the motions.
The staff frowned as he helped them with the photo, patiently repeating instructions to adjust their posture and soften their expressions.
Eventually, he gave up with a sigh. “Are you two actually getting married? Or is someone forcing you?”
When it was finally over, Patricia and Noah walked away with stiff expressions.
As Calista held the marriage certificate in her hand, she felt something stir in her chest. It wasn’t pain or sorrow. It was something lighter, a quiet joy.
She was glad she had let go of Noah and chosen Theodore instead. She had been brave enough to stop before making another mistake.
Not far away, Noah caught sight of the marriage certificate in her hand. It hit him like a slap to the face.
He had once confidently declared that Calista would never marry another man. Now that certainty had come back to humiliate him.
And yet, no matter how many times he went over it in his mind, he still couldn’t understand why Calista had walked away so easily after loving him for 12 years.
It wasn’t as if he had mistreated her. Aside from never making her his wife, he had truly believed he had done enough for her in every
other way.
A pang of regret settled deep in his chest, sharp and heavy all at once.
It wasn’t until Patricia lightened her grip on his right arm that he snapped out of h. She tried to take his hand, but he pulled away, and unresponsive,
After Theodore collected the marriage certificate, he left with Calista quietly by his side.
Noah stood frozen, watching their figures disappear down the hallway. It felt like a heavy tist had clamped around his chest, squeezing until he couldn’t breathe.
More than once, the urge to run after her nearly overtook him. He wanted to beg her not to go. But reason held him in place, rooting
him to the spot.
Regret clawed at him. But it was too late. There was no room left for second chances.
But at least Calista still worked at Skeldon Group. Even if she was married to someone else, she was still his assistant.
The thought placated him, just a little. At least she would still be near.
Just then, his phone rang. It was his secretary, Patrick Baldwin. “Hello, Mr. Skeldon Everything you asked me to do is done…”
At the mention, Noals finally remembered.
Yesterday, he had arranged a surprise for Patricia. After getting their marriage certificate, he planned to throw her a wedding reception.
By all logic, he should have been happy. After all, he was marrying the woman he claimed to love.
However, every time he thought about Calista walking away to marry someone else, that joy soured into frustration and regret.
stiff
