1

Standing at the altar, James glanced at his phone and watched a video. “Where are you going, James? You cannot leave me like this." At the wedding, Valeria Hayden was in a panic. “It is our wedding day, James. What do you think you are doing?” As she grabbed James Moreno's wrist to stop him from leaving, her eyes filled with pleading.

The venue was filled with the family and friends of both parties, all seated and waiting. “Why don’t you understand, Val? This isn’t about you.” Just then his phone rang and his ex-fiance Clara called. James ignored Valeria and answered his phone, and then abruptly attempted to leave.

"Clara knows about our wedding, she’s not happy. Now she's threatening to jump off a building. You are aware of her depression and craziness, aren't you? I have to go save her, Valeria." James explained impatiently and pushed Valeria aside.

“Argh!” The push caused Valeria to sprain her ankle, and as she fell to the floor, she awkwardly stretched out her hand, trying to hold him back. "Today is our wedding day, James! What am I supposed to do if you leave? Clara cheated on you, for fucks sake. She's caused you so much pain before. Why the heck must you go see her right now?"

James’ gaze turned even colder. "You're not in a position to judge what happened between me and Clara. You know nothing about us. No matter what she did or the pain she caused, you don't measure up to her whatever you do. She is the one who is important to me.”

A sharp pang of pain struck Valeria's heart as she stared at him in disbelief. “What the heck are you even saying?” She realised that he had never truly forgotten Clara. To him, she would never be as significant as she was. Valeria smacked him over the chest in rage.

"What did I do to deserve this? Why are you treating me this way? Please, just wait until the wedding is over, James. Please, I beg you. We are almost at the point of exchanging rings. You can leave after that. Please don’t go right now, it is just a matter of a few minutes."

James dodged her hand and spoke with disgust, glaring at Valeria in rage. "You are more concerned with your wedding than a living person's life. How could you be so heartless? Let's reschedule the wedding. We can get married any other day, alright?” 

Without a glance at her horrified pale face, he strode away from the ornate altar, oblivious to the puzzled looks of gathered guests. As the groom left, the crowd erupted into chaos. The gossip spread like a wildfire that she was dumped for an ex-fiance. 

"No, please don't leave me, James! What would I do if you leave?" Valeria cried out, sitting pitifully on the floor. “What should I do now?”  She trembled, tears ruining her carefully applied makeup. The audience began to spread gossip in the form of muffled chattering.

The man she had loved for three years, disregarding her dignity, had chosen another woman without a second thought on their big day. He was consumed with thoughts of Clara’s distress. But seemed indifferent to how lost and humiliated she felt, James left alone at the altar so easily.

All around her, countless eyes watched the pitiful woman. Some were mocking her, a few pitying, and others even gloating. Valeria had never felt such a torment publicly, she wasn’t treated well at home by her stepmother. But this was something she never expected. 

Her father approached, she hoped for comfort and tried to reach for his hand. But instead, he scolded her sharply, "You can't even keep a man. How useless! You have disappointed me." After berating her, he left with his wife, Valeria’s stepmother, without a backward glance.

Her stepsister emerged from the crowd with a smirk. "Well, that's embarrassing, dear sister. Your groom ran off, and now you're a laughingstock. I have sympathy towards you but imagine how Mom and Dad are feeling." After saying that, she turned and left.

One by one, all of Valeria's family members departed, leaving her completely alone. Initially, her relatives felt sympathy towards her, but upon witnessing her parents’ reaction, all traces of pity dissipated. "Even her own parents didn't support her. It seems this isn't entirely James’ fault."

Valeria saw everyone remarking at her. "Yes, if she were a good partner, why would her fiancé leave her for an ex?" She searched for the crowd and witnessed a few ladies glancing at her. "Did she cheat on him? What else would make a groom leave like that?"

The murmurs of criticism from the surrounding guests grew louder and harsher as everyone walked out. The hall was empty now when she heard noises nearby. Chasing them she dragged her legs towards the hall’s entrance. 

Turning to the right, Valeria spotted a man in a suit sitting alone in a wheelchair. The officiant asked him while looking worried. "Where is your bride?" Her heart began to beat faster, she couldn’t go back home as her father wouldn’t take her in.

Neither she had somewhere else to go nor James would take her in since he would be with Clara. Wiping away her tears, she halted a passing staff member and inquired about the man in distress. "That man is the groom, right? Where is his bride?"

The staff member glanced at her and responded carelessly. "She didn't show up at the right time and still is running late. I heard it was because she couldn't deal with her husband's disability." Valeria could feel his pain and tilted her head towards the staff boy.

"And he's been waiting here all this time? Quite resilient." She remarked while the staff member nodded. The wheelchair-bound groom was facing away from Valeria, and they were a fair distance apart. She couldn't see his expression, but she understood the pain of being left alone.

They both were ridiculed, abandoned and betrayed by their potential partners. After a moment of reflection, a determined look settled in Valeria's eyes. She had loved James for three years, but he had betrayed her. Why should she remain loyal to him after that? She realized she didn't need to be with him at all.

All eyes instinctively focused on her in the arcade, as she lifted the hem of her dress and confidently walked toward the man in the wheelchair. “Excuse me, sir?” The sight of a bride in a white wedding dress approaching left the man's guests equally stunned.

Hearing the rustle of her heels, the man in the wheelchair turned around slowly. “Yes?”  Valeria halted and gazed at the handsome man before her, a spark of surprise in his eyes. She then extended her hand at him which he didn’t grab. “I heard you're in need of a bride. We both have been dumped today. How about we get married?"

The grand hall was alive with the soft hum of conversation again. The clinking of glasses, and the glow of chandeliers casting golden light over the gathered crowd of his side. The air was thick with anticipation as the ceremony continued, a subdued elegance in every detail. 

Valeria, dressed in a flowing ivory gown that shimmered with every step. The man stood beside her, who sat tall in his wheelchair, his sharp features softened by a rare smile. Valeria didn’t bother to ask his name or any such basic information, under the influence of getting married.

The officiant concluded the ceremonial rites, their words fading into the background as the man turned his gaze toward Valeria. “You may kiss the bride now.” His hand, calloused yet gentle, reached out to hers, and he clasped it with a strength that believed his condition. 

“Miss?” Markos said, his voice quiet but firm. “Thank you for standing by me.” Before she could respond, he raised her hand to his lips and pressed a soft kiss to the back of it. The gesture was simple, yet it carried a weight of emotion that caused a ripple of murmurs among the onlookers.

Valeria’s heart tightened, not with love but with a complicated mix of pity and determination. She forced a small smile and squeezed his hand gently. “This could be beneficial for both of us. Take it as a mutual agreement.” She said softly, her voice only for him.

The applause of the audience erupted in the hall, polite and restrained, as the ceremony officially came to an end. Valeria leaned closer to the man, her hand still in his. “Let’s get out of here, mister.” She whispered. The man nodded, a flicker of relief crossing his face. “Agreed, my dear.”

Together, they moved toward the grand doors of the hall. Valeria pushed his wheelchair with ease, navigating the crowd that parted to let them through. The gathered guests watched them with a mix of surprise and pity for both. Their whispered conversations trailing behind the couple as they exited the hall.

Once outside, the cool evening air enveloped them, a welcome change from the stifling atmosphere of the ceremony. The stone pathway leading away from the hall as she pushed his wheelchair. Valeria stopped under the shelter of an ancient oak tree, its branches spreading wide like a protective canopy. 

She knelt beside Markos, her hand still resting on the arm of his wheelchair. “Where are we going now? Also, what is your name?” She asked gently, her eyes searching his face. A smile appeared over his lips as a few guards walked towards them. 

Markos looked at her, his expression unreadable for a moment before softening. “I don’t have much to offer, miss. But I can promise you wouldn’t regret this decision.” He said, motioning to his chair. “Please, come.” He gestured as the guards carried him to the luxurious car.

Valeria trailed behind them and ascended while wondering whom she had married. After an hour the car reached a posh area and halted. One of the guards carried him out of the car and put him in the wheelchair. “Welcome home.” He smiled as they headed inside. As soon as they were inside the man stood up from the wheelchair.