Over the following days, I chose a dress, arranged my hair, and wondered how Max would react when he saw me. I hated admitting it, but I wanted him to regret leaving. I wanted him to see that I could still look beautiful and that another man might find me attractive. When Edward met me outside the wedding venue, he immediately noticed my nervousness. “You look wonderful,” he said warmly. “Remember, we’re here for your girls, not for Max.” I smiled, although I wasn’t entirely convinced.
When we entered together, several guests turned toward us. Then I spotted Max standing beside Claire. His expression changed as he looked Edward up and down before turning toward me. With the familiar cruelty I remembered from our marriage, he laughed. “Your boyfriend? Nobody like him would date you. Did you pay him to come here?” My cheeks burned. For a moment, I felt thirteen years younger, standing in our bedroom while Max criticized my appearance.
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