Chapter 3

Shawn had let me down for the last time.

I thought he would have some feelings for me after fifteen years of friendship and ten years of romance. Yet, he couldn't care less about me.

My mind was made up.

I would not be calling the wedding off. I was going to bolt on him during our wedding.

Shawn never considered my feelings when planning a runout on me.

Well, he was not my concern anymore. He could be the fool at our wedding.

Fighting back the tears, I dialed the emergency number.

While being rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, I slipped into unconsciousness from a high fever and seizure.

When I regained consciousness, the nurse told me, “It’s a good thing you called the emergency line when you did because it could’ve been fatal for the condition you were in, especially since you were home alone.”

Shawn then called me. “I’m busy at work, so I don’t have time to get back to you. Just grab something at the pharmacy.”

He hung up without a word of concern.

I had stuck by Shawn when he had a headache or a cold. During his time in need, I stayed up night after night with Shawn to overcome his grief.

I had not expected anything in return. I simply wanted to be there for him.

However, Shawn was something else to play nurse to Casey during her period while I was stuck in a hospital with a fever.

I held my phone and reached out to Shawn’s business rival, Colt Williams. “I know that you’ve been after the Jepsons’ shares. I’m open to selling.”

The doctor ordered two days of bed rest in the hospital before I was given the all-clear.

I got a call from the wedding photographer. “Ms. King, I was wondering if you and your fiancé could come in sometime within the next five days for your photo session? We’re running short on time before your wedding, so the sooner we can get these done, the better.”

“I need to ask my fiancé. I’ll get back to you soon.”

Since Shawn refused to take my calls and respond to my texts, I went to his office.

His secretary’s office told me, “As Ms. Thomas is starting her job as the CEO’s executive assistant today, Mr. Jepson took the team out to celebrate.”

I asked for the venue and rushed to the hotel.

When I first started working for Shawn, the family business was going through a rough patch. There was no time for an onboarding celebration.

I worked around the clock to keep the business afloat, barely getting any food or sleep. Yet, for Casey, Shawn threw a huge welcome party that was more lavish than my engagement.

Before I could join the lively party, Shawn abruptly pulled me away from the cheers and laughter.

“Don’t ruin Casey’s onboarding party. You’re such a party pooper.”

“Now that she’s your executive assistant, what happens to me?”

Despite my best efforts to keep my emotions in check, I choked with sobs.

When I was down with a fever, Shawn did not check up on me at the hospital. Instead, he gave me a few days off and urged me to rest.

I had no idea he had replaced me with Casey until I went to the office.

Every time I thought I’d seen the worst of him, he always managed to surprise me with a new level of betrayal.

Shawn handed me a napkin. “Don’t cry. I just thought you needed a break after all these years of hard work.

“You’re just a computer science grad from a regular university. Casey is perfect for the job as she graduated from an Ivy League. You can just enjoy your life as Mrs. Jepson.”

Oh, now he was picking on my education.

Well, he never had a problem with it when I risked my health drinking with potential partners at social events.

Faced with my silent retaliation, Shawn grew annoyed. “Jessica…”

“I’ll hand in my resignation later.” I clenched my fists, reining back my building resentment and fury.

Shawn eased tension along his facial lines. “That’s my girl. You know I would never hurt you. You can leave then.”

He needed to go back to Casey.

I pulled him back. “The wedding photographer asked if we had time in the week to take our pre-wedding shoot.”

“I’ll be away on a business trip.”

“…Fine.”

On my way out of the hotel, I gave the wedding planner a call. “I need to switch out the photos and videos that will be displayed on the large screen for the wedding.”

I compiled the footage of Shawn’s infidelity with Casey and sent it to the wedding planner.

Since they had no shame, I didn’t see why I should play nice.

Shawn claimed to be on a business trip, but during that week, he took Casey to see the Northern Lights.

They kissed under the aurora, making promises to each other.

A week later, I called Shawn. “We need to schedule our fitting for our wedding attire.”

“I’m meeting a client here, so I can’t make it back in time. Casey has better taste. Plus, she’s around your size. I’ll get her to pick out a few bridal gowns here and bring them back to you.”

As always, Shawn didn’t ask for my opinion and made the decisions for me.

With nothing left to give him, I felt nothing and agreed with whatever he said.

Casey tried out several bridal gowns and took wedding photos with Shawn. She sent me a text alongside the photos.

“You can’t have a wedding without photos. Since you two were too busy to make time, I stepped in to help you. We can always swap your face into the photos with AI. You’re welcome.”

I glanced at the wedding photos. Shawn was uncomfortable kissing me, but his standard of hygiene was gone when it came to Casey.

They stopped just short of kissing, but it was pretty much the same.

I locked my mobile screen and said to the maid who just came in, “Pack up all the women’s clothing and belongings. Leave everything else.”

After clearing out my things, I moved out of our marital home.

I met up with Shawn’s rival and sold all my shares in the Jepsons’ business to him.

Shawn rushed back the day before the wedding. With him was Casey.

They brought back a wedding gown for me. Casey even volunteered to be my bridesmaid and had a gown ready.

Casey urged me to try on the dress right away. She put on her dress, too.

The wedding dress she picked for me was just a piece of silk cloth, barely covering the essentials. I looked like a nightclub girl.

She wore a designer gown, complete with a diamond tiara. She looked much more like a bride than I did.

“You’re a beautiful bride.”

Still, Shawn’s adoring eyes fell on Casey.

After a month apart, Shawn barely spent ten minutes with me before shuffling off with Casey.

Prior to his departure, he said, “I’ll meet you at the hotel for the reception tomorrow. Tell your friends and family that we aren’t doing the whole wedding tradition. I prefer to keep things casual.”

“Sure.”

Shawn had nothing to worry about.

I had informed my side of the family and friends that the wedding was off. None of them would attend the wedding tomorrow.

With Shawn and Casey gone, I contacted the clients I had brought into the business.

“I’ve made a move to a new company. To mark this occasion, I’m offering special partnership deals. I hope to continue our work together.”

That night, I lost sleep.

I was curious about Shawn’s response to his runaway bride.

Casey’s reaction would be intriguing when the videos of her affair with Shawn were played.

The next morning, I lugged my suitcase to the train station.

As the clock struck the hour of our wedding reception, I boarded the train.

I was bombarded with calls and texts right there and then.