— We’re here!
The guests cheered from the steps of City Hall as the car pulled up. Alex opened the door and offered his hand to his bride-to-be. Julia stepped out, gracefully adjusting her flowing veil with a flirtatious smile.
— The Miller party? Your slot is in twenty minutes, — a clerk called out, leaning out of the heavy oak doors.
— Yes, we’re ready, — Alex replied with a confident nod.
The group headed up the wide stone staircase toward the ceremonial hall. In just a few minutes, the previous couple would exit, and Julia’s dream would finally come true: the man of her dreams would become her husband. Suddenly, a young girl, no older than ten, tapped Julia on the arm.
— Excuse me, ma’am? Someone is asking for you in the lounge.
— For me? — Julia’s perfectly shaped eyebrows shot up.
— A lady said it’s urgent. She told me to give you this, — the girl handed her a crumpled scrap of paper.
Julia scanned the note quickly. She leaned in and whispered to Alex: — Give me a second, babe. — Then, she hurried toward a side hallway hidden behind a row of marble columns.
Ten minutes passed. Alex began scanning the crowd for his fiancée. His parents and the guests started to shift restlessly.
— Where’s Julia? — Alex’s mother sighed nervously. — Honestly, these modern brides and their last-minute nerves!
— She went toward the lounge with a little girl, — Julia’s father noted, nodding toward the corridor.
Just then, the double doors of the hall swung open, and the previous wedding party spilled out, laughing and tossing petals.
— Miller party, are you ready? — the officiant asked, approaching the group.
— Yes! Just one moment! The bride stepped away for a second, she’ll be right back, — Julia’s mother said, her voice trembling slightly.
— Please don’t hold up the line. I have five more ceremonies today, — the clerk frowned. — Fine. I’ll give you five minutes, or I have to call the next couple.
Alex was already halfway to the lounge. “She has to be here,” he thought. He pushed open the door—empty. He pulled out his phone and dialed her number. No answer. Her bridesmaids tried as well. Nothing.
— We found the girl, — someone called out. — She said an old woman asked her to fetch the bride…
The crowd went silent as Julia’s mother slowly walked up the stairs. In her hands, she clutched a white lace veil.
— It’s Julia’s… I found it draped over a chair in the lobby…
The woman’s face was a mask of pure dread.
— Is there a problem, Mr. Miller? — the officiant asked, her heels clicking impatiently as she approached the stunned groom.
— My bride is missing, — Julia’s father said, his voice cracking. — We need to call the police.
— Look, — the clerk sighed. — If we called the police every time someone got cold feet at the altar, we’d be here until midnight every day. That’s it; I’m calling the next couple. If she shows up later, I’ll try to fit you in.
— Thank you, — Alex muttered, though he barely heard her.
He was completely blindsided. Why would Julia just vanish? What was he supposed to tell the guests? And more importantly… why was this happening again?
Suddenly, he heard Julia’s mother gasp.
— Julia? Oh my God, Julia, is that you?
The woman was on the phone. Alex rushed over to her.
— Where is she? — he asked hoarsely.
— Alex, I don’t understand… — the woman was sobbing now. — She says… she says the wedding is off.
A collective gasp went through the guests. Alex’s jaw tightened, his pulse hammering in his temples.
— Give me the phone, — he said firmly.
— She hung up, — her mother whispered, handing him the lifeless device.
Alex felt like he’d been spat on. Why? What did he do to deserve this? He gathered his strength and turned to the crowd.
— Everyone, I’m so sorry. The bride has left. The wedding is canceled.
He didn’t wait for a response. He turned and headed for the exit. Behind him, he could hear the muffled sounds of an argument breaking out between his parents and Julia’s—bitter accusations about how she’d been raised.
— What do you mean, canceled? — the clerk’s voice echoed behind him as he reached the street.
Alex slammed the car door shut. That night, he sat alone at a dim corner bar, drinking with a cold, focused anger. It felt like a cruel joke—this was the second time. Two years ago, on the eve of his wedding to Natalie, she had called to say she couldn’t go through with it. The guests had been invited then, too. The deposit was paid. And just like Julia, Natalie hadn’t given him a single real explanation.
His phone buzzed. He was drunk enough to keep trying her. Surprisingly, she picked up.
— Alex, please don’t do this to me… — Julia said after a long silence. — I’m not marrying you.
— Why? Why today? Why couldn’t you tell me yesterday? A week ago? — Alex’s voice broke.
— It’s just how it has to be, — she whispered, and the line went dead.
A few minutes later, his friends Andrew and Paul walked into the bar.
— Man, you had us worried. You vanished for hours, — Paul said, sliding into the booth.
— Why aren’t you answering your texts? — Andrew added, clapping him on the shoulder.
— I’ve never felt this low, guys. I don’t want to talk. I called her… God knows why. Just to hear her tell me I’m not enough, — Alex admitted.
— Forget her, man. She’s not worth it, — Andrew advised.
They sat there until the early hours of the morning, nursing drinks and trying to make sense of it.
— Look, Alex, this is weird, — Paul said, shrugging. — You’re going to laugh at me, but maybe you should see someone. Like a psychic or something. Two brides, same story? That’s not a coincidence.
— My mom would say someone put a hex on you, — Andrew chuckled. — But honestly? At this point, it couldn’t hurt.
— Are you guys serious? — Alex laughed bitterly. — Thanks for the lift, but I’m not visiting a fortune teller.
The long, miserable day finally came to an end.
One Year Later
Alex was back to his routine, working as a dentist at a private clinic. One evening, just as they were locking up, a young woman hurried into the reception area. She was pale as a ghost, clutching her jaw.
— Doctor, I know you’re closing, but please… can you see me? — she looked at him with pleading eyes.
— You’re clearly in pain. Of course I’ll see you, — he said with a reassuring smile.
The nurse, Kelly, let out a heavy sigh—another late night. But once they got her in the chair, it was clear it was serious. A massive dental abscess.
— How long have you been living with this? — Alex asked gently as he examined her.
— About a week, — she whispered.
— A week? — Kelly snapped. — People wait until the last second. A few more days and this infection could have reached your bloodstream or worse.
— Kelly, let’s focus on the instruments, please, — Alex said, sensing the patient was about to faint. He glanced at her chart. — Don’t worry, Claire. It’ll be a little uncomfortable for a second, but you’ll feel much better soon.
He worked quickly and efficiently. When he was finished, Claire looked at him with profound gratitude. She thanked him and hurried out. The lights in the office went out shortly after. Kelly ran off to meet her husband, who was waiting in the lobby. Alex locked the door and headed toward the parking lot.
It was late autumn. A thin layer of frost crunched under his boots, and a biting wind whipped through his coat. Under a streetlamp, he saw a familiar silhouette. It was Claire. He picked up his pace.
— Do you have a car?
— No, — she shook her head, looking a bit lost. — I’m headed to the bus stop. The shuttle should be here soon.
— At this hour? It might not come at all. And you shouldn’t be standing out in the cold right after a procedure. Let me give you a ride.
Alex surprised himself with the offer. There was just something about her he liked immediately.
— Oh, is that okay? — Claire hesitated.
He seemed like a decent, professional guy, but getting into a stranger’s car was always a leap.
— Don’t worry, I don’t bite, — he teased. — Where are you headed?
Claire gave him her address. They drove in silence. The anesthesia was wearing off, and Claire wasn’t in the mood for small talk, while Alex was simply drained from the day. Yet, the silence felt remarkably comfortable.
— Claire, would it be okay if I called you? — Alex asked as he pulled up to her building.
— I’d like that, — she smiled, clearly pleased he’d asked. She gave him her number.
Alex saved it and gave her a quick missed call.
— There. Now you have mine, too.
Alex called her two days later. Claire was thrilled to hear from him; she hadn’t been able to get the kind doctor out of her head. They met at a coffee shop, then went for a walk in the park. What started as a chance meeting quickly grew into something much deeper.
— Mom, — Claire confessed just before New Year’s. — I’m getting married.
Her mother was stunned, then overjoyed. Alex was a respectable, kind man. They did the formal introductions over the holidays, and that same night, Alex brought Claire home to meet his parents.
— Alex, — his mother whispered nervously in the hallway as the couple prepared to leave. — Take care of her. She’s a lovely girl.
— Mom, this time will be different. I’m sure of it, — Alex said. He knew she was thinking about his two failed trips to City Hall. — With Claire, everything is different.
— God, I hope so, — his mother whispered.
The big day approached quickly. The rings were bought, the dress was ready, and the venue was booked. One warm April evening, Claire walked out of the library where she worked. The scent of apple blossoms from the nearby park filled the air. She was glowing—she was a bride-to-be.
Suddenly, an old woman appeared in her path. She was thin, dressed entirely in black, and looked as though she had been waiting specifically for Claire. Claire shivered involuntarily.
— You’re planning on marrying Alex Miller, aren’t you? — the woman asked.
— Yes, — Claire blurted out. Then she caught herself. — Who are you? What is it to you?
— Me? — the woman let out a dry, raspy laugh. — I’m his mother-in-law. Years ago, when his family lived in our village, he was with my daughter.
— What are you talking about? — Claire snapped. — Move aside.
— Go ahead, walk away, — the woman hissed. — But you should know your groom is already married. He forged his papers when he moved. He has a wife and two children back in the country. He abandoned them the moment his parents moved to the city and he became a “big doctor.” My Lucy is struggling to raise his kids alone, and he hasn’t sent a single cent in years.
— Then why hasn’t she sued for child support? — Claire was shaking.
— She’s proud. She doesn’t want to prove anything to a man like him. I’m just telling you this because I hate to see another girl ruin her life.
With that, the woman turned and walked away into the shadows. Claire felt sick. Her head spun—not just from the news, but because she had found out only that morning that she was pregnant.
“Alex is married? He abandoned his children?” Claire began to cry.
It was dark now. Her phone was blowing up—Alex had called ten times. Finally, she answered.
— Claire, where are you? I’m at the library, they said you left. Why aren’t you answering? Is everything okay?
— We need to talk. I’m in the park, near the entrance.
Alex was there in five minutes. Claire didn’t hold back; she told him everything the old woman had said. Alex listened in total silence, his face turning to stone. He clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white.
— And you believe her? — he interrupted.
— I don’t want to! — Claire cried. — Но you told me yourself—two brides left you. They must have found out the truth!
— It’s a lie! — Alex shouted. — Now I get it… she told them the same thing. But the truth is something else entirely.
He sat her down and began to speak.
In high school, Alex had been in love with a girl named Lucy. They lived in a small, tight-knit town. Everyone said they were the perfect match. On graduation night, the class went down to the river to watch the sunrise. They’d all had a bit of champagne. They were standing on a high ridge to get the best view when Lucy slipped. Alex was standing right there, but he wasn’t fast enough to catch her.
He dove into the river after her, but the current was too strong. By the time he pulled her out, she wasn’t breathing. At the funeral, Lucy’s mother blamed Alex for everything. She cursed him, screaming that he would never have a life of his own. Shortly after, Alex’s family moved away to escape the tragedy. He tried to forget, but it seemed Lucy’s mother had been stalking him for years.
— She’s insane! Abandoned family? Children? — Claire gasped.
— She’s a broken woman who lost her only daughter, — Alex said quietly. — She wants me to feel the same void she feels.
— And I almost believed her… I almost did something stupid, — Claire shook her head, leaning against him.
— You did the right thing by asking me, — Alex pulled her close.
— How could I not? I love you, Alex, — Claire whispered into his ear. — And Alex… we’re going to have a baby.
— Claire! — Alex felt like he was floating. The curse, the fear, the past—it all vanished in that one moment.
They were married two months later. It was a beautiful ceremony, filled with laughter and relief. A week after the wedding, Claire convinced Alex to drive back to the village where Lucy’s mother lived. Alex was hesitant, but he agreed.
Their first stop was the cemetery. Claire placed a massive bouquet of roses on Lucy’s grave.
— Rest in peace, — Claire whispered. — I didn’t take him from you. It just happened this way.
Then, they went to the old woman’s house. Mrs. Gable opened the gate and froze.
— Mrs. Gable, hello. Do you remember me? — Alex asked.
— I remember. So, you went through with it? — The woman’s eyes flickered to Claire’s wedding ring. — Well. I suppose everything changes now.
— Why did you do it? — Alex’s voice was more sad than angry. — The lies about a family, the children?
— Don’t get worked up, — she said softly. — After the funeral, I blamed you for everything. But then I realized you were the only piece of my Lucy I had left in this world. She loved you. So I followed you. I watched you. Don’t be mad about the lies. It was a test.
The couple stared at her, speechless.
— The first one? She seemed almost happy to have an excuse to leave you. The second one? The moment she heard about “child support,” she ran for the hills. But this one… — she looked at Claire. — This one was heartbroken, but she didn’t give up on you. She’s the real deal, Alex. She’ll love you the way my daughter would have.
The silence that followed was heavy with the weight of the years. “Quite a test,” Alex thought.
But the anger was gone. They stayed for tea, talking with Mrs. Gable until the sun began to set. As they drove away, they promised to visit again. The old woman stood at the gate, her heart finally still. The cycle was broken.
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