"No need. I'll leave on my own. I promise Patrick that I'll leave on my own."
Yes. I had said so to Patrick just now.
My primary purpose was to reassure him.
Hearing my words, Shelton was quite reluctant. I persuade him for a more while. And he was finally convinced by me.
As the old saying goes, everyone will belong somewhere in the end.
On this island where it rarely rained, unexpectedly, it rained heavily that night.
Patrick stood in a small room at the dock with me.
The rain kept falling from the sky.
A sailor ran in from the outside, "Mr. Cowell, I think it will rain for hours. It may be dangerous if we sail out by force..."
"Then don't leave." Patrick looked at me.
The sky was too dark. I couldn't see the expression on Patrick's face.
He stretched out his hand and wanted to put his palm behind me. I took a step forward, took out my cell phone, and said to Patrick,
"Mr. Cowell, the midnight has passed. In a sense, you have been Miss Kelsi's husband starting from today."
"Yes"
Patrick replied in a muffled voice.
I thought about it for a moment and said, "Since God doesn't want me to go, then I won't go. In fact, I also want to see your look as the bridegroom, Mr. Cowell. When I married you last time, you just showed up the red carpet and left."
"Charlotte..."
"Mr. Cowell, you shouldn't call me Charlotte. Please call me Charlotte Archer."
After I said that, I pulled my luggage, intending to walk out into the rain. Then I saw a man coming over with an umbrella against the dim light not far away.
It was Shelton.
Shelton walked to the front of the small room and stared at me only, "I saw it rained. I guessed that you wouldn't leave. So I came here to pick you up."
"Okay." When I saw Shelton, I felt inexplicably warm-hearted. I smiled slightly, "Thank you. I was just thinking about how to go back."
As I spoke, I went straight to Shelton's side and sheltered myself under his umbrella.
I looked back at Patrick and curled up the corner of my mouth, "Mr. Cowell, go back quickly. Or you'll have to get married with black circles around your eyes tomorrow."
Patrick stood there without saying a word.
The light didn't shine on his face. But I could sense the melancholy which couldn't be dissipated in his eyes.
When Shelton and I left, Patrick said nothing in the end.
That night, it was still raining. I stood in front of the window and seemed to see someone standing in the rain vaguely. I looked at it again and felt that nobody seemed to be there.
I drew back the curtains and lay on the bed, having difficulties falling asleep all night.
The next morning, Amy came to help me do my makeup as usual.
Performing all of his makeup skills on me today, he transformed me into a beautiful and bright woman.
However, my face that he adjusted for me today should be the one that resembled my face the most.
I got changed with the dress I had prepared before and arrived at the wedding scene.
By the time we arrived there, many people had been at the wedding scene. Shelton accompanied me there. As soon as we arrived, a middle-aged couple greeted him.
I found them familiar at first glance.
"Shelton." The man came over and looked at me with a mysterious smile, "When did you have a girlfriend? Why didn't you tell me?"
"She isn't my girlfriend." Shelton smiled and introduced the man to me, "This is my eldest brother and sister-in-law. They are Patrick's parents."
They were Patrick's parents, Sheridan Cowell and Melissa Tobin.
Only then did I remember that I had served tea to these two elders during the wedding back then.
They didn't seem to recognize me. I quickly said respectfully, "Hello, I am..."
"Aren't you Patrick's ex-wife?"
I followed the direction of the voice and saw Patrick dressed in a black suit. Beside him was Kelsi who was dressed in white gauze.
The two of them stood side by side.
Kelsi's wedding dress was quite beautiful. It was as white as snow, with beautiful lace on her shoulders and sleeves and a long trailing tail behind it.
Everyone on the spot rushed up and surrounded them.
Only I stood where I was still. And I even wanted to escape.
I always thought that I could handle it. But when I saw them standing together, I knew that I couldn't accept it.
The band began to play a piece of beautiful piano music.
Under the guidance of the staff, the new couple walked towards the ceremony venue.
I stood in a corner and looked at them.
Kelsi held Patrick's wrist. And at that moment, a strange emotion rose in my heart.
I knew that it was jealousy.
When I turned to look at Patrick, I realized that the pair of deep eyes of his were bloodshot.
When I looked at him, he was looking at me as well.
As we looked at each other, I felt a little flustered!
I quickly lowered my head.
The guests in front of me took their seats, one after another.
About ten minutes later, a staff member on the side shouted, "The ceremony will begin."
The grand wedding music rang.
At this moment, I finally raised my head.
In front of me, the main protagonists of the wedding, Patrick Cowell and Kelsi Clark were standing at one end of the red carpet.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Substitute Her to Love You (Charlotte and Patrick)