CEO's UNEXPECTED WIFE

Maddison's POV

The empty chair in the fifth row seemed to stare at Maddison Carter from the moment she stepped onto the graduation stage. Even as the bright lights felt hot and hundreds of proud faces blurred in front of her, that one empty seat felt like an accusation. Tyler had promised to be there. Front and center. She could still hear his words from three weeks ago, just as if he had just said them. "I'll be the guy whistling so loud they'll kick me out."

The university president talked on and on about the future, but Maddison barely heard him. She just kept staring at that empty spot where Tyler should be, the red seat untouched. Next to it Jenna sat, her best friend. Jenna's magenta dress was a splash of color, and she also had a glittering sign that said "Maddy Breaks Ceilings & Bridges!" But even with Jenna attending to show her support, she could not fill the gap Tyler's no-show left.

This was not just about missing graduation, it was about all the other times he had not shown up. There was an empty chair at her scholarship dinner, at Jenna's birthday, and at so many other times he had canceled at the last minute, leaving her to sit alone, and each time was a small problem in their relationship that she had tried to cover up with excuses. But today felt different, it felt like the end.

Her special valedictorian sash felt heavy across her shoulders as doubts started to creep in; Was her future really secure? Or was she just setting herself up to be disappointed while ignoring a big problem she did not want to see?

It was not just an empty seat, in the middle of all the noise in the auditorium, it was a loud quietness and it seemed to show everyone that he was not there, and it felt as though it took away the light and warmth from her special moment. He had promised her and the memory was so clear it felt like it had happened five minutes ago, not three weeks back during the stressful time of final exams.

She had been leaning over some plans in his house one day, when he showed up with two large coffees to make her feel better. He had rubbed the knots from her shoulders, his hands strong and sure, his voice a low whisper against her hair.

"You're going to be valedictorian, Maddy. I've never been more sure of anything in my life," he had whispered.

"Don't jinx it," she had murmured into her textbook.

"No jinx. It's a fact, and when you're up on that stage, looking like the brilliant engineer you are, I'll be right there." He had pointed to an imaginary spot in the air. "Front and center. I'll be the guy whistling so loud they kick me out. I promise."

There was no whistle for Maddison, only a profound, quiet feeling coming from that