“What did you say?”
Hannah was shocked at Aspen’s words. Before Aspen could answer, Hannah’s phone buzzed with several new messages. She quickly grabbed it and read the texts from Ashton.
“I’m sorry, but I feel like I’m standing in the way of your happiness.”
“Your groom is already here. And it’s not me.”
“I can’t compete with my own brother.”
Hannah’s hands shook with rage as she read the messages.
Without thinking, she stormed out of the room and rushed into the hall, where an uproar had already broken out. Everyone knew Ashton was missing. Hannah’s legs felt weak, her heart heavy with disbelief.
How could Ashton call off the wedding at the last minute and hand her over to Alden?
“How stupid,” Hannah thought bitterly.
Alden approached her and locked eyes with her for a moment, frozen by her beauty in the wedding gown. He couldn’t stop staring at his ex-wife, who looked more radiant than ever.
“Did Ashton send you a text?” Alden asked.
Hannah nodded, fighting back tears.
“He sent me the same message,” Alden admitted.
Their eyes met again. Ashton had clearly sent them both a similar message: that they needed to pursue their own happiness. But where did that leave Ashton? Did he not care about his own happiness?
“I don’t know how to feel-happy, sad, or angry. I can’t understand why Ashton made such a decision,” Hannah said, her voice breaking.
“Ashton just wants you to be happy. And so do I,” Alden replied.
Memories of their past love filled Hannah’s mind, reminding her of the happiness she had once shared with Alden. He had never stopped loving her. Perhaps Ashton stepped aside because he felt that Hannah’s heart had never fully belonged to him.
“Hannah?” Alden called softly, seeing her deep in thought, confusion written all over her face.
“I-I…”
“Just breathe,” Alden encouraged.
Hannah knew Alden still loved her, and in her heart, she still had feelings for him, too. But was it worth it? Was that why Ashton had walked away, no longer wanting to compete for her love?
“Do you still love me, Alden?” Hannah asked.
“Listen, I have loved you up until this moment. But that love would be selfish if you weren’t truly happy.”
Alden took her hands in his and looked at her with deep sincerity.
“I want you to be happy, more than anything,” he added.
Tears streamed down Hannah’s face as she bowed her head.
“Alden, I…”
Her throat tightened, and Alden’s grip on her hands tightened. Hannah was lost in thought, where did her heart really belong?
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
She pulled her hands out of his grasp.
Alden realized then that it was all over for him. Hannah had chosen another path, and Alden knew he was no longer the captain of her heart.
“All right,” Alden said, accepting the truth.
“I need to find my groom and give him a piece of my mind for leaving me like this,” Hannah added with determination. “He must come back to the altar and marry me.”
Alden smiled and nodded. “Okay, I’ll help you find Ashton.”
“If you find him first…” Hannah began.
“I’ll kick his ass,” Alden interrupted with a grin.
Hannah chuckled softly. “Thanks, Alden.”
With that, Hannah turned and ran out of the hall as fast as she could, her wedding dress billowing around her. The guests were even more shocked to see the bride running out of her own wedding.
*
Hannah’s instincts led her to a place where she knew she would find Ashton.
The children’s ward of the hospital.
She ran breathlessly, her wedding dress slowing her down, but she ignored the stares and murmurs of the hospital staff. She pushed open the door to the children’s ward and searched frantically for Ashton.
“He’s in his room,” she muttered to herself, trying to stay calm.
Finally, she saw him through the glass door of the chemotherapy room, sitting and talking with one of the pediatric patients. Ashton must have sensed her presence because he looked up and froze when he saw her standing there.
He immediately left the room and approached her, his eyes wide with shock.
“What are you doing here?” Ashton asked, confused.
“Same question to you!” Hannah replied.
“You’re supposed to be married,” Ashton said a little too calmly.
“Yes, but to you!” Hannah crossed her arms in frustration.
Ashton was silent, obviously at a loss for words.
“You ran away? You don’t want to marry me?” she demanded, her anger rising.
“Well, I have a feeling you still love my brother. I can’t force myself to,” Ashton admitted, struggling to meet her gaze.
“I gave you everything!”
“Hannah…”
“Do you have any idea what it feels like to be left at the altar twice? How stupid can you be?” she snapped.
Ashton stepped closer and took her hands gently. “I’m sorry.”
“If you don’t want to marry me, fine!” Hannah pulled her hands away. “Maybe I’ll marry Alden after all.”
“No, no, no…” Ashton protested, panic setting in.
Hannah turned her back on him and stormed down the hall.
“Stubborn!” Ashton shouted after her.
“I am!” she called back.
Suddenly, Hannah felt Ashton’s arms wrap around her from behind, his warm breath on her neck. She stopped running, feeling the weight of her emotions crush her. She collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably.
“I’m sorry,” Ashton whispered in her ear.
“I still have feelings for Alden, but in the past. I’ve made peace with the way things were,” Hannah said through her tears. “I want you now, not him.”
“And in the future?” Ashton asked cautiously.
“That depends,” Hannah shrugged. “If you won’t marry me, I’ll find someone else. Not from the Harrison family this time.”
Ashton turned her to face him, their eyes locked.
“You always like to threaten me, don’t you?” Ashton teased, staring deep into her eyes.
“What, you think you’re the only one who can get out of my life?” she shot back.
“Don’t, Hannah. Don’t ever do that,” Ashton pleaded.
Hannah sighed deeply. “Fine, I’ll just take off my wedding dress since the wedding’s off.”
“Oh no, it’s not that easy,” Ashton chuckled. “You’ll take it off in front of me, but after we’re married.”
He leaned in and kissed her deeply, and the hospital nurses burst into applause. Ashton wrapped his arms around her waist and smiled.
“Let’s go. We have a wedding to get to,” Ashton said.
“A wedding? Whose?” Hannah asked, confused.
“Ours, of course.”