His Unwanted Fiancée's Regret

month. Thirty more days until Isabelle Rossi became his wife. He smiled, a genuine, happy smile that reached his eyes. They were

't they, Izzy?" Ethan

itations, but out at the city skyline. She was a surgeon, b

zz

y. Her expressio

ice calm, too calm. "We ne

omach. This wasn't her "what

ng," Isabelle stat

e's mentor. "Oh, Izzy, I'm so sorry. That's terrib

ast wish... he wants his son, Leo, to ha

is going to have a kid? What

or unwilling. Dr. Ramsey asked me. He wants me t

. He felt the air leave his lungs. "You?

for the punchline, for her

mained serious,

r voice devoid of warmth. "It's to honor Dr. Ramsey. He's d

etting married in a month! What about us? What about our family,

belle insisted, though her eyes didn't quite

duty to him? What about your duty to me?

ased, the one he'd moved to New York for, the one he loved more than anything, was

r tone cool. "It' s a clinical process. It' s not like I'

ore our wedding, that she's going to be a surrogate for her mentor's son, and I'm being ov

ing – annoyance? discomfort? – crossing h

this, Izzy? You didn't even disc

is whole body shaking. This brilliant, ambitious woman he adored, th

thy he saw, but a kind of detached surprise, as if his breakdow

aid, her voice firm. "My loyal

ed at it. "It's Leo," she said, her attention immediately shi

her back to him. "I hav

She didn't look back. He was secondary. Always chasing, always just a l

rsued her relentlessly, weathering her cool indifference, her occasional biting remarks. He' d thought his devotion had finally won her over. He' d moved to New York City for her, found a good software development

ght for him, for their impending marriage, was not just a betrayal. It was a

ive wedding invitation slipping from his numb fingers. He f

r her, molded himself into the kind of man he thought a brilliant NYC surgeon would want. He' d become quieter, more accommodating, always

No. He wouldn't accept this. He wouldn't be t

e screen. He opened Facebook, quickly typed a post

a new bride. Any takers?

A part of him knew it was crazy, but

it buzzed again, a call. Unknown number, but a Rochester

ount get hacked by a comedian?" The voice was fema

imes rival from high school in Rochester. He hadn't spoken to her in years, though he' d seen her skeptical

"So, about that post. You seri

he idea would have been insane. Now? "Half-seri

at playful, competitive edge. "If you're serious about needing a new bride, and you're not

loe Davis? Offering to marry him?

g, right?" he

ldn't quite place. "Look, Ethan, you sound like you're at the end of

betrayal. He thought of a life spent cha

siveness hardening his voice. "If

?" Chloe sounde

y condition is I need a little time. I hav

But Ethan? Don't mess me around. If you say you're doing this, I'm t

nd," Ethan said. He was confused by her simple, profound condition. Isabe

when it's done. Or if you j

nse of calm settling over him. A clear path fo

to his contacts, found Chloe's number he' d jus

w to himself, and to the woman who' d just offered him an escape. He felt a grim satisfaction, a sense of poetic justic