Chapter 2

My sister Sarah finished reading the vows on stage, but the bride never appeared.

A murmur swept through the guests below.

My heart sank. This was another setup, designed to humiliate me.

Just as I expected, Chloe casually twisted the ring in her hand and turned to Leo with a teasing smile.

"You said wedding ceremonies are tedious, right? Just two people reciting vows and swapping rings. Boring."

"Well, today I'm showing you a one-person wedding. Entertaining enough for you?"

Sarah immediately caught on, grabbing the microphone. "Wedding paused!"

Ashley shouted, "Leo, watch this!"

The water balloon above me dropped. Even though I tried to duck, it still caught me off guard.

My hair was plastered to my forehead, water dripping from my soaked suit.

I clutched my lapels, knuckles white.

Only then did Leo let out a small laugh.

Chloe walked over, feigning concern. "What's wrong, Julian? Not happy?"

She nudged Ashley. "That was a bit much, wasn't it? Didn't you think about Julian being the groom today?"

Just when I thought she might show remorse, she handed me the wedding ring—still in its box, the one meant for my finger.

"You wanted to get married, didn't you? I'm making your wish come true. I even got you an officiant, a best man, and guests."

Meeting my icy stare, she sneered.

"Why are you looking at me like that? You didn't actually think I'd be your bride, did you? I'm just helping you out."

Then, in a sickly sweet tone, she added, "Keep the ring safe. Wouldn't want your bride to have nothing to wear."

"Oh, wait. There is no bride."

"No way, there's no bride!" Ashley chimed in, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "But look at Julian, all dressed up like he really believed it!"

All eyes turned to my drenched formal wear.

In the past, I would've swallowed my pride and begged Chloe not to embarrass me.

This time, I just wiped the water from my face and said flatly, "Thanks for going through the motions. I was nervous earlier, but now I feel better. My real wedding will go smoother."

Chloe stared, then burst out laughing. "Are you stupid or just in denial? Still thinking I'd marry you?"

"Can't you see? This was all to cheer Leo up!"

"A man this desperate for marriage is just pathetic."

Her mockery was now fully unveiled, and she didn't care how much it hurt.

Leo and the others laughed along, thoroughly amused.

My heart felt twisted, squeezed by an invisible hand.

I'd actually known about their plan for days.

Chloe had called me earlier that week. "Julian, you want to get married, right? I'll see you at the venue you picked."

Against my better judgment, my heart leapt.

She knew I'd always wanted to get married.

After Mom died, it was just Grandma and me. Now Grandma was sick, and her only wish was to see me married and happy.

I'd booked the venue months ago, begging Chloe countless times. Even a fake wedding would've been enough to give Grandma peace.

Her call had thrown me into confusion.

I went to talk to Sarah, but instead overheard them in her study, excitedly planning the prank.

Chloe laughed. "I just told Julian to get ready for the wedding. He actually thinks I'm going through with it! Isn't he naive?"

Sarah replied, "He has no idea. The shock will be perfect. Leo will love seeing him humiliated."

Ashley jumped in. "Let's swap the glitter for water balloons. He'll look like a drowned rat!"

"Just don't let Leo find out beforehand, or it won't be as fun."

They sounded so pleased with themselves.

I stood frozen at the door.

The wedding I'd dreamed of was just a cruel joke to entertain Leo.

The three people who once went to multiple stores to buy my favorite cake were gone.

When had they changed so much?

There was a time when Sarah, Chloe, and Ashley cared for me the most.

But ever since Leo came into our lives, everything shifted.

His "depression" was severe.

So severe that just seeing me would "trigger" him. Each time, he'd beg Sarah and the others to stay.

At first, they brushed it off, thinking he was faking.

Gradually, their attention moved from me to Leo.

This was Chloe, the woman I'd loved for seven years, and Sarah and Ashley, who'd been with me since childhood.

Now they were willing to turn my wedding into a punchline, all for one of Leo's smiles.

Making Leo happy became their only goal.

Even at my expense.

They handled Leo with kid gloves, yet trampled over me without a second thought.

A dull ache settled in my chest.

Today, I was getting married.

Just not to Chloe.