Chapter 2 - THE RING ON THE EMPTY CHAIR
At the Hawthorne Hotel, Ethan was laughing.
Vanessa stood beside the bridal limousine, filming another video.
Her ivory dress shimmered beneath the hotel entrance lights.
“Look at this,” she said into her phone. “I swear, if I ever get married, I'm doing exactly this.”
Ethan smiled.
“You're enjoying yourself a little too much.”
Vanessa laughed.
“Don't be jealous.”
Then his phone buzzed.
He glanced at the screen.
His smile vanished.
There will be no wedding tonight.
He stared.
Then laughed.
“Unbelievable.”
Vanessa lowered her phone.
“What?”
“Clare's being dramatic.”
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“Again?”
Ethan typed quickly.
Stop it. We're at the hotel. Just come upstairs.
No reply.
He called.
Straight to voicemail.
He frowned.
Then called again.
Nothing.
Vanessa touched his arm.
“She'll calm down.”
Ethan nodded.
“Of course she will.”
But when the black sedan arrived twenty minutes later, Clare didn't get out.
Michael stepped onto the curb carrying a small satin purse.
He approached Ethan.
“Mr. Whitmore?”
Ethan looked up.
“Where's Clare?”
The driver held out the purse.
“She asked me to deliver this.”
Ethan opened it.
Inside was the engagement ring.
And a folded piece of hotel stationery.
He unfolded it.
Ethan,
You gave another woman my dress, my limousine, and your attention on the morning we were supposed to become husband and wife.
I'm not giving you my future too.
The wedding is canceled.
Clare.
Ethan stared.
May you like
For the first time that morning, he stopped thinking about Vanessa.
And started wondering where his bride had gone.
