On the morning of his wedding, Jace received an urgent envelope, assuming it was another one of his brother Mason’s infamous pranks.
But when Clara’s bridesmaid rushed in, breathless, to tell him that Clara was missing, his heart sank. The note inside the envelope, scrawled in Mason’s messy handwriting, demanded a thousand dollars and a bottle of bourbon in exchange for the bride. Though Jace chuckled at what he believed to be a harmless joke, a gnawing unease crept in. Determined to play along, he grabbed the items and went to the designated restaurant, expecting to find Mason grinning at the bar, waiting for his reaction.
What Jace saw instead shattered his world—Clara was in Mason’s arms, kissing him. Mason fumbled for an explanation, insisting it was just a prank, but Clara’s furious reaction exposed the truth. She wasn’t in on the joke—she had real feelings for Mason. The realization hit Jace like a punch to the gut. The woman he was supposed to marry in mere hours had been in love with his brother all along. And Mason’s guilty, conflicted expression confirmed what Jace feared most—his brother had feelings for her too.
Instead of exploding in anger, Jace chose clarity over chaos. He drove aimlessly, processing the heartbreak and replaying the past year in his mind. The signs had been there—Clara’s growing distance, Mason’s teasing remarks that carried an edge of truth, and Jace’s own refusal to acknowledge what had been right in front of him. He could let this betrayal define him, or he could take control of his own story. With newfound resolve, he returned to the wedding venue, prepared to face the reality of his situation.
Before a stunned audience, Jace made a bold announcement—this wasn’t his wedding anymore; it was Mason’s. He urged his brother to find Clara, to be sure they were making the right choice. They found her sitting on a park bench, weeping with her veil in her hands. When Jace asked if she truly loved Mason, her hesitant yet heartfelt confession sealed their fate. In that moment, rather than clinging to a broken dream, Jace did what he knew was right—he gave them his blessing.
Back at the venue, Mason and Clara stood at the altar, exchanging vows in the ceremony meant for Jace. But as he watched them, he felt no bitterness, only peace. Some might call him foolish for stepping aside, others might see him as selfless, but to Jace, it was freedom. He left that day not as a heartbroken groom, but as a man ready to embrace a future that truly belonged to him.