He Wanted My Bestie Reborn Me Said YES—So Why Regret Chapter 04
When I got home, Ethan was already there.
He frowned at the papers in my hand. “What’s that?”
I wanted to confront him about the deed.
But when I opened my mouth, my voice came out raw and broken.
He poured me water, his expression softening. “I know you’re feeling insecure. But I promised I’d marry you, and I will.”
“I’ve talked to my parents. We’ll move the wedding up, so you don’t have to worry so long.”
He handed me the glass, a hint of excitement in his voice. “I’ll give you the most beautiful wedding.”
I found it absurd.
Over the next few days, he ran himself ragged.
“This color doesn’t match the dress.”
“The limo can’t be anything less—this is my only wedding.”
I, on the other hand, felt nothing.
Occasionally he’d glance at me with a puzzled look, but he didn’t want to stir up trouble, so he never asked.
It wasn’t until the wedding day that I saw the full picture.
He came up behind me, proud. “So? Breathtaking, right?”
But as I took in every detail—the floral arrangements, the string lights, the altar setup—my eyes stung.
This was the wedding Jessica had designed for us when Ethan and I first got together.
She’d said she’d create the most romantic venue for me and be my maid of honor.
I felt tears prick my eyes.
Yes—we’d been best friends once.
How did it come to this?
“Where’s Jessica?”
“Backstage. I’ll call her.”
The call went to voicemail.
Ethan reassured me, “It’s fine. We still have time.”
But half an hour before the ceremony, she still hadn’t appeared.
He adjusted his bow tie seven times, craning his neck toward the door.
On the eighth try, his phone rang.
The room was quiet enough for me to hear.
“Ethan, Jessica went scuba diving, but there’s a storm rolling in!”
His face drained. He looked at me, lips parting.
“I’ll go find her. Wait for me—I’ll be right back.”
Then he bolted.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, expressionless, and finally ran after him.
At the familiar stretch of coast, he and his friends boarded a Coast Guard rescue boat.
I climbed onto another.
No one knew—because in my past life, while he’d spent five years diving for Jessica, I’d also learned to dive and searched that same water.
Right now, I was the only one who knew where the accident would happen.
I didn’t hesitate. I suited up and went under.
Ethan didn’t recognize me. He shouted desperately, “Get her up—I’ll pay anything!”
Deeper and deeper. The light faded.
But the direction in my mind grew clear.
There she was—right where I knew she’d be.
Another minute and she’d have suffered the same fate as before.
I signaled her and pulled her upward.
I broke the surface just as the waves began to swell.
Only Ethan’s boat was still out there, risking everything.
When he saw Jessica, he crushed her against him.
“Are you trying to punish me for marrying Meredith? You know how I feel!”
She shuddered and sobbed into his chest.
I moved to climb aboard, but someone said, “No room. One more person and we’ll capsize.”
Ethan’s face shifted.
He hesitated. Then he pressed my hand down.
“Thank you for saving Jessica. I’ll reward you handsomely later. Please wait for the next Coast Guard boat.”
I could have taken off my mask and hood right then.
But I looked at him for a long moment, and let go of the boat.
He gave me a complicated look.
“Thank you.”
Then the boat sped away.
The water was cold. The waves grew higher.
I didn’t know when the next boat would come.
But that was fine.
This time, I wouldn’t have to carry a punishment that was never mine.
Ethan rushed Jessica to the hospital, then raced back to the B&B, knowing Meredith was still waiting.
But as he entered, he ran into his parents.
“Didn’t Meredith come back with you? She went out to help with the rescue too.”
He stopped cold. He called the rescue team again.
“Did you see my wife? She also went to assist.”
The team replied, “We were just about to call you, sir. Your wife, Meredith Blake, was the diver who brought the woman up.”
“But we haven’t found her since we returned.”
