Reborn to Dodge the Bad Marriage novel Chapter 31

Chapter 31 The Vows

Cordelia’s voice dropped so low it barely carried.

Olivia didn’t catch it. “Grandma, what was that?”

B

Finished

Cordelia handed the phone back to her. “You’re a fine doctor, and your diagnosis was right. Julian isn’t going to make it through today.”

The Westons had kept the guest list to family, and even so the room was packed.

The moment Nora and Julian stepped into the ballroom, every head turned.

“God, look at her. Prettiest bride I’ve ever seen.”

“Pretty, sure. But she’s nobody. The Sinclairs are smaller than my own family, so I can’t imagine what the Westons want with her.”

“The Westons are the richest family in the country. They don’t need a marriage to prop up the business, so they can pick whoever they like.”

Nora and Julian made a picture-perfect couple, and the whole room started talking at once. Some of it was admiration, some of it envy, and some of it was pure spite.

Nora caught pieces of it and let it go.

Julian swept one cold look across the room, and the sour comments died. After that, Nora heard nothing but congratulations.

Mandy trailed behind them as the bridesmaid. Watching Julian shut a whole room down for Nora, she thought about walking into that same ballroom alone the first time around, and something ugly turned over in her chest.

Doesn’t matter.

Any minute now Julian drops, and Nora ends up saying her vows to a photograph.

Mandy could hardly wait to watch it happen.

The ceremony went off without a hitch.

Nora gave the standard vows. “Julian Weston, today is where the rest of our life together begins. From this day forward, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, I’m with you.”

Julian held her eyes the whole time, and when his turn came, he said it like an oath.

“Nora Sinclair, I’m asking you to be my wife. You’re the only one I want for the rest of my life. Now, later, always, I’ll trust you. I’ll respect you, and I’ll be faithful to you.”

There wasn’t a single word about love in it, and somehow it still knocked her heart out of rhythm.

Mandy listened to the whole thing and huffed, muttering under her breath. “The rest of your lives. More like the end of it. There’s no future here. Today is your forever.”

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Chapter 31 The Vows

Nora is going to end up married to a picture in a frame!

The vows ended, the rings went on, and the rest of the ceremony moved quickly.

Constance fastened the family’s heirloom diamond bracelet around Nora’s wrist. “It’s done. As of today Nora is my grandson’s wife and the lady of this house. Anyone who gives her a hard time will answer to me.”

That was the last word of the ceremony, and the guests moved in to eat.

Mandy had been waiting days for this. She watched Nora and Julian head off to change and shook her head. “No. That’s not possible. How is he still standing? There was supposed to be a photograph in that chair.”

Why didn’t I get a groom? Why was I the one saying vows to a framed photograph?

Nora, meanwhile, had walked through the entire ceremony with a groom standing right there beside her

Mandy hadn’t kept her voice down. Constance heard her, and the warmth dropped out of her face. “What did you just say?”

Olivia had told her the day before that Julian wouldn’t last past seven in the morning. The wedding had to happen while he was still breathing, so Constance had kept a framed photograph of him waiting in the back room. If he didn’t make it to the altar, the ceremony would go ahead with the photograph standing in for the groom.

Nobody knew about it except her and Bess.

Wait. How does Mandy know about that?

Constance stared at her with a look that could have put her in the ground.

Mandy swallowed hard. “I said the photographs in the hall are gorgeous.”

Constance said nothing and didn’t look away.

Mandy was sure she was about to be thrown out of the house.

Before that could happen, Bess hurried over and bent to Constance’s ear. “Ma’am, Julian’s collapsed.”

The color went out of Constance’s face, and she went straight over backward.

Bess caught her before she hit the floor. “Ma’am!”

Tessa Weston, who was married to one of Julian’s uncles, was on her feet at once. “Mother, what’s wrong?”

The rest of the family crowded in with the same question.

Constance leaned into Bess and forced the panic down where none of them could see it. “It’s nothing. My blood sugar dropped.”

Tessa wasn’t buying it. “Mother, is something going on that the rest of us should know about?”

Marlene Weston, married to the other uncle, leaned in as well. “Mother, we’re family. Whatever it is, say it, and we’ll figure it out together.”

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Chapter 31 The Vows

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