The Day the Groom Finally Ran

Rachel Winters and I have held 99 weddings, and all 99 times, she played the runaway bride. She always makes a run for it right before the vows, leaving me alone in the awkward silence of the venue. "Felix Hampton, you have to forgive me for my impulsiveness. I promise that I won't run away again on our 100th wedding," she says. "I will hold your hand and grow old with you. I will be yours forever!" To prove her sincerity, she decides to hold our 100th wedding on a cruise ship in international waters. "We'll hold the wedding at sea. That way, even if I wanted to run, I wouldn't be able to." Yet, just as we are about to exchange our rings before the vows, Rachel strips off her wedding gown, revealing a wetsuit underneath. "I'm sorry, Felix. I still can't bring myself to marry you." With that, she plunges into the open sea. Someone is waiting for her at the side of the cruise ship. They embrace tightly, their lips meeting in a passionate, lingering kiss. Some time later, she gets tired of her own games and holds a 101st wedding with me. This time, she voluntarily handcuffs her own wrists together. "Honey, I won't run away anymore now that I've handcuffed myself like this. I'm giving you the key. I'm willing to give up all my freedom for your sake!" However, I take the key from her and toss it straight into the trash can. "I don't want your love or freedom anymore." I've already played the foolish groom a hundred times, waiting for a bride who would never arrive. And now, it's finally my turn to run at our 101st wedding. Chapter 1 Felix's POV I stood at the bow of the ship, watching Rachel Winters as she cut through the waves in her sharkskin wetsuit. She swam gracefully like a dolphin. Meanwhile, I looked like nothing but a ridiculous fool as I watched her leave. Since we had already held 100 weddings, both my parents and hers were long past fatigue, anger, or embarrassment. They'd stopped getting involved in our affairs ages ago. However, the ship was still packed to the brim with guests. They chatted excitedly, snapped photos, and recorded videos of the moment while live-streaming Rachel's escape online. Within minutes, the wedding trended and quickly went viral. Ever since we broke the World Record with our 33rd wedding the year before last, Rachel and I had become the focus of public attention. Every subsequent wedding just kept pushing the record higher and higher. The number of friends and family attending our weddings eventually dwindled until not a single one showed up. However, the number of self-proclaimed influencers and paparazzi attending them kept growing to the point that people had to enter a "lucky draw" just to snag an invite to our wedding. And when this 100th wedding unsurprisingly fell apart halfway through, netizens flooded the internet, discussing and gossiping about it in the comments. The number of comments reached millions within just half an hour. "Damn, I thought the 100th wedding would have been the successful one since it's a round number. It would have been a pretty number had it been their last. But the bride still ran away in the end." "This bride is too wild for her own good. She even put on a wetsuit under her wedding gown beforehand! I bet she's going to escape using a helicopter the next time!" "I feel so sorry for the groom." "Why are you sorry for him? This is art, I'm telling you! Performance art!" "Performance art? It's obviously just a publicity stunt! They're on the same team. The marriage was fake all along. Their real goal is to become influencers and cash in on their followers later. Mark my words." "I like it. Make it into a reality show. I wanna watch this on TV!" "Alright. Time to place your bets, everyone. How do you think the bride will run away on their 101st wedding?" The online discussion erupted into a frenzy as netizens turned the whole affair into a massive spectacle. Yet, as the person directly embroiled in the matter, I remained remarkably calm—detached, even, as though none of it had anything to do with me. Chapter 2 I'd already gone through this 100 times with Rachel running away. It was simply a matter of practice and getting used to it. The first time she ran away from our wedding, I was shocked and furious. The second time, I broke down completely, consumed by panic. The third time, I cried like an idiot, and the tenth time, I drank myself into a stupor to numb the pain. The 50th time it happened, I felt so tormented that I began questioning the meaning of life. By the 70th time, I had begun doubting the world itself. And by the 99th time, I stood in the pouring rain for hours until I caught a severe cold that left me bedridden. Then, I nearly killed myself by mixing drugs with alcohol. It was a very close brush with death, and I was barely saved in time. Rachel wept by my hospital bedside and admitted that she was wrong for doing this to me. She also promised that she wouldn't continue tormenting me again next time. "I want to be your bride, Felix… I don't want to be a widow…" Her apologies were still ringing in my ears when she ran away from the altar for the 100th time. And I was already numb to it all. I wasn't upset. In fact, I felt like laughing. The diamond ring was still in my hand because I never got the chance to slide it onto her finger. I threw it into the sea with all my might. It made a beautiful arc in the air before landing in the water and sinking to the bottom. I didn't want Rachel anymore. … It was quiet when I returned to our shared home from the cruise ship. Rachel still hadn't come home, so I began packing up my things and preparing to resign from my job as well. Rachel and I had met in college. She was an only daughter and the sole heiress to a multi-billion-dollar corporation. I studied financial management in college and started working at her family's corporation after graduation, where I managed the company's accounts. I was content just staying behind the scenes as her supportive partner and never seeking the limelight. I didn't even care when people mocked me for being a "kept man" living off his wife. But thanks to our joint efforts, the company thrived. Yet, our life together became more and more unsustainable. Rachel had a secret social media account she thought I didn't know about, but I could see everything that she posted there. That was where she would always post updates about her and her lover being affectionate and intimate with each other. Every time Rachel left me at the altar, she would claim that she had only done it because she found the thrill and excitement irresistible. She said that she was done being stressed out at work and constantly having to live at such a quick pace, so this was her way of rebelling against it all. Apparently, being a runaway bride helped calm her nerves, release negative pent-up energy, and relax and unwind. She used to always say to me, "You understand my need to be wild and free, don't you, Felix? Women are all prone to acting up as I do anyway. If you truly love me, you should be willing to put up with that side of me, too. "I'm going to be your wife sooner or later anyway, so there's no hurry. I'll finally settle down after I'm done playing around. I just don't want my life to be dull. I want to do some unforgettable things while I'm still young so that I'll have fond memories to look back on when I'm older." However, the truth was that she would always meet up with an indie rock singer named Ted Madden. He was covered from head to toe in massive tattoos. He was crude and vulgar in the way he spoke, and he had even served time in prison, leaving him with a criminal record for getting into violent brawls and seriously injuring others. Just as I expected, Rachel updated her secret social media account that evening. She was at a nightclub with dark, smoky makeup and wearing a distressed mini dress that barely covered her butt, grinding and dancing intimately with Ted. The carefully crafted caption read, "I ran away from the wedding again today. I know that doing so hurts Felix, but I have no other choice. I can't control my feelings. "I've had enough of being the good, docile girl when I was growing up. I've had enough of proper manners and business suits. So what if I'm just a little rebellious? "I know that Felix is a good man and that he loves me very much, but he's just too dull. I feel suffocated and stuck in a stagnant pool whenever I'm with him. "It's only when I'm with Ted that I realize the true meaning of life and finally feel alive instead of like a walking corpse…" Was I too dull? I guess there was some truth to that. Chapter 3 After all, I was the CFO of Rachel's company, handling a massive volume of financial transactions and managing millions of dollars in accounts and funds every day. I had to be rigorous and meticulous, leaving no room for even the slightest error or lapse in concentration. Did Rachel think that I didn't want to spend my days drinking, clubbing, and gaming away either? It wasn't that I didn't want to. I just couldn't afford it. The mark of adulthood was knowing how and when to make trade-offs. I was being responsible and accountable for everything that went on in life. I had tried explaining this to Rachel before, but she barely paid me any attention and even complained on her secret account about my nagging, droning on and on like an annoying fly. Whatever. I unfollowed her secret account. Then, I washed up, brushed my teeth, and got into bed. Just as I was about to turn off the lights, Rachel finally came home, reeking of smoke and alcohol. "Felix. I was wrong. I'm sorry that I let my impulsiveness take over again." Rachel would always speak to me especially gently after running away from our wedding because she knew that what she had done was wrong. "Don't stay mad at me anymore, alright? I promise that next time… Next time, it won't happen again. I'll marry you for real." After that, she climbed onto my side of the bed, her eyes glimmering brightly at me as she began sliding her hands under my clothes. It was the same tactic she used every single time. She would "repay" me with her body after hurting my feelings. However, this time, I shoved her right off, and she landed on the floor in a heap because I'd used a bit too much force on her. "I'm tired," I said as I turned away, refusing to look at her. "Ouch, that really hurts…" Rachel whined painfully from the floor. I ignored her and scrolled on my phone, searching for flight tickets. Rachel got mad. She shot to her feet. "Felix Hampton! Be a man instead of getting all petty like this! Don't you even know how to take a joke? You don't love me anymore, do you? "I've already told you time and time again that women need to be spoiled and pampered and indulged! We have the right to be as wild and unruly as we want! "And if you really loved me, then you would be more tolerant and considerate of me! Who do you think you're fooling by giving me an attitude like that? "I'm counting to ten. And if you still refuse to relent, then you're not laying a finger on me for the rest of the month! "One! "Two! "Three!" She began counting the seconds with an air of serious intent. In the past, I would always cave in by the time she counted to five. But this time, I spoke up just as she counted to three. "Let's break up, Rachel." "What? Break up?" Rachel gasped, clearly taken aback. She was completely stunned. But after a few seconds of silence, she suddenly broke into hysterical laughter. "That's so hilarious of you, Felix! Break up? You'd never bear to break up with me. I know just how much you love me!" she exclaimed. "You're such a sissy for using women's tactics to play hard-to-get with me. You're so damn embarrassing! "Alright. Now behave yourself, and I'll let you go another round with me tonight. Are you happy now?" She then leaned in to kiss me again, and I just pinched her lips with my fingers. "I'm not joking. I'm being serious. Let's break up," I said. "I'll be completing the handover process at the company as well. You can find yourself another CFO." Rachel stopped laughing. She was really angry this time. "That's enough, Felix! Who do you think you're fooling by playing hard-to-get with me like this? You're such a boomer! "Fine. I'll admit that I was wrong today, but will you just stop holding it against me? You're not behaving like a man at all! "If you don't want sex tonight, then that's fine with me! We'll see who'll be the one to cave in first!" She stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind her before retreating to the guest room for the night. I ignored her outburst and continued scrolling through the flight options on my phone. It had been too exhausting over the years, with the pressure of my high-stakes job weighing heavily on me. My entanglement with Rachel had only left me even more drained, and I desperately needed to find a place with beautiful scenery where I could truly relax and unwind. Life was just like that. Being overly stubborn and fixated on things would only bring me pain, but the moment I let go of those pointless internal struggles, I realized there was a whole new world waiting for me beyond them. Chapter 4 It was obvious that Rachel had no intention of letting things go. She enjoyed playing this cat-and-mouse game with me and wanted to continue jilting me at the altar. Early the next morning, Rachel, who usually never set foot in the kitchen, made me a huge breakfast spread. "I couldn't sleep last night, Felix. I thought about it all night. I promise that I won't do it again. I went overboard last time, caring only about my feelings and neglecting yours," she said. "Let's hold another wedding this weekend, okay? I promise that I'll behave myself this time and be a good bride! I won't act recklessly or impulsively anymore. I swear to God that I'll behave!" She looked at me seriously. The upcoming weekend was also the day I was flying to the Ixora Highlands to clear my head. I didn't know if it was fate or plain bad luck that we had both chosen the same date. When I didn't answer her, she continued, saying, "We'll just hold one more wedding. It'll be the 101st one. It's a lucky number! Don't you think so? "It means you'll be my one and only, just as I'll be your one and only. It's going to be so romantic when we're finally husband and wife at our 101st wedding. It's going to be such a meaningful day for us! "I think the reason I ran away the first hundred times was simply to wait for this sacred 101st moment! It's destiny! Everything worked out exactly as it was meant to!" Rachel's eyes sparkled. Her head was filled with visions of the future, so much so that she failed to notice that the flame in my eyes had long since gone out. "Sure. Go ahead," I said. I didn't want to argue anymore since I'd already made up my mind to break up with her. I had been a foolish groom the last 100 times, waiting for my bride who would never come. But now, on the 101st time, it was finally my turn to run away. … I had been the one planning and arranging all 100 weddings in the past. But this time, Rachel seemed far more invested and eager to take charge. She rented a castle in the suburban hills, citing that she wanted the wedding theme to be a medieval one. "There'll be fresh flowers, wedding doves, a hot-air balloon, and a live band," she told me. "You'll dress as a count, and I'll wear a court gown. We'll look absolutely magnificent! "It's going to be so warm, beautiful, and romantic! And we'll invite all the influencers to witness our wonderful love firsthand!" She continued describing her dream wedding. "Have you heard of an indie rock band called 'The Mad Dogs'? They're the city's hottest underground band and the next rising stars—the trendiest, most uninhibited, and most avant-garde group around! "With them performing live at our wedding, it's going to turn into a huge music festival!" She continued on and on with great enthusiasm. I knew that Ted was the lead singer of The Mad Dogs. Rachel still didn't know that I was fully aware of her affair with him. "Sure. As long as you like it," I said, checking my watch. "I need to head back to the office to sort out some accounts. You can have the final say for everything." I was a very responsible person. Since I had resigned and was leaving the company, I had a lot of work to hand over. However, Rachel pouted in dissatisfaction. "Hey, I was just getting excited here! You're such a killjoy. You're no fun at all!" I ignored her and got up to leave the cafe. But when I reached my car, I realized that I'd left my phone on the table. So, I turned around and went back inside the cafe. I then saw Rachel FaceTiming Ted, deep in conversation with him about something. "What? You want to crash the wedding? You can't do that!" she exclaimed. "I already promised Felix that I won't pull any stunts this time. I'm actually going to marry him for real. "Ted, stop convincing me otherwise. I've already let Felix down too many times." Chapter 5 Over FaceTime, Rachel continued, "I know that I'm always very happy when I'm with you, but… but I need to face reality and allow myself to be tied down for real this time…" Ted sounded low and dejected. "Why can't I crash the wedding and whisk you away, Rach? You've already run away from the wedding 100 times. Why can't you run away again? "Have you never heard of medieval stories where the prince rescues the princess in the tower from the evil dragon? You're the princess, and I'm the prince who'll save you from the dragon! I'll arrive on a majestic white horse and be your legendary hero! "Don't you see how thrilling it would be? It would be so much fun! "Just think about it! I'm supposed to be your wedding singer, but then I'll run off with the bride. You in your wedding gown and me clutching my guitar—we'll sprint away hand in hand across the lawn, racing toward love and freedom! It will be an instant classic! This will be art!" Ted kept trying to persuade Rachel with all his might, and she was beginning to sway. "No, stop it, Ted. Don't say anything anymore. I'm trembling all over with goosebumps… "You're like a poppy. I know you're toxic, yet I'm still hopelessly addicted to you, Ted… Fine, I'll do it. I'll run off with you at the wedding. "But I swear, this will be the very last time I'm doing it! After this last stunt, I'll register my marriage with Felix for real. There'll be no more messing around next time. "I won't be holding a wedding next time either. We'll just go through the process at City Hall. If not, I'm worried Felix will actually lose his mind if he has to go through a few more weddings." It was just as I expected. Rachel merely put up a token resistance before giving in and starting to plan her 101st runaway wedding with Ted. I knew better than to interrupt them in the midst of their planning. I didn't bother retrieving my phone anymore and turned to leave. That afternoon, Rachel deliberately came to the company to return my phone to me. She used to be very diligent and hardworking, but everything changed after she met Ted. Now, she would only show up at the company at most twice a month. She felt at ease knowing that I would be there to hold down the fort. "You forgot your phone at the cafe, you scatterbrain," she joked. "You'd better not be like this for our wedding this weekend. What are you going to do if you forget me too, hmm?" She continued joking around with me, but I just smiled and said nothing in response. I wasn't going to forget her. I was just going to abandon her. The week passed by quickly, and Saturday arrived in the blink of an eye. The wedding was going to be held at the castle on Sunday. That night, Rachel came up to me and said, "I'm going to a bachelorette party with my girlfriends tonight. I'll see you at the castle tomorrow at 10:00 am sharp, okay? Make sure you're not late!" I knew that her "bachelorette party" was just an excuse for a night out with Ted and his type of crowd. However, I just replied, "Don't worry. I'm punctual." At 7:00 am the next day, I received a text from Rachel. "I'm already at the venue getting my hair and makeup done. I'm going to be the most beautiful bride you've ever seen. Drive carefully! I'll be waiting for you." I blocked her number, deleted all of her contact details, and took a cab to the airport, all while maintaining a blank expression. At 9:00 am, the plane soared into the sky. At 10:00 am, Rachel waited for me at the castle entrance, radiant and glowing while dressed to the nines. Thousands of influencers and paparazzi held up their phones and cameras, waiting in eager anticipation. They were all waiting for the groom, who had been stood up 100 times. Some of them had even placed bets on what kind of stunt the bride would be pulling off this time to cancel the wedding.