My Don fiancé called off our wedding for her. So I married his rival

“Happy birthday!” Cole was startled for a second. Then, as if he'd suddenly remembered what day it was, he started clapping. Everyone else followed. Just like that, the wild night that was supposed to be my last night before marriage turned into my birthday party. A few rounds of drinks later, the private room was loud with music, laughter, and the clatter of glasses. I got up and walked over to Cole. I reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a handful of bullets. I should have known. “Why?” I asked. Cole smiled. “I knew you’d figure it out.” He slipped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me against him. His voice had gone rough with alcohol. “Mia would've had to drink everything if she lost. Her liver isn't great.” “If it had been you, you'd have done the same thing.” I turned my head and stared at him. I wanted to ask if he'd known what Mia's bet was from the beginning. If he'd carried those extra bullets with him because he'd already planned for her to win. But the question suddenly felt pointless. I stood up and went to find Mia. “Why?” She looked at me. The alcohol burned in her eyes. “Becuase I love Cole. I knew he is your fiancé. But I'm not going to apologize to you.” “I've given in to you for seven years, Grace.” The answer was exactly what I'd expected. Her attitude wasn't. This was the woman who had been my best friend since childhood. I tipped my head back and swallowed a long mouthful of whiskey. Suddenly, everything around me felt ridiculous. Like some cruel joke that had gone on for far too long. I set down my glass and reached for the bottle again. A pair of steady hands closed over mine. Adrian was standing behind me. I hadn't heard him come over. He leaned down. His warm breath brushed my ear. “Got your answer?” He paused. His voice was low. “Then three days from now... We get married?” I tilted my head back and looked at Adrian. “You said a bet’s a bet. But my birthday just started. How are you so sure I've already lost?” Adrian smiled. That sly little smile of his. “It doesn't matter. I've waited seven years. I can wait one more day.” I got to my feet and looked at Mia. “Mia, I want to make a bet with you too.” The music seemed to stop for half a second. Everyone froze. My two closest friends were the first to snap out of it. They immediately started cheering. “She's right! Cole lost the wedding bet. Grace can win it back!” “Exactly! I already bought that damn tux for the wedding. It'd be a shame to waste it. Come on, make another bet!” But Cole's face changed instantly. “Grace, don't.” “I already said I'd honor the bet. We're getting married three years from now.” Mia suddenly covered her mouth and gagged. Cole immediately caught her. Then he looked at me, his voice turning cold. “She’s had too much to drink. Don't bet with her again.” “If you really want to gamble, pick someone else.” I watched him hold Mia steady. Whatever hope I'd had left slowly drained away. “Fine.” I picked up the dice cup and shook it hard. “Then I'll bet with you.” “High or low?” I stared straight into Cole's eyes. For one stupid second, I felt like I was about to put everything on the line. But there were no dice in the cup. I wasn't really asking him to guess. I was testing him. If he was willing to bet with me. If he was willing to give me even one fair chance. I'd risk every bit of luck I had left to break Adrian's bet. I'd wait three years for him. Because when it came to love, weren't we all gamblers? But Cole's expression only got darker. He looked at me with open disappointment. Almost disgust. “You lost, so now you're going to keep gambling until you finally win?” “Grace, don't you even know how to lose with dignity?”

The last bit of warmth in my chest went cold. “You won't even bet with me?” “You really think I'd force you to marry me?” He didn't answer. I felt something inside me go numb. Slowly, I lifted the cup in front of him. Then I turned it over. Empty. There wasn't a single die inside. Everyone stared at the empty cup. No one spoke for a few seconds. Then Jake muttered, “An empty bet?” “That's an automatic loss.” I forced a smile and looked at Cole. “I never wanted to beat you.” “So why are you acting like I'm about to put a gun to your head?” Cole went silent. His eyes dropped to the empty cup. Something seemed to click. He reached for me. “I just didn't want you to lose...” But you'd already made me lose. Completely. I stepped away from his hand. His fingers stayed frozen in the air. After a second, he laughed. “I know you've always wanted to get married.” “It's only three years. Don't you have any faith in us?” “You're not seriously worried you'll fall out of love with me in three years, are you?” “I wouldn't change for ten years.” I almost laughed. The whole thing was so absurd. Somehow, after two sentences, I was the one who looked like I didn't believe in our relationship. The hall had already gone completely off the rails. Finally, someone stood up to break the tension. “Okay, okay. It's after three in the morning. Let's call it a night.” Everyone looked relieved. Chairs scraped against the floor. People started getting up. Cole helped Mia to her feet. Then he looked at me. “I'll take her home first, then I'll take you.” “It's on the way.” I smiled. “No need. I'm riding with Adrian.” Cole looked like he wanted to say something. But Adrian was already in the elevator. He held the doors open and called out, “Grace. Come on.” I walked quickly into the elevator. Then I left with him. ... I woke up hungover to my phone ringing over and over. “Grace, what did the hotel say?” “Grace, your uncle wants to know if the wedding is still happening.” “You little idiot. Why the hell did you suddenly cancel the wedding? Get home and explain yourself!” My head was pounding. I lay there for a long time before everything from last night came rushing back. It hadn't been a dream. The wedding I'd waited seven years for was really gone. All because of a stupid guessing game. I rubbed my temples and opened my phone. 99+ unread messages. I tapped Mia's voice message. “Grace... I said what I said last night. I'm not taking it back.” “Get ready.” The next message was from Adrian. “There are washed apples on the table. Eat something before you drink again.” “Don't forget what you said. A bet's a bet.” Then I opened Cole's chat. Nothing. Not even a good morning. Someone had posted a group photo from last night. The caption read: Happy birthday. This night never ends. The filter was warm. Everyone was smiling. I was standing in front of the cake, candles glowing against my face. I looked genuinely happy. Someone commented: So when's the wedding? The person who posted it replied: Haha. Not telling. I took a slow breath and called Cole. “Grace?” Mia's voice came through in the background. “Cole, my head is killing me...”

Cole didn't even wait for me to speak. “Can you tell my parents what happened? And handle the hotel cancellation too.” “I can't get away right now. Mia's thrown up a few times and her stomach's still messed up. I'm taking her to the hospital for an IV.” Not one apology. He simply assumed I'd do it. Just like I'd done for the last seven years. I'd always backed him up. I'd always cleaned up after his decisions. “Okay.” I hung up. Then I found an empty cardboard box. I started packing everything that reminded me of Cole. The scrapbook he'd handwritten for me back years ago. He'd stayed up for nights putting it together. A few dried rose petals were still tucked between the pages. I touched one. It crumbled into red dust. Then there were the first matching mugs we'd ever made together. He'd carved our initials into the bottoms himself. C & G. The letters were already faded. And then I found the pearl bracelet. That one hurt the most. Seven years ago, a few of us had gone to one of Cole's underground operations. His family had been negotiating for a shipment of giant clam shells. Most of the people there thought one particular shell was worthless. Too rough. Too scarred. Too ugly. Cole disagreed. He fought everyone on it. Then I emptied my savings and helped him buy it. When the shell was finally pried open, the room went crazy. The pearl inside was flawless—deep pink and the size of a quail's egg. Cole had lifted me off the ground and kissed me like we'd just won the lottery. "Grace, I'm going to have the best bracelet made for you." "Jewelry is valuable because it lasts." "You're priceless to me." Seven years. More than twenty-five hundred days and nights. I thought we'd already won. I never imagined he'd gamble our future away. I put everything into the box. One piece at a time. Then I dragged it downstairs. The woman who collected discarded goods stared at the box. “Sweetheart, did you make a mistake? These are such nice things.” I smiled. "No. I don't want any of it anymore." “If you want it, you can take the whole box.” She thanked me over and over as she took it. I slipped off my engagement ring. For a second, I held it in my palm. Then I dropped it into the box too. “This one too.” The woman froze. She stared at me like I'd lost my mind. I called a cab and went to the hotel. The manager saw me walk in alone. “Ms. Carter, are you here by yourself?” I nodded. “My fiancé is busy telling our families about the new wedding date.” The manager's face lit up. “Oh! So you're postponing it?” “I thought you'd canceled.” “What date are we moving it to? I can take care of everything right now.” “The day after tomorrow.” “Thank you.” I walked out of the hotel. The sunlight hit my eyes so hard I had to squint. I looked up at the clear blue sky. For the first time in seven years, something inside me finally settled. The dream I'd been living in for seven years was over. I was finally awake. ... When I got home that night, Cole was sitting on the couch waiting for me. I stopped. “What are you doing here?” His brows were drawn tight. His voice was full of anger he was barely holding back. “The hotel called me.” “They said you didn't cancel the wedding.” “You moved it to the day after tomorrow?”