Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72586 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72586 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
"No, but—"
"It doesn’t go well. Sometimes, they simply won’t hear it. Other times, they confront their partner and end up giving in to their excuses and promises that it won’t happen again. They’ve changed. The wedding is already planned, and won’t they think of the embarrassment of canceling now. People believe in the lie of the perfect day fixing all their problems, as if a memory and some legal papers are going to change who their partner is. And the power of not wanting to go against the grain or embarrass themselves by admitting the engagement was a mistake is a powerful thing. Trust me. I’ve seen the kinds of shit people will put up just to avoid going down that road.
“But exposing the truth in front of everybody? That actually works. Something about seeing the horror on other people’s faces has a way of driving the truth home. It’s not love. It’s not meant to be. It’s just over. And if I wreck the wedding, then it should be over. I make sure of that.”
"So you just decided to become judge and executioner of other people's relationships? You get to decide if the problems between them are fatal or not?"
"The wedding in Ireland was already ruined, just like the rest of them," I said, sharper than I intended. "The moment he decided to cheat, it was over. I only made sure everyone saw the truth before legal documents got signed."
"There had to be a better way."
"Like what? Should I do the thing I know doesn’t work and try to tell them before the wedding? Or should I just stay out of it and let the wedding happen? No,” I said firmly. “I don’t want people to go through that kind of hurt. Promising to love someone forever… putting yourself out on a limb like that and placing all your trust in someone… saying the vows? You do all that only to find out they betrayed you, and how the hell are you ever supposed to trust someone again?"
She was quiet for a moment. "You sound like you're speaking from experience."
Smart woman. Too smart for her own good, maybe.
"My ex wife," I said finally. "She was sleeping with my brother. And three other guys. Probably more I never found out about."
Emma's sharp intake of breath was the only sound for a long moment.
"People knew," I continued. "They all knew. I think some of them even tried to tell me in their own ways, but I wasn’t hearing it. The truth didn’t stick for me until I was confronted with it at my own wedding. Only I found out after we said our vows, so I was dumb enough to try to stick with her to make it work. I was dumb enough to think the fact that we’d sealed the deal changed anything. I believed her promises to change, right up until I found out she was still cheating a few months later."
"James… I’m sorry. Nobody should have to experience that."
"Exactly,” I said, voice charged with meaning. “Maybe my methods are debatable. Maybe you still disagree. But I can promise you this much—I’m genuinely trying to help people. I don’t want anyone to feel what I felt, and that’s what gets me out of bed every morning. Well, assuming a beautiful woman isn’t dry humping me in her sleep and moaning my name already, that is.”
Emma glared, but her expression softened as she turned to face me. “I think your methods hurt people. Not just the cheaters. A wedding is a celebration. Relatives, friends, and co-workers fly in from all over to support the bride and groom. You’re not just sabotaging the bride and groom—you’re planting a seed of cynicism in everybody who attends.”
“Good,” I said. “People shouldn’t be so blind about love and marriage. They should know what they’re getting into.”
“You’re so caught up in how bad it hurt you that you’re the one who is blind.”
“Am I?” I asked, voice edged with anger. “Because I feel like I’m seeing pretty fucking clearly.”
“I think there has to be a better way. A way that doesn’t leave so much destruction in your wake.”
“Destruction of things like your career?” I asked, forcing the anger out of my voice.
"That too." Her voice shook slightly. "The wedding in Ireland was supposed to be my breakthrough job. It was my chance to prove I could handle a high profile, high budget wedding and knock it out of the park. Instead, it became the reason no one would trust me with anything bigger than a backyard ceremony."
"I'm sorry about that. I really am. But I'm not sorry I exposed him."
"And what about now?" She pushed up on one elbow, moonlight catching the curve of her hip and the swell of her breast beneath a thin shirt. "Is that what you're doing here? You’re only keeping my sister’s best interests in mind?"