Wrong Bride, Silas's Heartfelt Message

I was looking through the wedding photos on my fianc's phone when I accidentally saw a message he'd sent to his childhood sweetheart.

Winnie, I'm getting married to someone else.

I wish the person I was signing the papers with was you.

Let's not miss each other in the next life.

Silas Montgomery was trying on his designer tux for our wedding. I was bored, sitting on the sofa in the lounge area, scrolling through my phone.

He was notoriously picky and had high standards. He tried on suit after suit, finding a reason to hate every single one of them.

I stayed patient, accompanying him through the endless fittings. Every time he stepped out, his appearance took my breath away.

His face was flawless, and his physique was perfect. He was a man who looked like he had been sculpted by the gods themselves.

His phone was sitting on the coffee table. I shook my head, thinking he was such a scatterbrain for leaving it behind again.

I picked it up and tucked it into my pocket. Looking at the device, I remembered our engagement photos were stored on it.

I wanted to admire them one more time. I entered the passcode and opened the gallery.

As I scrolled through the photos of us, a small smile played on my lips. I remembered the day of the shoot clearly.

The photographer had asked us to embrace face-to-face. I had whispered something into his ear then.

"This feels like a dream. I can't believe I'm actually marrying you."

I was about to lock the phone when a notification popped up on the screen.

"Don't wait for the next life. This life is just fine."

I hesitated for a second, but my curiosity got the better of me. I clicked on the message.

I've never been the type to snoop into someone's privacy. I had never once doubted Silas in all our years together.

But that specific message felt like a magnet. I had always believed I'd made the right choice with him.

When the chat history loaded, my heart shattered. The screen was filled with messages sent by Silas.

Most of them had gone unreplied for a long time. But today, while he was trying on suits, he had sent several more.

"Winnie, I'm getting married."

"I wish the person I was signing the papers with was you."

"Let's not miss each other in the next life."

And this time, the other person had actually replied.

Silas and I had met and started dating in college. He rarely spoke about Winnie, but his close friends mentioned her constantly.

Simply put, Winnie Beck was his childhood sweetheart. They had grown up side-by-side.

They went to school together every day until the end of high school. Silas used to struggle to keep up with her fast pace.

He would walk behind her, staring at her silhouette as he tried to catch up. He often got grumpy because he couldn't stay level with her.

But even when he was trailing behind, he felt a deep sense of security. It was as if she was a shield that would block any storm.

That life ended abruptly in senior year. A tragedy struck Winnie's family.

In a heartbeat, Winnie vanished from his world. He could no longer see her silhouette or hear her voice.

It felt like a vital piece of his soul had been ripped out. He only heard from neighbors that she had moved somewhere very far away.

They said she would likely never return. And then, I appeared in his life.

The dressing room door creaked open. Silas stepped out in a sharp black tux, the air in the room suddenly smelling of his expensive cologne.

"Babe, do I look handsome?"

He noticed me holding his phone, and his cold brows twitched almost imperceptibly.

I looked up, staring at him with a frozen gaze. Then, I turned the screen toward him.

A flicker of emotion finally broke through his usually calm expression.

"Taya, let me explain."

I locked eyes with him. Very quickly, his look of panic smoothed back into a mask of indifference.

"Trust me, this is just a misunderstanding," Silas said, his voice returning to its usual flat, calm tone.

"I just treat the chat with her like a memo pad. Don't overthink it." He spoke as if he were discussing the weather.

I let out a helpless laugh. He looked at me, seemingly convinced that I'd accepted his ridiculous excuse, and he smiled.

"Babe, look at this one. Does it look good?" He grabbed my hand and gave it a playful tug.

He rarely acted so affectionate or needy. It made me want to believe him, but the images of those texts were burned into my brain.

I shoved his hand away and forced myself to stay composed. I looked at the man who once made my heart race with a single glance.

"Silas, we're done."

Silas froze. He looked genuinely stunned, as if the idea of me ending things was impossible.

In his mind, I was the one who loved more. I was the one who would never be able to let go of this relationship.

While the shock was still fresh on his face, I turned and walked out of the boutique.

He didn't even bother to change out of the tux. He ran out into the street after me.

He grabbed me from behind, wrapping his arms tightly around my chest.

"Taya, don't be like this. I can explain everything. It's not what you think." He sounded like he was on the verge of tears.

I pried his hands off me and turned around to look into those beautiful, deceitful eyes.

"Explain? What is there to explain? Do you want to explain why you'd rather be at the altar with someone else?"

I felt a surge of anger. Looking at the tux he was still wearing, I couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

He claimed he wanted another woman, yet here he was, standing in the suit he was supposed to wear to marry me.

The sunlight felt incredibly piercing today.

"It's really not what you're imagining, Taya."

"Stop making a scene. Let's go home and I'll explain everything properly. We shouldn't fight in public like this."

I watched as a tear escaped his eye and rolled down his chin. We had been together for seven years, ever since our freshman year of college.

I had always made sure he never felt hurt or slighted. I had never let him cry.

Silas hugged me again, even tighter this time, as if he were terrified I would vanish. Just like Winnie had.

"Silas, let go. It's over," I said, my voice as cold as ice.

He began to sob openly, his voice turning raw and raspy.

"I won't. I don't want you to disappear too."

There it was. I really was just a replacement, wasn't I?

I pushed him away with all my strength and walked off. I didn't look back this time.

Right as I turned the corner, his phone started ringing loudly.

"Are you at the airport already? I'm coming right now. I was busy and missed your text. I'm so sorry."

Silas's voice echoed behind me. The tiny shred of hope I didn't know I was holding onto finally died.

I walked aimlessly through the city. I had no destination; I just wanted to get as far away from him as possible.

Somehow, I ended up at the place where Silas and I had our very first date.

It wasn't exactly a specific spot, more like a starting point for our story.

It was a park near our university. We had met there one evening as the sun was setting.

Back then, I was shy and had zero experience with guys. When I saw him standing there, my face turned bright red.

I still remember the first thing he ever said to me.

"You look so beautiful today."

Later, I suggested we walk around the campus and see the local sights. Our university was famous for being one of the most beautiful in the country.

We wandered aimlessly. We started at the park, crossed the scenic bridge, walked along the beach, and finally headed back into campus.

He walked slowly, often trailing a few steps behind me.

Finally, we reached his dorm. The path was lined with maple trees, and the ground was covered in golden fallen leaves.

I gathered every ounce of courage I had. My heart was pounding in my chest as I spoke.

"Maybe... could we take things a step further?"

"What do you mean by a step further, Taya?"

My face burned. I didn't even have the courage to look him in the eye anymore.

"I mean... will you be my boyfriend?" I whispered, using up the last bit of my bravery.

I finally looked up at his handsome face. He was flushed from the walk and looked so soft. I desperately wanted to reach out and touch him.

"Oh, so that's what you meant..." He paused, making my heart stop.

"Sure, I'd like that. But this is my first time dating, so you'll have to be patient with me." Silas smiled.

I beamed back at him. I was so excited I almost wanted to jump for joy.

That wasn't the first time we'd met, but it was the day I etched every detail of him into my memory.

Now, I decided I needed a long break. I needed to clear my head and figure out how to live my life moving forward.

It was the second night after the breakup. Silas's social media feed updated with a new post.

It was a photo of him and another woman. There were palm trees in the background. Based on my knowledge of the city, they were at the beach.

The caption read: "Loving the joy of a reunion."

The real queen was back. My role as the stand-in was officially over.

I packed my bags and prepared to leave the city. I wanted to travel and forget everything for a while.

As I opened my door, I found Silas standing in the hallway.

"Taya, where are you going?" He looked genuinely panicked.

"I don't think I need to report my whereabouts to you anymore. I'm free to go wherever I want." I used a cold tone I'd never used with him before.

Silas's face turned pale. He looked physically uncomfortable with my new, distant attitude.

"Taya, don't go. We're supposed to get married..." His voice trailed off until it was barely a whisper.

"I'm just glad I found out before the wedding. It's better to cut my losses now."

"Taya, I'm begging you. Don't leave. We're getting married!" He grabbed my suitcase handle, his voice full of desperation.

"Taya, what am I supposed to do if you leave?"

"You have your Winnie. She's the joy of your reunion, remember?" My words seemed to hit him like a physical blow.

His grip on my suitcase loosened. He looked completely dazed, as if he had lost his ability to function.

I rarely saw him like this. In my memory, he was someone who never showed weakness or negative emotions.

Back in college, he was always the golden boy. Whether it was student government, competitions, or classes, he was always the best.

Even after we entered the workforce, he was a pro at controlling his feelings. He handled every career setback with total composure.

It seemed like nothing could rattle him. Everything was always under his control.

Seeing him look so pathetic and lost was a new experience for me. Part of me wondered if he really did care about me.

A small pang of regret hit me. I almost wanted to say something to comfort him.

But then, the memory of his chat with Winnie flashed through my mind again.

I decided against it. I turned and headed for the stairs.

When I reached the lobby, I ran into another uninvited guest. I had hoped I would never have to deal with her.

She was the woman who had caused the greatest upheaval in my life.

Winnie Beck.

My first impression of her was that she was bold and stunning. She wore a tight red dress, and her long curls cascaded over her shoulders.

With a face like that, I doubted any man could ever say no to her.

She stepped forward and greeted me with a fake smile.

"So, you're Taya? What's going on? Having a little tantrum and running away from home?"

Her words were sharp and mocking, but I felt nothing. I was done with Silas, and I was definitely done with her.

I tried to sidestep her, but she moved to block my path.

"Get out of my way," I said coldly.

"Silas, is this the fiance you were talking about? She's got quite a mouth on her." She didn't even look at me. She looked past me at Silas, who was coming down the stairs.

Fiance? Did Silas even see me that way anymore? From the moment he went to find her, that fiance was dead.

I turned back to Silas. He was standing a few steps above us.

"Silas, come and get your dog. She's blocking the exit," I said, my anger finally bubbling over.

Out of nowhere, this Winnie person shows up, blocks my path, and starts insulting me.

Anyone would lose their temper in this situation.

I looked at Silas's troubled face and then glanced back at my apartment door. At least I had locked up properly.

I remembered when Silas and I first moved into this place.

It was right after graduation. We were both struggling to find jobs and a place to live.

Everything was either too far or too expensive. There were no perfect options.

We spent days scouring websites and visiting every real estate agency in town. Those days were a blur of stress.

We were juggling job interviews, house hunting, and the pressure of bills. It was suffocating.

One day, on the way back to campus after a failed viewing, I passed this building.

I saw a "For Rent" sign posted by a private landlord. I called the number, not expecting much.

The process was surprisingly smooth. I got a great place for a price we could actually afford. I thought it was a miracle.

The landlord was moving abroad and wanted someone to take care of the place quickly.

Silas and I moved in immediately and started our lives as young professionals.

My shift started earlier than his. I would wake up every morning to make him breakfast before heading out.

Every night, I'd wait for him to finish work. We'd buy groceries on the way home, and I'd cook dinner.

Our days were repetitive, but I tried to make every meal different for him. He always said he hated eating the same thing twice.

One thing I never understood was why he chose to rent with me when he was a local. Why not live at home?

I found out the answer soon enough. After about a year, he couldn't keep the secret from his parents anymore.

He had told them he was living alone to experience the "struggling artist" lifestyle.

One day, they tracked him down and found out he was living with me. That was when I learned the truth.

His family owned one of the biggest tech firms in the region. They were worth hundreds of millions.

His parents forced him to move back into their mansion. I stayed in the rental alone, continuing my grind.

They didn't forbid our relationship, but they had a condition. I had to build my own career. I couldn't just be an employee.

Fortunately, my big break came. A project I led at the company was a massive success, and I was promoted rapidly.

After a year in a senior role, I took my savings and my professional network and started my own firm.

It was brutal at first. I made mistakes and lost money. But after six months, things leveled off.

Finally, I had the confidence to talk to his parents about marriage.

We planned the wedding details and set a date. Looking back at everything I'd done since graduation, it felt worth it.

I felt like I'd won the lottery. I was about to have the life I always dreamed of.

And then, Winnie came back. I realized I was just a cheap imitation of the real thing.

In an instant, my self-esteem hit rock bottom. The blow was unlike anything I'd ever felt.

I realized there was no place for me in this city. I was just a girl from a small town. I was destined to go back there.

Back to my parents, a stable job, and maybe a husband who actually valued me.

That was probably the life I was meant for anyway. I was just a placeholder.

Before the original returned, I was useful. Once she was back, I was just a clown to be discarded.

During the hardest days of starting my business, the thought of marrying Silas kept me going.

Now, that thought had been brutally severed by Silas himself.

I looked back at Silas and then at Winnie.

"What a stunning couple. You two truly deserve each other. I hope you have a long and miserable life together." I said sarcastically.

"Taya, calm down. There's nothing going on between me and Winnie. She's just like a sister to me. Stop being so dramatic." Silas's tone was starting to sound annoyed.

So, my pain was just a "drama" to him?

He really was a spoiled rich kid. He never had any empathy. He didn't know how to put himself in someone else's shoes.

Arrogance and entitlement were his true nature. I had just been blinded by love for too long to see it.

"Silas, just ignore her. Let her throw her little fit. She'll come crawling back in a few days once she realizes she has nowhere else to go." Winnie added fuel to the fire.

I ignored her. I shouldered my bag, grabbed my suitcase, and walked past them.

"Silas, is this really the woman you wanted to marry? She's so unrefined."

Winnie's voice continued to mock me from behind. But it didn't matter anymore.

I turned one last time and looked at Silas.

"I hope we never see each other again."