Chapter 1
When mom was dying, her last wish was to see me married.
I begged my boyfriend Jake Morrison for 27 days before he finally agreed to go get our marriage certificate.
I waited at County Clerk Office until closing time. He never showed.
That same day, Jake’s childhood sweetheart Riley Sterling posted their marriage certificate on social media:
[Time flies–three more days and we’ll be married a whole month.]
That’s when I realized: the very first day I started begging Jake, he’d already married his little princess.
I received Jake’s apology text shortly after:
[Chloe, Riley’s family was forcing her into marriage. I couldn’t watch her marry some random guy and ruin her life.]
[Just three more days and we’ll be divorced.]
[I’ll marry you right after.]
Three days later, when Jake showed up at County Clerk Office in his wedding suit, he only received my message:
[Jake, goodbye FOREVER.]
In the morgue, I stared down at Mom’s face, tears streaming down my cheeks like a damn waterfall.
Mom raised me all by herself, never asked me for a single thing in return..
And I couldn’t even make her last wish come true.
When the doctors told me Mom was dying, I begged my boyfriend of six years, Jake, to marry me. I just wanted Mom to know that when she was gone, someone would be there for me.
I begged him for twenty–seven straight days.
But Jake kept making excuses.
Day one: “Babe, Riley’s car broke down. Gotta go pick her up.”
Day two: “Sorry, helping Riley move today. Rain check?”
19:21
27 Days of Begging Only to Find Ove He Was Alreasty Married?
Day twenty–six: “Riley’s stomach thing is acting up again. She really needs me right now.”
If Riley hadn’t posted that marriage certificate on Instagram today, I’d still be completely clueless.
I’d made up a million excuses for Jake in my head, but somehow “he’s already married” never made the list.
I knelt beside Mom’s hospital bed until evening, when Jake finally called.
His voice was as sweet as ever: “Hey gorgeous, it’s getting late. Why aren’t you home yet? Tell me where you are and
I’ll come get you.”
I opened my mouth but couldn’t get a word out.
Before, I would’ve played up the drama, made him work to win me over, then waited all giddy for him to show up.
But now? I couldn’t bring myself to say a single flirty thing to him.
Jake’s voice got a little worried: “Chloe, where are you right now?”
“The hospital.”
Jake went quiet, like it just hit him that I’d been taking care of Mom this whole time.
“I… just wait for me, okay? I’m coming to the hospital.”
After he hung up, I forced myself to get up and start handling Mom’s funeral arrangements, fighting back the grief.
But ten minutes later, he texted me:
[Chloe, I have to go with Riley to meet her parents tonight. I promise I’ll come see your mom next time!]
I wasn’t even surprised.
Because for the past two years, the phrase I’d heard most from him was: “Next time, I promise.”
Missed our anniversary? “I’ll make it up to you next time, I swear.”
Bailed on meeting Mom? “Next time for sure.”
Wouldn’t get married? “Tomorrow I’ll definitely be free.”
He knew I’d always forgive him, so he just kept hurting me without giving a damn.
But this time, there wouldn’t be a next time.
Because Mom would never get another chance.
19:21
27 Days of Ressing Only to Find Out He Was Already Married
Chapter
And I was done forgiving him.
19:21
