Chapter 1

My housekeeper Martha has an intellectual disability. Out of sympathy, I took her in.

Right before my wedding, I was about to invite my friend Tessa to try on her bridesmaid dress.

Martha suddenly stopped me:

"Miss Claire, don't let Miss Tessa be your bridesmaid. Mr. Lucas will hit her!"

I smiled, thinking she was talking nonsense again. Because my fiancé Lucas Hunt got along well with all my friends.

Seeing I didn't believe her, Martha grabbed my arm and continued:

"It's true! I saw it with my own eyes. That day Mr. Lucas pulled down Miss Tessa's pants, pressed her against the bathroom wall, and spanked her bottom!"

I froze.

Martha might be simple-minded, but she never lied.

Just then, Lucas's call came through at the perfect time:

"Babe, I have to go to Europe on a business trip tomorrow. There's a really important project. Can we postpone the wedding a bit?"

I let out a cold laugh and replied, "Fine!"

After hanging up, I thought of the bet I made with my dad.

If this wedding got postponed again, I would go back and accept the blind dates he arranged.

So I obediently replied, "Okay, I have other plans next week anyway."

Martha tilted her head, watching me, still muttering:

"Miss Claire, don't be angry. Mr. Lucas isn't hitting Miss Tessa for the first time. Before, he told me not to tell you. But yesterday I heard Miss Tessa screaming so loudly in the room... I was worried..."

I glanced at her and interrupted, "That's enough, Martha. I understand. Thank you!"

After Martha left, my chest tightened with a stabbing pain. I couldn't breathe.

Just as I finished speaking, my phone rang again. It was my dad calling.

"Claire, have you thought about it?"

My dad's voice was emotionless.

"Dad, I agree. I'll come back."

Dad fell silent on the other end for a few seconds. He seemed surprised I would give up on Lucas Hunt.

After hanging up, I walked into the bedroom and took out the marriage certificate from the drawer.

But suddenly I noticed the stamp on the marriage certificate was misspelled.

I carefully compared my marriage certificate with the one on the city hall website.

My tears finally fell. Even my marriage certificate was fake.

Soon the doorbell rang.

I wiped my tears and went to open the door.

Tessa stood at the door, holding the little cakes I loved: "Claire, I'm here to try on the bridesmaid dress."

I let her in.

I suddenly remembered the scene from two years ago when she came to stay with me.

I enthusiastically helped her arrange work and housing.

Lucas Hunt had always been thoughtful and considerate toward my friends.

Gradually, Lucas Hunt even drove her to work.

From that time on, the passenger seat was no longer my place.

It became the exclusive seat for Tessa, who supposedly got carsick.

But I never imagined they had already gotten together long ago.

"Claire, what are you spacing out for?" Tessa waved her hand in front of me.

"Nothing. The dress is in the closet. Go try it on."

She smiled and went in.

I inadvertently caught sight of the Tiffany key necklace on her neck.

That was the birthday gift Lucas Hunt gave her a few days ago.

I'd known Lucas Hunt for five years. Apart from giving me money, his gifts were always just a hug or a kiss.

Then he'd say affectionately, "You're my wife. What's mine is yours."

I used to be satisfied with that romance.

But everything changed after Tessa came.

He would give her limited edition necklaces and cream puffs from West Street.

Tessa's voice came from the closet: "Claire, come help me look."

I walked over and watched her turn in front of the mirror.

"Beautiful," I said.

She sighed, "But it's such a shame. I can't be your bridesmaid next week!"

A chill ran through me. I asked, "Why not?"

She lowered her head, her ears flushing red: "I have other important life arrangements..."

Seeming unwilling to talk more about it, she changed the subject:

"By the way, Claire, have you tried on your wedding dress yet?"

I shook my head.

I had fought so hard for this wedding.

Lucas Hunt was always too busy.

The wedding kept getting delayed until it couldn't be delayed anymore. Even that custom wedding dress—I could only pick it up from the shop tonight.

Tessa continued talking to herself:

"You don't know, last time when I went to try on wedding dresses, the owner said that custom piece was particularly suited for me. Lucas also said it looked good..."

I looked at her without saying anything.

A while ago, Tessa suddenly said she was getting engaged.

I asked her who her fiancé was, but she refused to tell me, saying she'd give me a surprise later.

She dragged Lucas Hunt along to try on wedding dresses, smiling as if it were the most natural thing:

"Claire, let me borrow your man for a bit. I need to pick out a groom's suit for my groom. Lucas's physique is just perfect..."

Before I could agree, Lucas Hunt readily agreed without hesitation.

They were gone the whole afternoon.

When they came back, Lucas Hunt said Tessa's wedding dress was beautiful.

Now that I think about it, he thought Tessa in a wedding dress was beautiful.

But I had never even worn a wedding dress.

Every time I mentioned having a wedding, Lucas Hunt was always too busy...

He'd been busy for three years. We'd set dates and postponed, postponed and set dates again.

Over and over, I couldn't even remember how many times it had been.

"Claire, are you okay?" Tessa tilted her head to look at me.

"I'm fine."

The door lock clicked.

Lucas Hunt was back, coincidentally holding two cups of coffee.

As if he already knew there would be two women drinking coffee at home today.

Seeing Tessa in the bridesmaid dress standing in the living room, he raised his eyebrows: "Well, whose bride is this?"