Chapter 8
A Year Later
As summer rolls around again, Jane finds herself walking down the aisle towards the church, reflecting on the whirlwind of the past year. Being engaged to one of the country”s most eligible bachelors has been quite the journey, and now she”s moments away from becoming Mrs. Gains. With Alex by her side, she feels like she”s gained more than she ever imagined. He”s not just her lover; he”s her best friend, her confidant. Their laughter fills their days, and his unwavering support and protective nature have shown her what true happiness means. She always thought she was happy but never realised what true happiness was till she met Alex
Their love is something out of a fairytale, so intense and consuming that it”s become a natural part of their lives. Despite what others may say about their relationship being unusual, Jane knows it”s anything but. It”s a bond forged in the fires of passion and strengthened by their mutual desire to always be together.
While lost in her thoughts, there”s a knock on the door. ”Who is it?” she asks, and a muffled voice responds. ”Come in,” she says, and Gary walks into the room. He”s barely recognizable, with weight loss and dark circles under his eyes. Jane had heard from friends that the blonde she had seen him with on the island was actually the secretary at his father”s business, where he had gone to take over operations. They must have formed a connection during those long nights when Gary claimed to be working late—nights that coincided with the unraveling of their relationship.
He had married the blonde shortly after calling off their wedding, but the marriage had ended in divorce just six months later, with the secretary walking away with a hefty alimony fee. Gary hadn”t been the same since, and he”d openly expressed regret to many friends about how he handled things with Jane. Listening to these stories, Jane felt nothing, not even a sense of satisfaction.
In Jane”s perspective, being jilted by Gary turned out to be a significant blessing in disguise. If Gary hadn”t left her, she would have never crossed paths with Alex or embarked on this exciting new chapter in her life, which she was eagerly anticipating. She looked at Gary, her expression questioning.
He dropped to his knees, pleading, ”Jane, please. I know you still love me. I was your first love, the man you first gave yourself to, so I must still hold a place in your heart. Let”s start over. I promise I won”t repeat the same mistakes. I”ll cherish you for who you are and treasure what we have. Please, forgive me.”
Jane felt a mix of emotions as she looked at Gary, memories flooding back from their past together. Yet, as she gazed into his eyes, she realized that her heart no longer belonged to him. It now beat for Alex, who had shown her what true love and happiness could be.
Taking a deep breath, Jane replied with a firm but gentle tone, ”Gary, what we had is in the past. I”ve moved on, and so should you. I wish you all the best, but I can”t go back. My heart belongs to someone else now.”
“I forgave you a long time ago.” She paused, her gaze softening. ”Now, if you”ll excuse me, there”s a very dashing man waiting for me at the altar, and I”ve learned firsthand what it”s like to be kept waiting at your own wedding. I wouldn”t want to keep him waiting.”
Just then, Martha entered the room, her expression furious. ”Who let him in?” she demanded, shooting Gary a pointed glare.
”I”m really sorry, Jane,” Martha apologized.
”It”s no worry,” Jane assured her, picking up her bouquet as she made her way to the door.
Gary”s expression fell, disappointment etched across his face. Slowly rising to his feet, he nodded, understanding dawning in his eyes. ”I see,” he murmured softly. ”I guess I had my chance, and I blew it.”
Jane offered him a sympathetic smile. ”It”s never easy, but sometimes things happen for a reason. Take care of yourself, Gary.”
With one last glance back at Gary, she left the room, leaving him behind, tears glistening in his eyes.
The church overflowed with vibrant blooms, casting a fragrant spell over the air. As Jane’s eyes fell on Alex, her heart danced with excitement. His looked sharp in his Tuxedo and his presence never failed to stir her, eliciting a flutter in her stomach. She marveled at how effortlessly he captivated her, wondering if his spellbinding effect would ever fade.
As Jane made her way down the aisle, her heart swelled with anticipation. She locked eyes with Alex at the end of the aisle, his expression filled with love and devotion. With each step she took, she felt a sense of completeness, a knowing that she was exactly where she was meant to be.
As she reached Alex”s side, they exchanged heartfelt vows, promising to love and cherish each other for all eternity. With the exchange of rings, their bond felt stronger than ever, sealing their commitment to one another in front of their loved ones.
As they were pronounced husband and wife, the room erupted in cheers and applause. Jane felt a rush of joy and gratitude wash over her, knowing that she had found her soulmate in Alex. They shared a passionate kiss, sealing their union with a promise of forever.
As they jetted off on their honeymoon after the ceremony and reception, Jane couldn”t help but reflect on the remarkable journey from heartbreak to love that had brought her to this perfect moment. What had once seemed like a devastating summer jilting at the altar had ultimately led her to the love of her life and a happily ever after.
In hindsight, she could hardly believe that it all began with that one fateful summer when she was left waiting in front of the church.