I Canceled Our Wedding the Day Before, He Was at His Ex’s Somewhere in the Alps Chapter 04
The next day, I sent my luggage back to my hometown.
Caleb’s mother called.
“Emma, come over for lunch. Caleb is back.” She paused, then added with a smile, “He also brought a friend.
Jessica Hartwell. It’ll be a good chance for you two to meet.”
Caleb’s mother was a very “sweet” person.
The first time Caleb brought me home, the moment she saw me, she smiled and offered me a drink.
She told me I was beautiful, then asked about my education, my job, and where I grew up.
I answered every question, more nervous than I’d been for my college thesis defense. I tried so hard to be the kind of girlfriend she would approve of.
She seemed happy. She said Caleb was lucky to have a girlfriend like me.
But then, when she called Caleb into the kitchen to rinse some fruit, I heard her sigh. Her voice was full of regret. “What a shame. Your ex was better.”
His ex, she meant Jessica.
Caleb never told me, but I found out myself.
After that, every time I went to his mother’s house, that name echoed in my head, whether I wanted it to or not.
Today, I would finally meet her.
When I arrived, the living room sofa was already crowded.
Jessica sat right in the middle. Caleb was next to her, peeling a grapefruit and handing it to her.
After seven years together, and Caleb had never done that for me.
When Caleb’s mother saw me come in, she immediately stood up. “Emma, you’re here.”
She pulled me over and pointed at Jessica. “This is Caleb’s old classmate. Very impressive girl. She heard Caleb was getting married and came all the way to attend the wedding.”
She turned to Jessica. “Jessica, this is Emma.”
Even the introductions were different.
I didn’t call her out. I found a quiet spot and sat down.
Caleb’s mother kept chatting with Jessica. “Jessica, did you take any pictures of your wedding in Cancun? Really, how could you not tell me about something so important?”
Jessica smiled shyly. “Mrs. Thornton…”
“Still calling me that?” Caleb’s mother said with a grin.
“Mom!” Caleb suddenly called out. His eyes darted toward me. “Emma is right here.”
The atmosphere in the room grew tense.
Caleb’s mother seemed to just realize what she had done. She laughed awkwardly. “I misspoke. I just love Jessica so much. I think of her as a daughter.”
She pushed the box of wedding favors toward me. “Here, Emma, have some.”
Then she grabbed a handful of chocolates and pressed them into my palm.
I unwrapped one and put it in my mouth. It tasted more bitter than anything I’d ever had.
“Thank you, Mrs. Thornton.”
I didn’t call her Mom. She didn’t deserve it.
I hadn’t expected her to know about Caleb and Jessica’s wedding. But I still didn’t make a scene.
There was no point.
I was waiting, waiting to see the looks on their faces tomorrow when they found out the wedding was canceled.