My Fiancée Abandoned Me At The Altar, But My Deceased Muse Just Walked In

Before Chloe and I got together, she chased me for three whole years. Her love for me was wild, loud, and known by everyone on campus.

But on our wedding day, she abandoned me at the altar. She kissed another man right in front of all our guests. She told me she only got with me to make him jealous.

What she didn't know was that I only saw her as a substitute for my deceased first love. Today was supposed to be my wedding day with Chloe, but she was acting incredibly off.

The closer we got to walk down the aisle, the more anxious she became. She kept checking her phone, as if waiting for a lifeorchanging call.

When I went to check on her, she was hiding in the dressing room, whispering into her phone. Seeing me walk in, she hung up in a panic.

Her eyes were red and puffy. "Chloe, honey, why are you crying?" I asked softly, wrapping my arms around her.

She had been acting strange for the past few days, often staring into space with tears in her eyes. "It's nothing," she murmured, leaning into my shoulder like she was melting. "I just realized that once we’re married, I won’t be living with my parents anymore.

I’m just going to miss them." Chloe always told me that marrying me was her ultimate dream. In fact, she was the one who proposed. The night I said yes, she hugged me so tight.

Her eyes were like bright stars, and her smile was warm enough to melt the coldest winter. Today was supposed to be the day her dream came true. "Ethan, Chloe, it’s time.

We need you at the altar," the coordinator called out, knocking on the door. "We're coming," I called back. I turned around to take Chloe's hand.

Instead, I was met with a face that was completely pale, drained of all color.

Everyone in our circle knew Chloe fell for me at first sight. She was the cold, untouchable goddess of our university.

She shut down every guy who tried to talk to her, yet the first time she saw me on campus, she froze and couldn't take her eyes off me. After that, the ice queen melted.

She chased me relentlessly for three years. At first, I felt nothing. Sure, she was the dream girl for every engineering major on campus, but to me, she was just a stranger.

So, I rejected her. But she didn't stop. If anything, my rejection only made her more determined. Every morning, she’d wait outside my dorm with hot coffee and breakfast.

During my basketball games, she was always the first to run over with water, stepping on her tiptoes to gently wipe the sweat from my forehead.

She even volunteered to be the emcee for the Freshman Orientation show just so she could declare her love for me in front of the entire student body and faculty.

It was loud, public, and passionate. She made sure everyone knew she wouldn't marry anyone but me. It got to the point where I had to cover my face whenever I went outside.

Everyone knew me as the idiot who dared to reject the campus goddess.

I wasn’t a badlooking guy myself, but in a tech school where girls were scarce, my rejection made me public enemy number one.

There were even rumors going around that I wasn't into girls. Still, Chloe never tired. She chased me for three years. Eventually, her persistence wore me down.

I agreed to be her boyfriend. After less than a year of dating, she gathered all of our friends and proposed to me in a grand, romantic gesture. I said yes.

She hugged me, crying tears of joy, saying she felt like she had won the entire world. That night, she posted on her Instagram: "Marrying the love of my life.

I feel like I just won the ultimate victory." I liked the post. I genuinely believed she loved me with all her heart.

Holding Chloe’s hand, we walked slowly down the aisle toward the altar. She looked stunning in the wedding dress I had personally picked out for her. She looked like an angel.

The white veil fell over her face, partially hiding her distracted expression.

Below the stage, our friends and family clapped, watching what they thought was the perfect couple. "Ethan, do you take Chloe to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, as long as you both shall live?" the priest asked.

I smiled, looking at her. "I do." "And Chloe, do you take Ethan to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, as long as you both shall live?" Chloe went completely silent.

Seconds ticked by. The crowd started to whisper. "Chloe, what's wrong?" I whispered, leaning in. "Chloe, sweetheart, answer him. What are you doing?" Mrs.

Davis called out anxiously from the front row. But Chloe remained frozen.

She was staring intently at the entrance of the chapel, like a statue. "Chloe," I said, gently grabbing her arms. "What’s going on?

We’re in the middle of our wedding." Suddenly, Chloe moved. Her eyes, which had been dull seconds ago, lit up like fireworks. She shoved my hands away and ran down the aisle.

I spun around, utterly confused, and saw Tyler standing at the entrance. He was on the guest list, but we weren't close, so I hadn't minded when he didn't show up early.

Why was he here now? And why was Chloe running to him? "Tyler! You came! I thought I’d lost you!" Chloe sobbed, throwing herself into his arms right at the door.

The chapel erupted into chaos. "Chloe, what the hell are you doing?" I asked, my voice echoing through the speakers.

She turned her head, a tearful but triumphant smile on her face. "Ethan, I can’t marry you. I never loved you.

The only man in my heart is Tyler." She looked up at Tyler. "Are you finally ready to forgive me?" Tyler nodded slowly.

She smiled so sweetly—the exact same smile she gave me when I accepted her proposal. The guests were buzzing.

Some were yelling for Chloe to come back, while others were looking at me with pity and amusement.

I stood there, feeling like a strippedbare clown, left for everyone to mock. "Chloe, you do realize this is our wedding, right?" My voice was dry and quiet.

She shrugged, completely heartless. "I know.

But this wedding was just a tool to get him back." "Ethan, I only got with you to make him jealous." With that, she wrapped her arms around Tyler's neck and kissed him passionately.

Right there. At our wedding. Everyone was stunned. Even her parents, who had been furious a second ago, were speechless.

Once they finished kissing, they turned and walked out of the chapel, holding hands like victorious generals.

They had ruined a wedding, but hey, they got their 'epic love story.' Watching Chloe's retreating back, my fists clenched, then slowly relaxed. What a shame.

I really thought I had found someone who could replace her. But a substitute is just a substitute. My Lily would never have done something so cheap.

I guess no one could ever compare to my gold standard. Oh well. Let her go. I shrugged, turned around, and walked off the stage.

As soon as I got backstage, my parents rushed over. "Ethan, what on earth is happening? Is what Chloe said true?

How could she do this at your wedding?!" My mom grabbed my arm, her eyes filled with tears. She had poured her heart into this wedding.

She had done everything, even personally picking up Chloe’s wedding dress and carrying it like it was made of glass. "Mom," I sighed, putting an arm around her shoulders. "I didn't know she was planning this either." "Go get her back, son!

She can’t have gone far!" My mom was still trying to save the day. Before I could speak, my dad, who had been silent, snapped. "This is a joke!

That Davis girl just humiliated us in front of everyone! She clearly has zero respect for our family. Let her run. This wedding is off!" My mom wiped her eyes and shut her mouth.

I hugged them both. "Let's go, Mom, Dad. Let's go home." Before we could reach our car, Chloe's parents ran out of the chapel, panting. "Ethan! Please, don't leave!" Mr.

Davis called out. "Ethan, we've already sent people to stop her. She'll be back in a minute. Just wait a little longer, okay?" Mrs. Davis looked incredibly guilty and pale.

I shook my head. "Mr. and Mrs. Davis, Chloe loves someone else. We are not getting married." Mr. Davis was furious. "She’s just lost her mind!

When she gets back, we’ll talk some sense into her. Ethan, you two were so good together.

You can't just throw away years of love like this." I gave a polite, tired smile. "The moment Chloe said those words at the altar, whatever we had was gone.

I don't care if she changes her mind later; I am done with her. If she has found her true love, I wish them the best." "Please don't worry. I don't blame her, and I don't blame you.

Our families can still be friendly." Mr. Davis looked even more ashamed.

He wanted to say more, but my dad stepped in and patted his shoulder. "Look, Davis, Ethan made himself clear. Let's not make this harder.

We're going home." Back at my apartment, my mom kept eyeing me cautiously. "Ethan, are you okay? If you're angry, don't bottle it up.

It's not good for you." "I'm really fine, Mom," I smiled. "Love has to go both ways.

Since she was just using me, there’s no point in wasting my tears on her." My mom patted my back, looking relieved. "I'm glad you see it that way.

My boy deserves the absolute best girl in the world." The best girl... My mind drifted off. But the best girl in my world had already passed away.