant and bleeding — on the side of the road so you could run to her.”
“Every time you chose her over me, did it ever cross your mind that I might finally walk away?”
I gave a bitter laugh.
“No one dies from heartbreak, Ethan. What made you think you could hurt me over and over again, and I’d still stay by your side?”
“Did you really believe Lily Bennett would never survive without Ethan Cole?”
I straightened my shoulders.
“Well, let me tell you this – I will live just fine without you. In fact, I’ll live better. Happier.”