The Wedding He Stole for Her Birthday - Chapter 4: Chapter 4

My best friend wrapped her arms around me, her hand rubbing slow circles on my back as she murmured soothing words.
After the IV drip, the fog in my head cleared, and all I could think about was my mother. I needed to get to her.
As we stepped out of the hospital room, my best friend shot me a reassuring grin.
"Relax, Scarlett. In three days, you'll be the most stunning bride anyone's ever seen."
The words had barely left her mouth when I spotted Alexander standing in front of us, his face unreadable, dark as a storm cloud.
My friend took one look at him and rolled her eyes, muttering, "What a jerk."
I ignored her and held Alexander's icy stare.
"Scarlett," he said, voice low and dangerous, "my patience is wearing thin. This is your last warning. Three days from now, I won't be at that wedding—"
I didn't flinch. "You helped me once, but I gave you ten years of my life. Now that Madeline's back, we're even. I owe you nothing." My voice was sharp, cutting. "And as for the wedding? It doesn't have to be you standing at the altar."
It was the first time in a decade I'd spoken to him like that.
Something flickered in Alexander's expression—just for a second—before he schooled his face back into its usual mask of control. He exhaled sharply, like he'd lost his grip on something.
But the man who always held the power didn't let that feeling linger.
His fingers clamped around my injured hand, squeezing until fresh blood soaked through the bandages. Only then did his gaze drop to the wound.
"Your hand—"
Before I could answer, Madeline came skipping out of the examination room.
Alexander dropped my hand instantly and rushed to her side. "What are you doing out here alone?"
As he turned away, his lips curled into a cold smirk, his voice dripping with contempt.
"Don't push your luck, Scarlett. Have I been too soft on you? Using your mother's illness to manipulate me—aren't you afraid you'll actually curse her to death?"
His eyes darkened. "You know I don't tolerate disobedience. And you know I have a hundred ways to make you fall in line."
I watched him walk away, my voice barely above a whisper. "And I don't like heartless, secondhand men."
The moment I stepped back into the hospital, my phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number:
[I'm in Finland. I'll be back before the wedding. Leave everything to me.]
A wave of relief washed over me.
The groom might've changed, but the wedding was still happening—and there was so much left to do.
Between finalizing makeup trials and taking care of my mother, the days blurred together.
It wasn't until the morning of the wedding that I finally understood Alexander's threat: "I have a hundred ways to make you behave."
Determined to avoid surprises, I arrived early to check on the venue.
But what I saw stopped me cold.
Workers were dismantling the decorations. The last bouquet of flowers was being carted away right in front of me.
I lunged forward, grabbing a worker's arm. "What's going on? I already paid for all of this!"
The man gave me a pitying look. "Miss, it's not our choice. You must've pissed off the wrong person. No one in this city will touch your wedding now. We'll refund the cancellation fee."
My head spun. The world around me turned hazy.
I leaned against the wall, my legs giving out.
Alexander.
But it didn't make sense.
I was letting him go. Wasn't that what he wanted? Why couldn't he just leave me alone?
I forced myself to move, rushing to the bridal shop—only to find Madeline standing there in my wedding dress, a tiara perched on her head like some smug princess.
Alexander stood beside her, gazing at her like she hung the moon.
I turned to leave—but then I saw it.
The charm necklace around her neck.
Alexander's necklace.