Left at the Altar 99 Times, I Married My Billionaire Rival

Three years after our wedding ceremony, my legal marital status was still blank. Every single time we were about to sign the marriage license at City Hall, something would go wrong with Julian’s resident intern. This was the ninety-ninth time. Right before we took the final photo for our certificate, his phone rang, and he rushed off again. I couldn't talk him out of it, nor could I stop him. Predictably, I saw him on Lily’s Instagram. [I was so clumsy and grabbed the wrong meds, sending the patient into shock. I was terrified, but thankfully my mentor rushed back just in time to save the day.] [I know I can be a bit careless, but I’m trying my hardest.] [He said I’m the best. I really love my mentor so much!] The clerk at City Hall gave me a sympathetic look and asked if I wanted to reschedule. I shook my head, turned around, and dialed my lifelong rival’s number. "Ethan, I need a groom right now. Interested?" The other end fell silent for a full ten seconds before Ethan’s lazy chuckle came through. "To what do I owe the honor, Chloe? But..." He dragged out his words deliberately. "A guy you despise so much... do I even qualify to be your husband?" He wasn't wrong. I’d never liked Ethan. From our clash at the college debate tournament to our cutthroat corporate rivalry after graduation, we’d been at each other’s throats for five years. Just last week, we got into a heated argument at a bidding meeting that had the entire industry talking. Right now, though, I couldn't care less. I got straight to the point: "Are you coming or not? If not, I’m moving on to the next guy." "...Tch." He clicked his tongue impatiently. "Send me the address." Half an hour later, Ethan’s flashy black sports car pulled up outside City Hall. He wore a tailored suit, his hair neatly styled—probably just rushing over from a high-stakes meeting. Yet that familiar smirk remained plastered across his face. "Well, well. Stood up again?" He strode in, glanced at the empty waiting room, and fixed his gaze on me. "Looks like good old Dr. Wright ran off to play hero again? What is this, the ninety-ninth time? You really are the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met, Chloe." The clerk asked hesitantly, "And you two are...?" Ethan wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me flush against his chest. "Can't you tell? We’re here to get married." He leaned into my ear, his warm breath grazing my skin. "If we’re putting on a show, make it convincing, boss. Play along." My body stiffened, but I didn't push him away. When it came time for the photo, I couldn't bring myself to smile. Ethan gave my waist a little pinch. "Smile. It’s not like I forced you into this. If anyone should be frowning, it’s me." I glared at him. The shutter clicked. In the photo, my brows were slightly furrowed, while Ethan smiled like a sly fox that had just gotten away with everything. With the marriage certificate in hand, Ethan inspected it repeatedly. "Tsk, tsk. Looks way better than that contract we won last week." I reached for it, but he held it out of reach. "What’s the rush? It’s not like I’m keeping it from you." He looked down at me, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Tell me, Chloe, are you sure you won't regret this?" "Regret what?" "Using me to spite Julian." My chest tightened, but I kept my face blank. "It’s just a marriage of convenience. We both get what we need." "Haven't you been trying to get your hands on that Eastside development plot through my family?" The amusement in Ethan’s smile faded slightly. He shoved the certificate into my hand. "Fine. Straight to the point as always." "Just make sure you figure out how to explain this to your doctor. I don't feel like being branded as the side piece who ruined your fairy tale." I gripped the paper tightly, my knuckles turning white. "I’ll handle it. You don't need to worry." Julian and I had been together for eight years. He was a brilliant surgeon, and I was an heiress to a prominent business family. From college to our careers, everyone said we were a match made in heaven. Everything changed three years ago when he took Lily under his wing. She was his mentor’s daughter—petite, delicate, with wide, innocent doe eyes. She fainted at the sight of blood, so Julian reassigned her to the easiest tasks. She was scared of night shifts, so Julian stayed by the nurse’s station all night. She made countless reckless mistakes, and Julian cleaned up every single mess. On Instagram, Lily flaunted the breakfasts and gifts Julian bought her, always captioning them, "Best mentor ever." My friends warned me to be careful, but Julian insisted I was overthinking. At first, I made scenes too. Julian would always look at me helplessly. "Chloe, she’s just a kid. Her parents trusted me to look after her. I can't just abandon her." Later, even our marriage registrations were delayed because of her. From the first time to today, it had happened ninety-nine times. I had dressed up and put on my best makeup, waiting at City Hall, only for him to ditch me over a single phone call from Lily. Disappointment builds up drop by drop. Until today, when I saw that picture on Lily’s Instagram of Julian’s back as he fixed her mess. Along with his comment left just minutes before: [It’s okay now. Don’t be scared, I’m here.] Suddenly, holding on for eight years felt like a complete joke.I liked the post with a completely blank expression. Then, opening Julian’s chat, I found a barrage of messages. [I'm so sorry, Chloe! It was an absolute emergency, and I had to handle it right away!] [Are you still at City Hall? I'm almost done here. If you're still there, I'll rush right back.] [Chloe, answer your phone!] [Can you stop throwing a tantrum? You know saving lives comes down to seconds.] [Chloe, I'm sorry. Just calm down, okay? We can reschedule our registration for another day.] Staring at the words "another day," I suddenly burst out laughing. As I laughed, tears spilled over my cheeks, completely out of my control. Ninety-nine times, Julian. There is no "another day." Stepping out of City Hall, I saw Ethan leaning against his car, watching me. "Need a ride?" "No. I drove." He chuckled softly. "What, scared someone might see you getting into my car?" I ignored him and walked straight to my car. I pulled out of the parking lot. In the rearview mirror, Ethan remained standing there, watching me leave with a faint smile on his lips. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to focus on the road. When I arrived home and opened the door, Julian was sitting on the couch. "Chloe, why are you back so late? And why didn't you pick up?" He stood up to hug me, but I stepped aside. "How's the hospital?" He paused, then rushed to explain. "The patient was stabilized, but Lily was terrified. She couldn't stop crying." "So you stayed with her until now, forgetting all about our marriage license?" Julian frowned. "Chloe, a human life was on the line! Can you stop being so petty?" Looking at him, a sudden wave of exhaustion washed over me. "Julian, let's break up." He froze. "What did you say?" "I said, we're over." He looked at me as if hearing a bad joke. "Chloe, stop messing around." "I know you're mad, but I swear this is the last time. Next time we go, I promise nothing will come up." I gave a cold laugh. "You said the exact same thing the last ninety-eight times." I walked into the bedroom and started packing my bags. Julian followed me inside. When he saw the suitcase, panic finally set in. "Chloe, what are you doing? You're moving out over something so trivial?" "Trivial?" I stopped and turned to him. "In your eyes, what counts as important? Everything about Lily is a crisis, while our marriage is trivial, right?" "That's not what I meant." His phone rang. He glanced at the screen and instinctively hit decline. "Your intern?" I asked. "Answer it. What if it's another life-or-death emergency?" He stayed silent. The phone rang again. This time, he answered. "Mentor!" Lily’s tearful voice blared through the speaker. "The family is causing a huge scene, saying they're going to report me! I'm so scared!" Julian glanced at me, keeping his voice down. "I'll be right there." Hanging up, he looked at me conflicted. "Chloe, something urgent came up at the hospital. I'll be back soon, and we'll have a real talk then." Always like this. Forever like this. I went back to packing. "Go ahead. Don't bother coming back." Julian hesitated for a second, then grabbed his coat. "Wait for me." The door shut. Listening to his footsteps fade down the hall, I let out a long, heavy breath. This time, I wasn't waiting.Dragging my suitcase, I checked into a hotel near my office. Just as I settled in, Ethan called. "So, Boss Chloe, do you need my services on our wedding night?" His tone was playful. I could practically see the smirk on his face. Rubbing my temples, I sighed in exhaustion. "Ethan, this is strictly a marriage of convenience." "The contract didn't rule out benefits," he chuckled. "Don't worry, though. I don't force anyone." "Then why did you call?" "Just a reminder. Since we're legally married, we need to play the part." "What do you mean?" "There's a business gala tomorrow night. I need a plus-one." I thought about it. He was right. Since we signed the papers, we had to keep up appearances. "Text me the time and place." After hanging up, I stared at the dark screen, a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. It was surreal. I was officially Ethan’s wife now. The next day at the office, my assistant informed me that Julian had come looking for me multiple times. "Tell him not to come back." She hesitated. "Dr. Wright seemed desperate. He said he had something really important to explain." "There's nothing to explain." I entered my office and closed the door. On my desk sat a framed photo of Julian and me. He wore his white coat, and I leaned on his shoulder, smiling brightly. I picked up the frame, hesitated for a long while, and tossed it into the trash. Eight years wasn't something you could drop overnight. But I knew I had to let go. That afternoon, I left early to get ready for the gala. Just outside the building, I ran straight into Julian. He looked worn out, with dark circles under his eyes. "Chloe, let's talk." "We have nothing to talk about." I tried to walk around him, but he grabbed my wrist. "Just five minutes. Please." His voice was hoarse, filled with pleading. "Chloe, yesterday was my fault, but I really had no choice." He rushed to explain, "The patient was in critical condition. If I hadn't gone back, someone could have died." Looking at his bloodshot eyes, I pulled my wrist free without hesitation. "It's always that excuse, Julian. Don't you get tired of it?" "It's the truth!" he raised his voice. "I'm a doctor. Saving lives is my duty!" I sneered. "And Lily? Is she your duty, too?" He froze. "Lily is young, she still needs guidance..." "She's twenty-five, Julian! Not fifteen." I cut him off. "For three years, you've covered for every mistake she made. Has she improved even a fraction?" I looked him dead in the eye. "You treat her like a helpless child. "But what she thinks of you... you know damn well.""Chloe, why do you have to see it that way? Lily and I are strictly mentor and student." I pulled out my phone and opened Lily’s Instagram. Her latest post was from this morning. [Night shifts are exhausting, but my mentor brought my favorite coffee! Fully recharged now!] The photo showed Julian’s side profile beside a cup of coffee. "Do ordinary mentors and students take photos from angles like this?" "And when you're constantly buying her things, did you ever stop to think when was the last time you brought something for me?" Julian stared at the phone screen, at a loss for words. "Chloe, she was just exhausted." "Julian, we're done." I turned to leave. "Please don't come looking for me again." "Chloe!" He stepped after me. "You want to end things over this? Eight years of history, and you're just throwing it away?" "It's not over one post. It's over ninety-nine times." I looked into his eyes, firm and unwavering. "I gave you ninety-nine chances. You're the one who threw them away." With that, I walked away. The glare of the afternoon sun stung my eyes. I raised a hand to block it, realizing there were no tears left. So this is what it feels like when your heart goes completely numb. The next morning, I went straight to my lawyer's office to sort out the division of assets. Although Julian and I never registered the marriage, we had bought a house together after our wedding ceremony, with both our names on the deed. When I stepped out of the law firm, Julian was rushing toward me. With shadows under his eyes, it was clear he hadn't slept a wink. "Chloe, let's talk." "Talk about what?" I looked at him calmly. "Talk about how you abandoned me time and again for Lily? Or talk about how you still think none of this matters?" "I know I was wrong," he pleaded, his voice breaking. "I swear it'll never happen again. Lily and I are just colleagues, that's all." I snatched my hand back. "Julian, do you even remember when we first postponed our registration?" He froze. "It was Valentine's Day three years ago," I answered for him. "Lily said she had a breakup and threatened suicide, so you rushed over to be with her all night." "The second time was our anniversary. She said she was terrified of the dark during her night shift, so you stayed at the hospital with her." "The third time, the fourth time... all the way to this one." I met his gaze. "Every single time, you had a perfectly noble reason." "And every single time, I told myself that you're a doctor, that saving lives is your calling." "But Julian, I'm a human being too. I get tired." He parted his lips, but not a single sound came out. Right then, a familiar black sports car pulled up to the curb. Ethan rolled down the window, looking at us with a half-smile. "Need a hand, babe?" He lingered on that last word, making Julian's face drop instantly. "Chloe, what is this?" "Exactly what it looks like," I said, walking toward Ethan's car. "I'm married."