Too Late For Regret: He Postponed Our Wedding, So I Married His Better

**Tags:** Biased Boyfriend, Brother’s Widow, Female Lead Awakening, Secret Marriage, The Regretful Ex When Ethan’s older brother died in a tragic car accident, his widowed sister-in-law mistook Ethan for her late husband due to severe trauma. To keep from triggering her, Ethan postponed our wedding. And then, he started playing the role of another woman's husband. For two long years, whenever Scarlett had an episode, Ethan dropped everything to be at her side. Until tonight, at Scarlett’s birthday party, when the crowd started chanting for them to kiss. Ethan cradled Scarlett’s face in his hands and pressed his lips against hers with absolute devotion. Beside me, someone whispered that Scarlett had always been the one who got away—the girl Ethan loved but could never have. Pretending to be his brother was just his convenient excuse to finally hold her. My heart stung, but a wave of relief washed over me right after. It wouldn't matter much longer. Next week, I was getting married. The cheers and catcalls grew louder around us. "What the hell is wrong with these people? They're taking this fake act way too far!" My best friend Chloe hissed, her eyes rimmed with angry tears. I didn’t say a word. Because Ethan was already wrapping his arm around Scarlett’s waist, smiling as he leaned down and kissed her. My own boyfriend was celebrating another woman's birthday and kissing her in public, yet I couldn't even make a scene. Behind me, someone murmured, "Ethan finally got what he wanted, didn't he? He couldn't marry Scarlett back then, but staying by her side like this... talk about true devotion." My chest tightened painfully. I knew Ethan had a girl he couldn't forget before he met me. I just never imagined that girl was Scarlett—his own sister-in-law. And I had been kept completely in the dark the entire time. Chloe heard it too, and she was practically shaking with rage. "That piece of trash! Ethan has been lying to your face this whole time!" Two years ago, on a rainy afternoon, Julian—Ethan’s older brother—drove to the airport to pick Ethan up. A semi truck lost control on the highway. Scarlett was in the car. She lost her unborn baby and barely survived, but she developed severe PTSD and began confusing Ethan with her dead husband. We were supposed to get married that very year. Ethan told me her mental state was too fragile, that seeing us get married would break her completely. I said, *Okay.* Later, Scarlett fully convinced herself Ethan was Julian. With anguish in his eyes, Ethan begged me, asking me to just let him humor her for a little while. Again, I said, *Okay.* So Ethan adopted his brother’s tone, his habits, playing the role of the perfect husband trapped in Scarlett’s fragmented memory. He played that role for two years. And our wedding was put on hold for two years. "No, screw this. I'm going over there to ask him if he even remembers who his real girlfriend is!" I grabbed Chloe’s arm. "Let it go. She's sick. Don't trigger her." Chloe’s eyes welled with furious tears. "Just because she's sick, you have to be the one suffering every single time?" "What other choice do I have?" I took a sip of my wine, the bitter taste spreading across my tongue. What else could I do? Ethan was reveling in this charade. Hiding behind the noble excuse of caring for his late brother's widow, he got to be with Scarlett in plain sight. Suddenly, I recalled the pitying looks his friends had given me over the past two years. I thought they felt bad because I had to be patient. Now I realized they were pitying the foolish girlfriend who stood no chance against his untouchable first love. Chloe squeezed my hand, asking in a hushed voice, "He obviously still has feelings for her. Are you two even going to make it down the aisle?" I looked toward Ethan. Not once tonight had his gaze drifted toward me. "I'm not waiting anymore," I said softly. "I'm getting married this month."When the party ended, Scarlett's parents came to take her home. Ethan walked over. Seeing me standing in the chilly draft by the doorway, he frowned. "Why are you out here? You're going to catch a cold." He reached out to touch my cheek. I tilted my head and pulled away. Ethan’s hand froze mid-air. After a second, he chuckled softly. "Are you mad? You saw how it was in there. With so many people around, I couldn't risk triggering her." "I'll deal with the guys who started that chant later. Don't take it to heart." "Why did you never tell me that Scarlett was the one you loved before me?" I asked quietly. Ethan froze. He clearly hadn't expected me to know. "Scarlett is just my sister-in-law now. Don't overthink it." "She's been looking forward to this birthday for so long," he continued, his tone turning slightly defensive. "Julian isn't here, and her mind isn't clear. I was just granting her wish on my brother's behalf. Don't be so petty." As he spoke, he patted my head, the way someone would placate a moody pet. He assumed that a simple apology and a bit of coaxing would make me back down and swallow my pride, just like every other time. I had heard those exact excuses too many times. It made my stomach churn. I looked up into his eyes. "Does taking care of her include kissing her on the mouth? What's next? Sleeping with her on your brother's behalf? Giving her another baby to replace the one she lost?" Ethan’s face instantly darkened. "Nora, shut your mouth! Scarlett has suffered enough! Can't you show a little grace?" "You're not like her. You still have me. She has nothing left!" His words felt like an icy needle stabbing straight into a spot in my heart that had already gone numb. Perhaps my expression was too pale, because Ethan seemed to realize he had crossed the line. His voice softened. "I know these past two years haven't been easy on you. But Scarlett is getting better. The doctor says her condition will stabilize soon with more therapy." "When that happens, we'll have our wedding." He stared into my eyes with familiar gentleness. In the past, whenever he looked at me like that, my heart would soften. I would compromise and tell him, *Okay, I'll wait for you.* Tonight, though, there wasn't a shred of hope left in me. Just as I opened my mouth to speak, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and answered almost instantly. "Scarlett? What's wrong?" A panicked voice came from the other end. I couldn't hear clearly, but Scarlett's sobbing was unmistakable. "Okay, okay, don't be scared. I'm coming right now." He hung up, his expression tense. "Scarlett is having another breakdown. Her parents can't handle her. I have to go." Without waiting for my answer, he spun around and left. His engine roared to life, headlights sweeping over me before disappearing into the black night. I stood on the sidewalk as the wind blew past, chilling me to the bone. My phone buzzed in my pocket. It was a text from my mom: [Sweetheart, stop wasting your life on Ethan. If a man makes excuses not to marry you, he just doesn't love you enough.] I stared at the screen for a long time. Then, my fingers slowly typed out: [I know, Mom.]It was nearly one in the morning when I got home. After washing up, my phone started blowing up with notifications. Chloe had sent a string of texts, every single one loaded with exclamation marks. [Did you see her Instagram?!] [Scarlett just posted pictures with Ethan!] [I swear he's using her 'illness' to live out his fantasy with her!] I opened Instagram. Scarlett had posted a carousel of nine photos from her party. The center photo was of her and Ethan, taken inside her family's living room. Ethan was holding her in his arms, the tenderness in his eyes practically spilling through the screen. Her caption read: [Thank you, hubby, for being there for every single one of my birthdays.] The comment section was filled with replies calling them "couple goals" and "pure love." Everyone was playing along with this grand performance. And I was the invisible bystander everyone chose to ignore. What hurt the most was the way Ethan looked at Scarlett in that photo. I knew that look all too well. Five years ago, when he was chasing me, he used to look at me the exact same way. Intense. Gentle. As if the entire world ceased to exist except for her. I stared at the screen, zooming in on his face. His eyes were filled with Scarlett's reflection. There wasn't room for another soul in his gaze. A dazed thought crossed my mind: Did he ever truly love me? Chloe texted again: [Are you okay?] I typed a few words, deleted them, and typed again. Finally, I just sent: [I'm fine.] The next day, Ethan came back to our apartment. "Scarlett found some old photos of Julian yesterday and spiraled," he explained. "Her emotions are completely volatile right now. Her doctor said this week is critical, and she can't be exposed to any more stress." He paused, watching me carefully. "I'm going to stay at her place for the next week. Just until she stabilizes, then I'll come back." He stood there, waiting for my reaction. In the past, I would have cried, felt hurt, and asked, *What about me?* Today, I merely nodded. "Okay." Ethan visibly relaxed, letting out a relieved breath as he reached over to wrap an arm around my shoulder. "I knew you'd understand, Nora. You're always so sensible." I looked at him, feeling as though broken glass was lodged in my throat. "Ethan." "Let's break up." His arm froze around my shoulders. He let out an exasperated sigh. "Throwing another tantrum? Look, I know last night was hard on you. Go buy whatever you want today. Use my card. Consider it my way of making it up to you, alright?" He looked down at me, his eyes filled with impatience and lazy dismissiveness. He used to care when I was hurt. He used to panic and hold me. Now, all he did was toss compensation at me, like throwing candy at a whining child. "I want us to get our marriage license on my birthday," I said evenly. "And have the wedding." The faint smile on Ethan’s face vanished. "Nora, you know damn well I can't marry you right now. Just because of one stupid kiss last night, you're going to push me like this?" His words hit me like heavy stones, and I braced myself for the pain. To my surprise, I felt nothing. "I'm staying at Scarlett's for the next few days," Ethan said, turning toward the door. "Take some time to cool off." With that, he walked out without looking back.Two days later, I received a call from the bridal boutique. "Miss Bennett, your custom gown has reached the end of its complimentary storage period. Please drop by this week to pick it up." I had almost forgotten about it. We had chosen that wedding dress two years ago. Ethan had gone with me. Back then, he sat on the plush sofa in the showroom, watching me try on dress after dress. When the stylist complimented how stunning I looked, he smiled and nodded, saying, *This is the one.* I truly believed I would be walking down the aisle in it shortly after. Looking back now, that was probably the last time he ever showed any genuine excitement about marrying me. I took a cab to the boutique. The stylist recognized me immediately, warmly bringing out the garment bag. "Miss Bennett, would you like to try it on one last time? If there are any slight changes in your measurements, we can do quick alterations." I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. The velvet curtain pulled back, and I stood before the full-length mirror. Two years ago, when I wore this, my eyes had shone with hope. Now, looking at my reflection in the white satin, it felt completely foreign. Just as I was about to change out of it, the front doors chime rang. In walked Scarlett, browsing for an evening gown—with Ethan by her side. When Ethan saw me standing there in the white veil, his eyes darkened instantly. Scarlett didn't notice the tension. She looked at me with an appreciative smile. "Why are you here trying on wedding dresses all alone? Didn't Ethan come with you?" I instinctively glanced at Ethan. My boyfriend was busy escorting his widowed sister-in-law. How could he possibly have time for me? Ethan looked at me with open wariness, terrified I would expose his secret. In his eyes, I was always the volatile problem that needed to be kept in check, while Scarlett was the delicate flower that needed protecting at all costs. "He was busy," I said calmly. "He couldn't make it." Scarlett gave a soft laugh. "Next time I see him, I'll definitely scold him for you. What kind of man leaves his fiancée to try on wedding gowns by herself?" Then she added, "Have you two set a date yet?" "Yes," I replied, looking directly at Ethan. "On my birthday." The moment the words left my lips, Ethan’s face turned ghastly pale. A moment later, a stylist called Scarlett over to look at some fabric swatches. The second she turned her back, Ethan grabbed my wrist and dragged me into an empty corner. "Nora, what the hell are you playing at? Are you doing this on purpose? You knew Scarlett was coming here today, so you wore a wedding dress to parade in front of her?!" "I didn't know she was coming." "Do you honestly expect me to believe that? Are you really that desperate?!" His voice was a harsh, furious whisper. "I told you I'd marry you eventually! Why do you keep pulling these petty stunts? If you trigger her relapse, can you take responsibility for her life?!" Listening to his accusations, the deep-seated distrust radiating from him finally snapped the last thread of my patience. "Ethan, I've already accommodated her more than enough! I handed my own boyfriend over to her! What more do you want from me?!" Right as the words left my mouth, a soft gasp came from behind us. Scarlett stood just a few feet away, her face drained of all color, staring between Ethan and me in horror. "What... what does that mean? You're... you're not Julian? Who are you?! Julian is dead, isn't he?! Julian died!" It was as if reality crashed through her delusion all at once. She clutched her head, screaming hysterically. Ethan’s face went entirely wild. In a blind panic, he shoved me violently out of the way. Caught completely off guard, I lost my balance and crashed hard against the glass display stand. "Are you happy now, Nora?!" Ethan scooped Scarlett into his arms and glared back at me, his eyes burning with pure disgust. "You knew she couldn't handle any shock, yet you deliberately said that! How can you be so vicious?!" I sat frozen on the cold marble floor, my head ringing. It wasn't until the boutique staff rushed over, screaming in horror, that I realized what had happened. A jagged shard of shattered glass had sliced deep into my forearm. Dark, crimson blood was pouring out, staining the pristine white wedding gown beneath me.I received five stitches in the emergency room. As the needle threaded through my flesh, I didn't make a sound. The nurse told me I had an incredible pain tolerance; I just offered a faint, bitter smile. Compared to the invisible wounds tearing my chest apart, this physical sting was nothing. Ethan texted me later that evening. He didn't ask how I was, nor did he ask why I was on the floor. Instead, he demanded that I come play along in another charade. He said Scarlett had been severely traumatized by what she heard. He needed me to look her in the eye and tell her Ethan really was Julian, that I had just been talking crazy out of jealousy. Staring at those cold words on the screen, an icy numbness washed over me. The very last ember of affection in my heart died out. He didn't care about me at all. That was why he felt comfortable making me wait forever, why he could look past my bleeding body, and why he could brazenly ask me to throw away my remaining dignity just to maintain his lie. I typed a few words, then deleted them. In the end, I sent nothing. Suddenly, I remembered that today was our five-year anniversary. Five years ago, on this exact day, he had asked me out. He stood outside my office building holding a bouquet of roses in the bitter late-November wind, waiting for three hours. When I finally walked down, his face was pale from the cold, but his smile was blinding. *Nora, will you be my girlfriend?* Back then, the light in his eyes had been genuine. Back then, I truly believed we would last forever. *** On the other side of town, Ethan was in a foul mood. He had given Nora the silent treatment for six whole days. Usually, by the third or fourth day of a fight, she would cave. She would send a tentative message asking, *When are you coming home?* But this time, she had stayed completely silent. No calls, no texts, and her social media was as dead as still water. "Julian, what are you thinking about?" Scarlett asked, clutching a pillow on the sofa. Her breathing was steady now, her episode seemingly past. "Nothing," Ethan forced a gentle smile. "Scarlett, what do you want for dinner? I'll have the cook make it." "I want your glazed ribs." "Alright." He walked into the kitchen, setting his phone casually on the counter. The screen lit up. He snatched it up almost instantly— Only to see a generic news notification. It wasn't Nora. He set the phone down with an irritated scoff and rinsed the meat. ...What was her deal? Was she really not going to reach out to him? She was the one responsible for Scarlett's breakdown at the boutique. He had only asked her to apologize, yet she completely ignored him. What was that supposed to mean? Did she honestly think she was in the right? The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he became. Once Scarlett fell asleep, he called a few of his buddies to grab drinks at a lounge. In the VIP booth, someone casually asked what date it was. That was when Ethan suddenly realized: today was Nora's birthday. The day she had insisted on getting their marriage license. *No wonder she hasn't reached out,* he thought with a smug smirk. *She's holding out, waiting for me to back down first.* "Hey Ethan, you still haven't patched things up with Nora?" one of his friends asked. "She threw an insane jealous fit this time and ended up hurting Scarlett. I'm just letting her sit with it to teach her a lesson." "Bro, you guys have been together for five years. Don't push her too far. What if she actually walks away?" Ethan let out an arrogant scoff. "She won't. She can't live without me." Nora loved him so deeply. How could she ever leave? This time was no different. In a few days, she would come to her senses on her own. When that time came, he would buy her a gift, say a few sweet words, and this whole mess would blow over. "Holy shit!" A friend sitting next to him suddenly gasped, staring at his phone. "Nora just posted photos of two marriage certificates!"