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No More Second Best: I Cancelled Our Wedding

NovelMaster Completed

Werewolf Romance Reborn 现实主义-Realistic

The night before our wedding, my fiancé, Ethan Brooks, took me and our friends to a VIP sports lounge to watch the game and place some bets. No matter what I bet on, I lost. I was forced to down several shots of tequila as a penalty. Meanwhile, Serena Vance won every single round, making a fortune. In the first round, as the winner, she got to kiss my brother, Lucas, as a dare. In the second round, she took a fancy to our custom engagement rings. Without a single second of hesitation, Ethan slipped his off and handed it to her. By the final round, I could finally tell that the Eagles were about to clinch the victory. But Ethan suddenly said, "Serena and I are putting our money on the Eagles." My own brother, Lucas Miller, chimed in, "I’m betting on the Eagles too. Chloe, looks like you’re stuck with the Grizzlies." The Grizzlies were trailing by a huge margin. They were about to be eliminated. It was only then that I finally realized—they had never planned on letting me win from the very beginning. I didn't make a scene. I didn't scream. I just quietly walked out, stepped onto the street, and made a phone call to cancel the wedding tomorrow. 1 When I walked back into the VIP suite, everyone was crowding around Serena, taking photos of her. The custom diamond ring was sitting pretty on her finger. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think she was the one marrying Ethan tomorrow. Someone in the crowd started teasing: "Serena, you have the best luck ever. Ethan is literally getting married tomorrow, yet he’s still willing to give you such an expensive gift. He doesn’t even care about Chloe this much, does he?" Serena’s eyes instantly pooled with tears. "Don't say that. You’ll make Chloe upset." The moment she spoke, every eye in the room shifted to me. Ethan saw me walk in, and his brow twitched slightly. "Why are you just standing by the door?" "Anyone else would think someone’s bullying you." I looked at him, suddenly finding the whole situation hilarious. I was clearly the one who was hurt, yet even my silence was being treated as if I were throwning a tantrum. So, I didn't move. Ethan’s brows furrowed deeper. Lucas stood up first and walked over to me. He had always had gentle eyes, always looking at people with a warm smile. Before I turned twenty, I honestly believed Lucas was the one person in this world who would never humiliate me. After our mom passed away, he was my only family left. But now, he leaned down, keeping his voice incredibly low: "Chloe, don’t embarrass Ethan in front of everyone right now." I stared at him. "Did I even say anything?" Lucas tensed. Serena, still wearing the diamond ring, let her tears fall even faster. "Chloe, maybe I should give the ring back to you. I shouldn’t have taken it in the first place." But the second her hand touched her wrist, Ethan snapped, "Keep it on." Then, Ethan turned his cold gaze back to me. "You lost the bet fair and square. She won it." I let out a soft, dry laugh. The room fell dead silent. Ethan’s eyes grew colder. Lucas frowned. "Chloe, it’s just a game. Do you really have to make things this ugly?" He then stepped in front of Serena, shielding her. His voice was still soft, but it felt like a cold blade pressed against my throat. "Serena has always been insecure. She’s finally happy for once. Can’t you just let her have this?" There it was. That phrase again. I couldn't help but look at Serena. She was shrinking back beside Ethan, tears still clinging to her lashes. But the look she shot me was light, almost like a smirk. The next second, Ethan got up and walked over to me. He carried a faint scent of cedarwood cologne. I was the one who had picked out that cologne for him. I told him it suited him perfectly—cool and clean. But he had complained back then that it was too subtle. Later, Serena said she loved it. He had been wearing it for three years now. He reached his hand out, intending to ruffle my hair like he always did. I tilted my head, dodging his touch. Someone in the room gasped quietly. Ethan’s expression finally darkened completely. "I’ll buy you a new ring later. I’ll be at the studio for the wedding photoshoot tomorrow." I looked up at him. "You actually remember?" He looked at me as if I had just said something completely absurd. "When have I ever forgotten something I promised you?" Right then, Serena let out a soft, delicate cough. Ethan whipped his head around instantly. "What’s wrong?" Serena shook her head. "Nothing. It’s just a bit chilly in here. I think the AC is giving me a cold." Ethan immediately grabbed his jacket from the sofa and draped it over her shoulders. Lucas looked at the expression on my face and sighed. "Chloe, don’t be so stubborn. Ethan is the one marrying you tomorrow. Serena is just like a little sister to all of us." I looked straight at him. "Does a little sister accept an engagement ring from another woman’s fiancé? Do you kiss your little sister?" The gentle smile on Lucas’s face vanished. "Do you really have to talk like that?" Ethan turned back to me, his voice freezing cold. "Chloe, that’s enough." Suddenly, I didn't want to say another word. In this circle, even after being humiliated, I was expected to smile and say, "Guess my luck is just terrible." When the party finally ended, Ethan left to take Serena to the hospital. Lucas stayed behind to drive me home. As we walked out to the parking lot, he took off his scarf and wrapped it around my neck. "The wind is strong tonight. Don’t catch a cold." I stared down at the scarf. He was always doing this. Just when I was about to give up on him completely, he would throw me a tiny crumb of warmth. And then, in the very next second, he would push me right back into the dark. Sure enough, after tightening the scarf, he said, "Chloe, don’t take what happened tonight to heart." "You know how Ethan is. He’s cold on the outside, but he cares. "He’s going to take wedding photos with you tomorrow, and he’s marrying you the day after. "You’ve already won, Chloe. Stop fighting Serena over these petty little things." I looked at him. "What exactly did I win?" Lucas froze. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Because even he couldn't find an answer. 2 The next morning, I arrived at the photography studio alone. The photographer walked over with his camera. "Miss Miller, the set is all ready, just like you wanted. Is Mr. Brooks coming today?" I hesitated for a second. "He’ll be here." This was the last time I would ever hold out hope for Ethan. But by ten, he hadn't shown up. At ten-thirty, his assistant sent me a message on WhatsApp: *Miss Miller, Mr. Brooks has an emergency to take care of. He might not make it today.* I called Ethan directly. To my surprise, he actually picked up. But over the line, I could hear Serena’s quiet, whimpering voice in the background. "Chloe, I’m at the hospital," Ethan said. I gripped my phone tight. "What happened to you?" "Not me. It’s Serena. She caught a cold last night and woke up with a fever today. I brought her to the hospital." I looked down at the wedding dress I was wearing. It didn't fit right. My mom had designed my actual wedding dress before she passed. Ethan had taken it to a specialty cleaner, claiming we should save it for the ceremony itself. "We were supposed to take our wedding photos today," I said quietly. Silence fell over the line. Then, Ethan let out a soft sigh. "Chloe, don’t compare yourself to her. "The one I’m marrying tomorrow is you. The one standing next to me at the altar is you. "Serena is just sick. I’m just staying with her for a bit. Do you really have so little confidence in our relationship?" It felt like a lump of lead was wedged in my throat. Just then, a shop assistant walked over holding a box. "Miss Miller, Mr. Brooks just had this delivered." Inside the box was a bouquet of white roses. There was a card next to it. *Your favorite white roses.* Holding that card, a sudden wave of bitterness washed over my chest. So, he did remember. When I was twenty, I told him that when I got married, I wanted white roses for my bouquet. Over the phone, his voice softened a bit. "Did you get the flowers?" "Yeah," I whispered. He spoke in a coaxing tone, "Be good. I’ll come home and have dinner with you tonight." Before I could reply, Serena’s voice drifted over from his end: "Ethan, my throat hurts so much..." Ethan immediately said to her, "The doctor is coming. Let me check." The call went dead. I looked down at the bouquet. The flowers were beautiful, but the man who sent them wasn’t here. At three in the afternoon, Lucas showed up. By then, I had already finished all my solo photos. Lucas pushed the door open, and when he saw me, he paused for a second. "You look beautiful." He walked closer, noticing my hand clutching my stomach. His brows instantly knitted together. "Stomachache again?" He knelt down and pulled a blister pack of pills from his pocket. "Don't move." He popped a pill and handed it to me, along with a bottle of water he had unscrewed. The routine was so familiar, it felt like old times. After I swallowed the medicine, he looked up at me. "Still hurting?" I didn't say anything. Lucas stood up and helped me up. "Let’s get in the car. It’s freezing outside." It was pouring. He tilted the umbrella completely over to my side, letting his own shoulder get soaked within seconds. I followed him to the car. Just as I was about to get in, I saw a beautifully packaged box of strawberry cake sitting on the passenger seat. I froze. Lucas tensed for a fraction of a second, but quickly held the car door open, speaking in a perfectly casual tone. "Just sit in the back." I stared at the cake box. "Can’t the cake sit in the back?" Lucas’s hand tightened on the door. "Don't start, Chloe. Serena’s been whining about wanting this cake all afternoon." "So, I sit in the back, and the cake gets the front seat?" He sighed. "Chloe, you're different. "You're stronger than she is." My eyes stung fiercely. But I reached out and pushed his hand away. "Lucas, I don’t want to be strong today." The warmth on his face faded. "Don’t make this difficult for me." I smiled sadly. "You always tell me to be understanding. Why do you never tell her to be understanding?" Lucas was silent for two seconds. Then, he said, "Because she actually cries." I nodded slowly. "And I don't." I hugged my garment bag tight, turned around, and walked straight into the pouring rain. The rain was heavy. Within a few steps, my stomach started throbbing again. I didn't look back, and Lucas didn't chase after me. I guess it didn't matter anymore. Twenty minutes later, Serena posted on her Instagram Story. In the photo, the strawberry cake was sitting perfectly intact next to her hospital bed. Her caption read: *Someone braved the pouring rain just to bring me my favorite treat. He said he won’t be able to rest easy until I feel better.* I stood by the side of the road, holding my wedding accessories, my stomach feeling icy cold. The studio assistant ran out and handed me a paper bag. "Miss Miller, you forgot your necklace." I took it. At that exact moment, I decided I didn't want to get married anymore. 3 Yet, the next day, I still went to the wedding rehearsal. Because I wanted to see, one last time, if he would actually show up. At 9:15 AM, I saw Ethan’s SUV pull up across the street. When the car door opened, my chest loosened. I even subconsciously reached up to fix my hair. Honestly, if he had just said one thing: "Chloe, I’m here." Maybe I would have swallowed all of last night’s grievances one more time. But then, his phone rang. Ethan answered it. I don’t know what Serena said on the other end, but his face completely changed. In the next second, he got back into the SUV. The sound of the car door shutting was quiet, but it felt like a sledgehammer hitting my chest. Ten minutes later, Serena posted another update. *I told him I didn’t want to be alone, and he really came back for me.* In the photo, Ethan’s hand was tightly holding her hand with the IV drip. At 9:40 AM, Lucas arrived at the venue. When he got out of his car, his face was pale with exhaustion from a lack of sleep. "Don't wait up. Ethan can't make it today." I looked at him. "I saw his car." Lucas choked on his words. He opened his mouth, but in the end, all he said was, "Serena’s fever kept spiking last night. She can’t handle any emotional stress right now." I asked, "But I can?" He frowned. "Chloe, stop asking things like that." He stepped closer, his voice adopting a coaxing tone again. "You’re getting the wedding, you’re getting the legal status, you’ll be Mrs. Brooks, and you’re still my sister. "What does Serena have? She only has us as her friends." I packed up my ID and turned to leave. Lucas grabbed my arm. "Where are you going?" "To find the wedding planner." He let out a sigh of relief. "To finalize the details?" "Yeah," I murmured. His expression softened a bit. "That’s more like it. Don't ruin your own big day. You’re only making yourself look bad if you throw a fit." Inside the planner’s office, the designer looked incredibly uncomfortable. She slid the iPad toward me to show the welcome area mockup. On the screen was a photo of Ethan standing in the middle, with me on his right and Serena on his left. The photo was taken during Serena’s birthday party last year. She was wearing a white dress, clutching Ethan’s arm, looking like the actual bride. I was standing on the side, still holding the knife we used to cut her cake. Even the welcome sign text had been changed. *Thank you for witnessing our ten years together.* But why did "our ten years" have to include Serena alongside Ethan and me? I kept scrolling through the itinerary. Everything had been altered. Even the wedding vows now included a paragraph thanking Serena for her friendship. I looked at the planner. "Who approved this?" The planner said cautiously, "Mr. Brooks." Seeing my face darken, Lucas immediately spoke up: "It’s just the welcome area, Chloe, not the main stage. Serena never had a real family growing up. She just wanted to feel included." I looked at him. "It’s my wedding. Why does she need to feel included in my wedding?" Lucas’s voice dropped. "Chloe, don't be so bitter." Just then, Ethan called. The moment I answered, he asked, "Did you see the new itinerary?" "I did." "Serena cried all night, saying she felt like an outsider. I had them add a few photos." I asked, "Do you think that’s appropriate?" "What’s wrong with it?" He sounded incredibly annoyed. "She’s the maid of honor and our mutual friend. You’re marrying me tomorrow, Chloe, not a projection screen." I kept scrolling down. When I reached the dress confirmation page, my finger froze. The note read: *The wedding gown will be tried on by Miss Vance first for a promotional pre-wedding video shoot.* That gown was designed by my mother with her own hands. Before she died, she told me she wanted me to wear it on my wedding day. I asked, "Why is Serena wearing the gown my mom designed?" Ethan went silent for a moment. "She’s just trying it on..." I interrupted, "That is the only thing my mom left me." "I know." I let out a bitter laugh. "You know, and you still let her wear it?" Over the phone, Serena began to cry softly. "Ethan, forget it. I won't wear it. I don't want Chloe to be mad..." Ethan’s voice instantly softened for her. "Don't say that." When he spoke to me again, his tone was freezing cold. "Chloe, Serena was just trying to help us test the lighting for the video shoot. Do you have to be so incredibly harsh?" I said, "Get it back." Ethan didn't respond. Lucas, standing beside me, suddenly spoke up. "Chloe, if Mom were still here, she wouldn’t make such a big deal out of a dress with a young girl." I whipped my head around to stare at him. The conference room fell dead silent. Lucas flinched under my gaze, but he pressed on anyway. "Am I wrong? Mom would have wanted you to be the bigger person. If she saw you throwing a tantrum over a wedding dress, she wouldn’t be happy either." *Slap—* I struck him across the face. Ethan’s voice roared through the phone speaker, "Chloe Miller! Did you just hit him?!" Lucas’s face was turned to the side, his eyes filled with pure disbelief. "Chloe, I don't even recognize you anymore!" I ignored them both. I grabbed my bag and walked out. Behind me, Ethan’s voice rang out from the phone: "If you walk out right now, don't expect me to come home tonight." I paused for a fraction of a second. "I don't care." 4 By 11:00 PM, Ethan still hadn't come home. I sat in the living room of our new house, flipping through the wedding itinerary from start to finish. My name only appeared twice. This didn't look like a wedding for Ethan and me at all. At 1:00 AM, the front door lock clicked. Ethan walked in, smelling heavily of hospital disinfectant. Seeing me still sitting there, he frowned. "You’re not asleep yet?" I asked, "Where is the gown?" His hand paused as he loosened his tie. "Serena still has to shoot the video tomorrow morning. It’s at her place." I stood up. "Get it back. Now." Ethan’s face darkened, the last of his patience evaporating. "Chloe, I’m marrying you tomorrow. "What more do you want?" I said, "I want my things back." Ethan let out a cold, arrogant chuckle. "Serena is literally just wearing a dress for a video, and you can’t even handle that? "Chloe, don’t be so greedy." I stared at him, utterly stunned. So, in his eyes, wanting my mother’s final heirloom back was considered "greedy." Just then, Lucas called Ethan, his voice frantic over the speaker: "Ethan, we have a problem. "Serena accidentally tore the wedding gown." My entire body went rigid. Half an hour later, we rushed to the hotel suite. Serena was sitting in front of the vanity mirror, wrapped in Ethan’s jacket, her eyes red from crying. The gown lay on the table, a glaring, jagged tear ripped down the back. I walked over, my fingers brushing against the torn fabric. It felt like a knife slicing through my heart. "What happened?" Serena’s tears spilled over instantly. "Chloe, I didn’t mean to... I was trying it on, and it got caught on a loose nail on the chair..." Ethan glanced at the tear and frowned slightly. "It’s just a dress. We can have a tailor fix it." I looked at him. "My mom made this." Ethan went silent for a brief second. "I know. But Serena said it was an accident. What else do you want from her?" "Then let’s call the police." Serena’s face turned paper-white. Suddenly, she lunged toward the wall. "It’s all my fault! I shouldn’t have touched her things! I should just die!" Ethan caught her instantly, pulling her back. Lucas rushed over to hold her as well. The two of them flanked her, shielding her completely between them. Ethan looked back at me, his eyes like daggers of ice. "Apologize." I thought I had misheard him. "What did you say?" "Apologize to her." He said it slowly, emphasizing every word. "She’s already having a breakdown. How much further do you have to push her?" I stared at him. "Ethan, she ruined my mother’s wedding gown." "She said it was an accident." "And you just believe her?" "Do you have any proof she did it on purpose?" I was speechless. Lucas added in a hushed tone, "Chloe, just bow your head this once. "You’ve already won. Why do you have to humiliate her like this?" I looked at the three of them and suddenly felt incredibly tired. Serena was clearly the one who had won everything, yet everyone was treating her like the victim. So, I nodded. I didn't want to fight anymore. "Fine." The room quieted down. Ethan frowned, clearly surprised by how quickly I had given in. Lucas was stunned too. I turned to Serena. She was still shrinking behind Ethan, tears glistening in her eyes. I said, "I’m sorry." Lucas’s lips parted. "Chloe..." I didn't look at them again. I took off my engagement ring and placed it gently on the vanity table. "Let’s proceed with the wedding tomorrow. "Don't let me ruin your fun." I turned and walked out. Ethan looked like he wanted to say something. But Serena suddenly started coughing violently, her voice trembling, "Ethan, I feel so sick..." Ethan instinctively turned back to her, and Lucas immediately focused his attention on her too. In that single second, I stepped out of the room. By the time they looked back, the door had already closed. And I never looked back. That night, I went back to our house and cancelled every single wedding order, one by one. When the wedding planner received my call in the middle of the night, her voice was shaking. "Does Mr. Brooks know about this?" "He doesn't need to." Before dawn, I would pack my bags and leave this place forever. ... The next morning at 10:00 AM. Ethan went to the jewelry store in person. He immediately picked out a heart-shaped pink diamond ring. He stared down at the ring, his voice quiet. "She’s wanted this style since she was twenty." Lucas stood beside him, holding a brand-new designer dress box. He laughed. "This gown will do. "She made such a fuss over the torn dress yesterday. Once she sees that I bought her a brand-new designer gown, she’s going to cry tears of joy." Ethan glanced at him. "You really thought of everything." Lucas smiled. "Well, she is my sister after all. No matter how much she acts out, I still have to look out for her." He paused, then added, "She apologized so quickly last night." Ethan sneered. "She was just tired. "After throwing a tantrum all night, she needed to find a way to save face." Lucas nodded. "True. "Chloe has a soft heart. "With you giving her the ring and me giving her the gown, she won't be able to stay mad once she sees all of this." When the two of them arrived at the hotel, the venue coordinator was directing workers to tear down the wedding decorations. Ethan froze in his tracks. "Who told you to tear this down?" The coordinator looked up, thoroughly shocked to see him. "Mr. Brooks, wasn’t the wedding cancelled?"

Chapters (5)

第1章

On the eve of my engagement party to my fiancé, Brooks, our friends put together a "Mystery Box Game." Each guy put a gift inside a box, and the girls drew them at random. When I opened mine, there was only a thin slip of paper inside: [Thank you for participating.] Brooks rubbed my hair gently. "Still as unlucky as ever, babe." Bryant, my best friend since kindergarten, lowered his voice too. "It’s just a game, Alice. Don’t let it ruin your night." Then it was Michelle’s turn. She opened her box. Inside was a pink diamond necklace Brooks had personally picked out, and a voucher for a couple's getaway to Maui—a trip I had been begging Brooks to take me on for three years. There was also a card written by Bryant: [We will always protect you.] I forced a tight smile and set my empty box back on the table. It was just a lucky draw, right? It was all about luck. Until I went to the restroom and overheard the coordinator in the lounge checking the guest list. "Mr. Brooks, did we distribute the boxes correctly?" "The one with the gifts goes to Miss Michelle. The empty one goes to Miss Alice." Brooks gave a casual "Yeah." Bryant chimed in with a chuckle, "Perfect." Standing outside the door, I quietly tore the paper slip into pieces. I’m canceling the wedding. This little game of luck they rigged? I’m not playing anymore.

第2章

When I walked back into the VIP room, everyone was crowding around Michelle, taking photos. The pink diamond necklace rested against her collarbone, sparkling like a teardrop being cradled in someone’s palm. Someone teased, "Brooks, you have crazy good luck. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were proposing to Michelle tonight." Michelle’s eyes instantly welled up with tears. "Don’t say that. It’ll make Alice uncomfortable." The moment she spoke, every eye in the room shifted to me. Seeing me walk in, Brooks frowned slightly. "Why are you standing by the door?" "Anyone would think someone was bullying you." I looked at him, suddenly finding it hilarious. I was the one who got hurt, yet even my silence was treated as me throwing a tantrum. So, I didn’t move. Brooks' brow furrowed deeper. Bryant stood up first and walked over to me. He had gentle eyes and always seemed to look at people with a warm smile. Before I turned eighteen, I always believed Bryant was the last person on earth who would ever embarrass me. But now, he bent down, keeping his voice incredibly low. "Alice, don’t make a scene and embarrass Brooks tonight." I looked up at him. "Did I say anything?" Bryant choked on his words. Michelle clutched the necklace, her tears falling faster. "Alice, let me give the necklace back to you. I shouldn’t have taken it anyway." The moment her hand touched the clasp, Brooks spoke coldly. "Keep it on." Then Brooks turned to me. "The game decided who got it. That's it." I let out a soft chuckle. The room went dead silent. Brooks’ gaze turned icy. Bryant frowned. "Alice, it’s just a game. Do you have to make things so ugly?" He stepped in front of Michelle, shielding her. His voice was still soft, but it felt like a cold blade pressed against my throat. "Michelle has been insecure since she was a kid. She’s finally happy for once. Can’t you just let her have this?" There it was again. That same old line. I couldn’t help but look at Michelle. She was hiding behind Brooks, tears still hanging on her lashes, but the look she shot me was filled with a smug, silent triumph. A second later, Brooks stood up and walked over to me. He smelled of cold cedarwood. I was the one who chose that cologne for him. I told him it suited him—clean and sophisticated. But he used to complain it was too subtle. Later, Michelle said she liked it. He had been wearing it for three years now. He reached out, trying to ruffle my hair like he always did. I tilted my head and stepped back, dodging his hand. Someone in the room gasped. Brooks’ expression finally darkened completely. "I’ll be there for your bridal fitting tomorrow." I looked up into his eyes. "You actually remember?" He stared back as if I had just said something ridiculous. "When have I ever forgotten a promise I made to you?" Just then, Michelle let out a soft cough. Brooks turned around instantly. "What’s wrong?" Michelle shook her head. "Nothing. My neck is just a little itchy. Maybe I'm not used to the necklace yet." Brooks picked up his coat from the couch and draped it over her shoulders. Bryant looked at my pale face and sighed. "Alice, stop overthinking." "Brooks is marrying you tomorrow. Michelle is just like a little sister to us." I looked him dead in the eye. "Does a 'little sister' accept a pink diamond handpicked by the fiancé?" The smile faded from Bryant’s face. "Do you have to be so bitter?" Brooks looked back, his voice dropping to a warning whisper. "Alice, that’s enough." Suddenly, I didn't want to say another word. In this game of theirs, even after being humiliated, I was expected to smile and say, "Oh, I guess I'm just unlucky." When the party ended, Brooks drove Michelle to the hospital. Her neck had broken out in a small red rash. Bryant stayed behind to take me home. As we reached the exit, he took off his scarf and wrapped it around my neck. "The wind is cold tonight. Don't catch a cold." I stared down at the scarf. He always did this. Just when I was about to give up on him completely, he would throw me a tiny crumb of warmth. And in the next second, he would push me right back into the dark. Sure enough, once the scarf was secured, he said, "Alice, don’t take tonight to heart." "You know Brooks. He’s cold on the outside, but he cares about you." "He’s going to your fitting tomorrow, and you guys are getting your marriage license the day after." "You’ve already won. Stop fighting Michelle over these little things." I looked at him. "What exactly did I win?" Bryant froze. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Because even he couldn't answer that.

第3章

The next morning, I went to the bridal boutique alone. When the stylist pulled the main wedding gown out of the dust bag, her eyes lit up. "Miss Alice, this is absolutely perfect for you. Is Mr. Brooks joining us today?" I hesitated. "He’ll be here." That was the very last time I would ever make excuses for him. But ten o’clock came, and he wasn't there. At ten-thirty, his assistant sent a text: [Miss Alice, Mr. Brooks has an urgent matter to attend to. He might not make it today.] I dialed Brooks' number. He actually picked up. But over the line, I could hear Michelle's muffled whimpers in the background. "Alice, I’m at the hospital," Brooks said. I gripped my phone tightly. "What happened to you?" "Not me. It’s Michelle. She had an allergic reaction to that necklace last night. Her neck is severely swollen." I looked down at the wedding gown I was wearing. The corset was laced so tightly it made it hard to breathe. "Today is our wedding fitting." The line went silent for a moment. Then, Brooks let out a heavy sigh. "Alice, don’t compare yourself to her." "You’re the one registering the marriage with me tomorrow. You’re the one who will stand beside me at the altar." "Michelle is sick, and I’m just staying with her for a bit. Do you really have so little security in our relationship?" A lump formed in my throat, choking me. Just then, a stylist walked over, holding a box. "Miss Alice, Mr. Brooks just had this delivered." Inside was a pair of off-white satin wedding heels. The heels weren't too high, and there were blister pads pre-applied to the back of the shoes. A card lay next to them: [Your heels blister easily. Don't wear them too high.] Staring at the card, a sharp ache bloomed in my chest. So he did remember. When I was eighteen, the first time I wore high heels, my heels ended up bloody and raw. On the phone, his voice softened. "Did you get the shoes?" "Yeah," I whispered. "Be good," he said, coaxing me. "I'll come home and have dinner with you tonight." Before I could reply, Michelle’s voice drifted through the receiver. "Brooks, is my neck going to scar?" Brooks immediately turned away from the phone. "No, let me see." The call clicked dead. I looked down at the shoes. The shoes fit perfectly. But the man who sent them never showed up. At 3:00 PM, Bryant arrived. By then, I had already finished trying on all the dresses. Bryant pushed the door open, and when he saw me, his eyes widened slightly. "You look beautiful." He walked closer and looked down at my feet. His brow furrowed instantly. "Did you get blisters again?" He knelt down, pulling a tin of Band-Aids from his pocket. "Don't move." He applied the bandage with extreme gentleness, a routine he had mastered years ago. Once done, he looked up at me. "Does it hurt?" I didn't answer. Bryant stood up and helped me up. "Let's get in the car. It's freezing outside." It was pouring. He tilted the umbrella completely over my side, leaving his own shoulder soaked within seconds. I followed him to the car. Just as I was about to slide in, I noticed a white plush lamb sitting on the passenger seat. I froze. Bryant hesitated for a split second, then quickly held the door open, speaking in a casual, dismissing tone. "Just sit in the back." I stared at the toy. "It can't sit in the back?" Bryant went stiff. "Don't start, Alice. Michelle has been waiting for this toy all afternoon." "So, I sit in the back, and the toy gets the front seat?" He sighed deeply. "Alice, you're different." "You're stronger than her." Tears stung the back of my eyes. But I reached out and pushed his hand off the car door. "Bryant, I don't want to be strong today." The warmth on his face vanished. "Don't make this hard for me." I smiled weakly. "You always tell me to be understanding. Why do you never tell her to be understanding?" Bryant was silent for two seconds. Then, he said: "Because she actually cries." I nodded slowly. "And I don't." I hugged my wedding gown bag tightly, turned around, and walked into the rain. The downpour was heavy. Within steps, the back of my heels began to throb with pain. I didn't look back, and Bryant didn't chase after me. Honestly, it didn't matter anymore. Twenty minutes later, Michelle posted on her Instagram. In the photo, the white plush lamb was sitting clean and cozy next to her hospital bed. Her caption read: [Someone ran through the storm just to bring me this. He said he won't rest until my pain is gone.] I stood by the side of the road, holding my heavy dress garment bag, my feet completely numb from the cold and pain. The boutique assistant ran out, handing me a small paper bag. "Miss Alice! You forgot your veil!" I took it. At that exact moment, I decided I didn't want to register the marriage anymore.

第4章

But the next morning, I still went to City Hall. I just wanted to see, with my own eyes, if he would actually show up. At 9:15 AM, I saw Brooks’ car pull up across the street. When the car door opened, my chest loosened. I even subconsciously smoothed down my hair. Honestly, if he had just walked up to me and said, "Alice, I’m here," I might have swallowed all of last night’s pain and pushed forward. But then his phone rang. Brooks answered it. I didn't know what Michelle said on the other end, but his face turned pale. In the next second, he got right back into the car and drove away. The sound of the car door shutting was quiet, but it felt like a sledgehammer to my heart. Ten minutes later, Michelle posted on Instagram. [I told him I didn't want to be alone, and he actually came back for me.] The photo showed Brooks holding her hand while she was hooked up to an IV. At 9:40 AM, Bryant rushed to City Hall. When he got out of his car, his face was lined with exhaustion, looking like he hadn’t slept. "Stop waiting, Alice. Brooks isn't coming today." I stared at him. "I saw him." Bryant was stunned. He opened his mouth, but in the end, he only said, "Michelle’s allergy flared up again last night. She can't handle any stress right now." I asked quietly, "But I can?" He frowned. "Alice, stop asking things like that." He stepped closer, his voice taking on a coaxing tone. "You're the one getting the wedding, the title, and the name Mrs. Brooks." "What does Michelle have? She only has us as her friends." I packed up my ID, turned, and walked away. Bryant grabbed my arm. "Where are you going?" "The wedding planning company." He let out a sigh of relief. "To finalize the schedule?" "Yeah," I murmured. His face softened. "Good. Don't ruin the big day. If you make a scene, you're the one who will look bad." At the wedding planner’s office, the coordinator looked incredibly uncomfortable. She pushed her tablet toward me to show me the screen. On the screen was a giant photo of Brooks standing in the middle, with me on his left and Michelle on his right. The photo was taken at Michelle’s birthday party last year. She was wearing a white dress, holding Brooks’ arm, looking like the real bride. I was standing off to the side, still holding the knife we used to cut her cake. The welcome sign had been changed too: [Thank you for witnessing our ten years together.] But why did "our ten years" have to include Michelle? I scrolled through the itinerary. Everything had been modified. In our wedding vows, there was even a paragraph dedicated to thanking Michelle. I looked at the coordinator. "Who approved this?" The coordinator said timidly, "Mr. Brooks did." Seeing my face turn pale, Bryant immediately spoke up. "It’s just the welcome area, not the main stage." "Michelle never had a real family. She just wanted to feel included." I looked at him. "It’s my wedding. Why does she need to feel included?" Bryant’s voice grew heavy. "Alice, don’t be so petty." Just then, Brooks called my phone. The moment I picked up, he asked, "Did you see the new itinerary?" "I did." "Michelle cried all night, saying she felt like an outsider. I had them add a few photos." I asked, "Do you think that’s appropriate?" "What's wrong with it?" he snapped, his voice filled with impatience. "She’s your maid of honor, and she’s our mutual friend. You’re marrying me tomorrow, Alice, not a digital screen." I kept scrolling. When I reached the jewelry confirmation page, my fingers froze. The note read: [Pearl earrings to be worn by Miss Michelle for the wedding promo video shoot.] Those pearl earrings were a family heirloom left to me by my mother. Before she passed away, she told me she wanted me to wear them on my wedding day. It was my "Something Old." I asked, "Why is Michelle wearing my mother's earrings?" Brooks was silent for a moment. "She's just modeling them for the promo..." I cut him off. "Those belong to my mother." "I know." I let out a bitter laugh. "You know, and you still let her wear them?" Over the phone, Michelle started crying softly. "Brooks, forget it. I won't wear them. I don't want to make Alice mad..." Brooks’ voice softened instantly as he comforted her. "Don't say that." When he spoke to me again, his voice was like ice. "Alice, Michelle was just trying to help you test them out. Do you have to be so harsh?" I said, "Get them back. Now." Brooks didn't reply. Standing next to me, Bryant suddenly spoke up. "Alice, if your mother were still here, she wouldn't pick a fight with a young girl over this." I whipped my head around to look at him. The conference room went dead silent. Bryant flinched under my gaze, but he kept pushing. "Am I wrong? Your mother would have wanted you to be the bigger person." "If she saw you making such a massive scene over a pair of earrings, she wouldn't be happy either." Slap! I slapped him across the face. On the other end of the line, Brooks roared, "Alice! Did you just put your hands on him?!" Bryant stumbled back, his hand on his cheek, his eyes wide with utter shock. "Alice... I don't even recognize you anymore!" I didn't answer him. I grabbed my bag and walked out. Behind me, Brooks' voice came through the phone: "If you walk out now, don't expect me home tonight." I paused for a fraction of a second. "Whatever."

第5章

At 11:00 PM, Brooks wasn't home. I sat in the living room of our new house, flipping through the wedding program from start to finish. My name only appeared twice. This didn't look like a wedding between Brooks and me. It looked like a celebration of three people. At 1:00 AM, the front door unlocked. Brooks walked in, smelling heavily of hospital sanitizer. Seeing me still sitting there, he frowned. "You're still up?" I asked, "Where are the earrings?" He stopped unbuttoning his collar. "Michelle has to shoot the promo video tomorrow morning. They're staying with her tonight." I stood up. "Get them back. Now." Brooks’ face darkened, the last of his patience completely evaporating. "Alice, I am marrying you tomorrow!" "What more do you want?!" I said, "I want my mother’s things." Brooks let out a cold, arrogant chuckle that cut like a knife. "She’s literally just wearing them for a video, and you can't even handle that?" "Alice, don’t be so greedy." I stared at him, dumbfounded. To him, wanting my deceased mother’s heirloom back was "greedy." Right then, Bryant called Brooks. His voice was frantic. "Brooks, we have a problem." "Michelle says the earrings are gone." My entire body went rigid. Half an hour later, we rushed to the hotel dressing room. Michelle was sitting in front of the vanity mirror, wrapped in Brooks’ coat, her eyes swollen red from crying. The vanity table was a complete mess. But the pearl earrings were nowhere to be seen. I looked at the stylist. "Where's the security footage?" The stylist kept her head down. "The cameras broke this afternoon." How convenient. I looked at Michelle. "Give them back to me." Tears streamed down Michelle's face. "Alice, I swear I didn't take them!" "Then we call the police." Michelle’s face turned pale. She suddenly stood up and made a move to throw herself against the wall. "It's all my fault! I shouldn't have touched Alice's things! I should just die!" Brooks caught her in his arms, and Bryant rushed over to help hold her back. The two of them shielded her, one on each side, keeping her safe in the middle. Brooks looked back at me, his eyes colder than ice. "Apologize." I thought I had misheard him. "What did you say?" "Apologize to her." He said it slowly, emphasizing every word. "She is already having a breakdown. How much further do you want to push her?" I stared at him. "Brooks, she lost my mother’s only keepsake." "She said it wasn't on purpose!" "And you just believe her?!" "Do you have any proof that she did it on purpose?" I was speechless. Bryant pleaded in a low voice, "Alice, just swallow your pride." "You've already won. Why do you have to make things so hard for her?" Looking at them, an overwhelming wave of exhaustion washed over me. Michelle was clearly the one winning everything, yet everyone treated her like the victim. So, I nodded. I didn't want to fight anymore. "Fine." The dressing room went quiet. Brooks frowned, clearly not expecting me to give in so easily. Even Bryant looked stunned. I turned to Michelle. She was still shrinking behind Brooks, tears pooling in her eyes. I said, "I'm sorry." Bryant stared at me, his lips parting. "Alice..." I didn't look at them again. I slipped off my engagement ring and placed it quietly on the vanity. "The wedding can go on tomorrow." "Don't let me ruin your fun." I turned and walked out. Brooks looked like he wanted to chase after me. But Michelle suddenly clutched her neck, her voice trembling, "Brooks, it hurts so bad..." Brooks immediately turned back to her, and Bryant instantly focused all his attention on her. In that split second, I stepped out of the room. By the time they looked up again, the door had closed, and I was gone. That night, I went back to the house and canceled every single wedding vendor, one by one. The wedding planner took my call at 3:00 AM, her voice trembling with panic. "Does Mr. Brooks know about this?" "He doesn't need to." Before the sun rose, I dragged my suitcase and left the city. On the morning of the wedding, at 10:00 AM. Brooks went to the jewelry store himself and picked out a pear-cut diamond ring. He stared down at the ring, his voice quiet. "She's loved this cut since she was eighteen." Bryant stood beside him, holding a long, black umbrella. My name was engraved on the handle. He smiled softly. "This should work too." "She’s remembered that rainy night when we were eighteen for so many years." Brooks shot him a look. "You still remember that?" Bryant’s smile faded a bit. "Yeah." He paused, then added, "She apologized way too quickly last night." Brooks scoffed. "She was just tired." "After throwing a tantrum all night, she needed a way out." Bryant nodded. "True." He forced a laugh. "Alice has a soft heart." "With you giving her the ring and me giving her the umbrella, she won't be able to stay mad once she sees them." But when the two arrived at the hotel venue, they found the staff taking down the wedding decorations. Brooks froze. "Who told you to tear this down?" The coordinator was shocked to see him. "Mr. Brooks... wasn't the wedding canceled?"