The Fiancé’s Romantic Wedding Plan Was for My Best Friend Chapter 03
Mrs. Harper took Eloise’s hand, voice thick with regret. “If only Grayson were marrying you. You’re so lovely and clever.”
Eloise smiled shyly. “Mrs. Harper, please don’t say that.”
“Why not?” Mrs. Harper glanced at Grayson and sighed. “If it weren’t for Odette saving Asher’s life, he wouldn’t have to marry her at all.”
Her tone was casual. It felt like a slap across my face.
Back in college, Grayson was mugged. I threw myself in front of him and took a knife for him.
I spent three months in the hospital. I never once used it as leverage.
I thought our relationship had naturally led to marriage.
I never realized that, in the Harpers’ eyes, I was holding that debt over their son’s head.
I couldn’t listen anymore. I shoved the door open.
Everyone turned to stare. Grayson’s face paled.
I looked at him, clinging to my last shred of hope. “Grayson, do you feel that way too?”
He closed his eyes. His throat bobbed. “You got hurt saving me. You can’t… who else would want you?”
“Odette, I’m marrying you because I owe you a duty.”
Every word sent my heart plummeting into the abyss.
He stepped closer. I backed away, laughing until tears came.
“I never forced you to marry me. And I’m not a charity case.”
“Grayson, I’m calling off the wedding!”
Eloise grabbed my hand. “Odette, marriage isn’t a joke. Don’t be rash—”
“Get off me!” I roared, shaking her off. “Eloise, I trusted you like a sister. What did you treat me as? A fool?”
Eloise’s face flushed crimson. Her chest heaved. Then her asthma flared. She collapsed on the spot.
My mind went blank. When I came to, Eloise was in the hospital.
It took half an hour to stabilize her. When she woke, her first words were, “Odette… I’m sorry.”
Something twisted in my chest.
A flood of buried memories rushed back.
We’d been inseparable since childhood.
Elementary school. She asked me to walk home with her every day.
Middle school. When her father brought his mistress home, I took her to my place and stayed up all night comforting her.
Freshman year of high school. Her parents divorced. She moved to Los Angeles with her mom. I cried for two straight hours at the train station.
When I heard she was coming back after graduation, I was ecstatic. I couldn’t wait to introduce her to Grayson—the two most important people in my life.
I never imagined they’d known each other long before I existed.
And through me, they’d found their way back to each other.
Eloise’s lashes trembled. Tears spilled over. “I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to hurt you.”
“But after today… I realized life is too short. I can’t lose Asher again…”
To my surprise, my voice was steady. “So you admit you’re the other woman?”
Her face went white.
I smiled. “Eloise, have you forgotten? After your dad cheated, you swore you’d never become what you hated most.”
Grayson shot to his feet. “Odette, Eloise is in the hospital because of you. Show some respect!”
Before I could retort, Eloise screamed, “Enough!”
She looked up at me, trembling. “If I hadn’t gone abroad, you and Asher would never have happened.”
“From start to finish, Asher has always loved me. My leaving just gave you a temporary chance with him.”
“And because Asher owes you his life and had to marry you, we hid this.”
She grew more agitated. “We didn’t tell you for your own good. Now that it’s out, what’s the point?”
I blinked. Then I slowly started clapping. “Oh, that’s rich. So that’s how you see it.”
In Eloise’s mind, I was the intruder. The thief.
Ridiculous.
After she finished, Grayson immediately pulled her into his arms, murmuring reassurances.
“It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
Once Eloise calmed, he turned to me. “Odette, the wedding date isn’t changing. Think carefully. If you don’t marry me, no other man will have you.”
My answer was firm. “I won’t.”
Grayson laughed. “Fine. Then Eloise will be the bride next week.”
I grabbed my bag and walked out without looking back.