The Third Wheel Bride Chapter 07
I posted everything online. Engagement photos with Caleb, college graduation shots, pictures of the three of us together. A timeline that told the whole story.
The internet flipped overnight.
Overnight, Emma went from tragic heroine to villain. Her brand deals evaporated, and every collaboration she had got canceled.
Caleb took a hit too. His Family sidelined him over the public heat and stripped him of his seat at the
table.
From what I heard, neither of them was doing well.
But that wasn’t my problem anymore.
Work in Boston went well. The project landed, and the company promoted me.
I picked up hobbies and made friends. Slowly, my life began to fill with things that belonged only to
The past still crossed my mind sometimes, but it didn’t hurt anymore. It was just something that had happened to someone I used to be.
Maybe they were right about time healing everything.
Six months later, Emma’s mother called.
“Brianna, I’m begging you.” Ava Miller’s voice was thick with tears.
“Just let this go. She’s suffered enough.”
“I’ve never gone after her, Ava.” The words came out gentle. “She brought this on herself.”
“But she can’t find work. People recognize her everywhere she goes. She still has her whole life ahead of her!”
She was sobbing now. “I looked after you when you were little, Brianna. You were like my own daughter.”
“Please. Help her.”
I didn’t say anything for a long time.
She wasn’t wrong. Ava had been good to me when I was a kid.
My parents worked long hours and dropped me at the Millers’ more often than not. Ava always cooked for me, bought me clothes, and treated me like one of her own.
But none of that changed what I had to say.
“Ava, if I were the one being dragged through the mud online right now, would you be making this call for me?”
The line went quiet.
The silence said enough.
“I’m sorry, Ava. I can’t help her.
After I hung up, something hollow settled in my chest. But I didn’t regret it.
Everyone has to live with the choices they make: Emma, Caleb, and me.
At the annual corporate gala, I was named Executive of the year.
I stood at the podium, looking out at a room full of people clapping, and for a second, the whole scene felt unreal. A year ago, I’d been drowning in wedding plans.
Now I was standing here, in a life that was entirely my own.
“Congratulations.” Someone came up beside me.
I turned. It was Julian Sterling, the CFO who’d just transferred to the Boston office.
He offered me a glass of champagne. “Great speech, by the way.”
“Thanks.” I took the glass and touched it to his.
The music started, and he held out his hand. “Dance with me?”
I hesitated, then took it.
We moved slowly across the floor.
“You were at headquarters before this, right?” he asked.
“Yeah. Transferred about six months ago.”
“You like it here?”
“I’m starting to.”
He smiled, and there was something warm in it.
“Boston’s good for that. Starting fresh.”
I nodded but didn’t say anything.
Starting over.
Whatever came before, life kept moving. And so would I.
