I Lost the Memory of the Man I Love after an Accident - Chapter 9

He thought maybe, just maybe, she’d still be his if he tried, if he left Katarina if he said the right words.

But now, standing in the cold, watching her kiss another man with that same softness she once gave him, he knew.

The sun rose warm and golden over the hills, casting a soft glow across two neighboring wedding venues.

It was a perfect day.

Clear skies, blooming flowers, and a breeze that whispered through the trees like a promise.

Ironically, it was the same day for both women.

Rehe stood before the mirror in her bridal suite.

Holly’s gown hugged her figure perfectly, her hair falling in elegant waves over one shoulder.

A subtle smile tugged at her lips as Alice fussed with her veil.

“You look like a dream,” Alice whispered.

“Vincent’s going to cry the second he sees you.” “I might cry before him,” Ree said with a laugh.

In the next room, Vincent adjusted his cufflings.

His smile was wide, his eyes sparkling.

“She’s really going to be my wife,” he said to his best man.

“After everything, we made it.

They were ready.” Meanwhile, not too far away, Katarina was also in white.

Her gown was extravagant, lace upon lace with a veil that trailed like a royal train.

Stylists buzzed around her, curling her hair, fixing her earrings, touching up her makeup.

She smiled at her reflection and gently rested her hand on her slightly swollen belly.

She’ll be beautiful, she murmured.

Just like me, and today we’ll finally be a family.

The only thing missing was Dylan.

He wasn’t answering her texts.

He hadn’t sent a morning message.

He hadn’t even confirmed with the coordinator.

“Has anyone seen Dylan?” she asked the room, trying to keep her tone calm.

They all shook their heads.

“He’s probably on his way,” her maid of honor said.

You know how grooms get jittery late.

Katarina forced a smile, but something inside her twisted.

She shook it off.

Today is my day.

At Reese’s venue, the soft hum of violins began to rise.

The crowd settled and stood as she emerged at the top of the aisle, trembling slightly in her gown.

There at the other end, stood Vincent.

His eyes were glassy.

His hands clasped tightly as if to keep from running to her.

Reese took a step forward, heart pounding.

This is the moment I waited for, she thought.

Each step brought her closer to the life she had chosen and further away from the one she left behind.

Meanwhile, Katarina’s guests had already been seated.

The efficient stood in place.

The music played, but Dylan was still nowhere to be seen.

The coordinator whispered nervously into her earpiece.

Her mother paced.

Her father looked visibly uncomfortable.

The whispers had started.

Katarina stood alone behind the curtain, staring at the empty arch where she and Dylan were supposed to meet.

She checked her phone again.

No calls, no messages.

She called him again, then again.

Voicemail.

The wedding planner leaned in.

“Katarina, should we delay a bit?” “No,” she said, voice tight.

“He’s just late.” 10 minutes passed, then 20.

The guests began shifting in their seats.

Some stood, some began walking out.

Her mother’s face turned pale.

Her bridesmaids no longer knew where to look.

“He’s not coming,” one of them whispered.

Katarina’s hands trembled.

And in that moment, humiliation, heartbreak, and fury collided inside her.

There was no doubt in her mind who to blame.

Reys.

It had to be her.

That [ __ ] that snake.

She ruined everything.

Dylan had always been hers.

Even when he looked tired, even when he was distant, he still chose her.

But now gone, vanished.

On their wedding day, Katarina’s mind splintered.

It was the final straw.

A server nearby whispered, “Isn’t there another wedding close by? That was it.” Katarina stormed past the whispers, past the guests who no longer met her gaze, past the altar where she was meant to become someone’s wife.

And somewhere along the way, before anyone noticed, she grabbed a knife from the banquet table.

At Reese’s venue, she had just finished her vows.

Vincent held her hands, tears in his eyes, trembling with happiness.

“I promise to never let our love grow dull.

I promise to always choose you,” she said.

The efficient smiled by the power vested in me.

Then chaos, screaming, gasps, running.

She turned, confusion on her face.

Then a blur of white, a flash of silver.

Pain.

Searing immediate pain.

Katarina tackled her to the ground, knife in hand, screaming from the pits of rage.

You [ __ ] [ __ ] Blood spattered across Reese’s dress.

Her bouquet fell to the floor.

Vincent shouted, trying to pull Katarina off her.

Guests screamed.

Some ran.

Others froze in horror.

You ruined everything.

You took him.

Dylan sat in the backseat of his car, engine off just a few blocks from the venue.

His suit was pressed, his binier still pinned neatly to his lapel, but he hadn’t taken a single step toward Katarina’s ceremony.

Instead, he stared blankly at the dashboard.

A bottle of whiskey, already half empty, sat beside him.

He should have been there.

He should have been with Katarina.

She was the one he chose years ago.

As for Ree, she had always been the little sister’s best friend.

the wideeyed girl with dreams bigger than her arms could carry.

And he was supposed to know better.

But it was easier to run, easier to choose Katarina, the glamorous option, the safe one, no history, no judgment, no scandal.

So he did.

He ran from Ree and towards something that made more sense on paper.

Katarina was perfect, or at least she was supposed to be.

Now on their wedding day, the perfect picture had crumbled.

His hands shook as he poured another drink, ignoring the stream of texts lighting up his phone.

“Where are you, Dylan? It’s time.

People are waiting.

Dylan, answer me.” He shut his eyes, and all he could see was Ree, laughing, smiling, leaning her head on his shoulder when she thought he wasn’t looking.

He remembered how she cried when he told her it was over.

“Just tell me the truth,” she had begged.

But he couldn’t because the truth was he was a coward.

Now she was marrying Vincent, and Dylan was just a drunk, broken man in a parked car near the life he threw away.

Eventually, he stumbled out, just to see her, just to get a glimpse.

He stood across the hedge, hidden in the shadow of a tree, watching as Ree walked down the aisle in white.

She was radiant.

Her eyes never left Vincent.

She was glowing from the inside out.

And for the first time in a long time, Dylan felt something inside him break.

It could have been me.

He turned away, unable to watch the kiss.

But then a flash sprinting across the garden.

It was Katarina.

He blinked, confused.

Then his heart dropped.

There was something in her hand.

A knife.

Everything blurred.

People shouted.

The chaos erupted.

A scream tore through the air.

“No, no!” Dylan screamed, throwing the bottle aside and sprinting across the lawn.

He shoved past people trying to stop him.

All he saw was Katarina, wildeyed, hair disheveled, hands bloody, screaming.

You [ __ ] [ __ ] You did this.

Katarina, stop.

Dylan grabbed her arm, yanking her back.

But it was too late.

Blood already pulled beneath Ree.

Security tackled Katarina to the ground.

Her screams echoed.

And Dylan, he only ran, not away, to her, to Ree.

She lay there, chest rising and falling rapidly, hands pressed to her side, her once white dress stained crimson.

Ree, he breathed, kneeling beside her.

Ree, I’m here.

I Oh, God.

I’m so sorry.