Loading promotion info...
The Wedding Bet：You Changed the Venue, I Changed the Groom
Novelix
Completed
Exactly one week before my dream wedding, I found out my billionaire fiancé, Julian, changed our wedding venue to Iceland just to win a sick bet with my backstabbing best friend. He even lent her my wedding ring as a prize, claiming I would never leave him. I didn't cry or throw a tantrum. Instead, I crossed his name off the wedding planner and packed my bags. On the wedding day, while Julian waited at an empty church in Iceland, a video played on the big screen: I was in Ireland, in a white gown, saying "I do" to another man. Game over, Julian.
Chapters (3)
第1章
Exactly one week before my dream wedding in Ireland, my so-called best friend suddenly calls me.
"Aria, is the wedding in Ireland or Iceland?"
I pause. "Ireland, of course."
The moment the words leave my mouth, she cheers over the phone.
"I won!"
"I knew Aria wouldn't notice we changed the venue to Iceland! Don't forget my prize!"
Julian Sinclair chuckles and takes the phone.
"Aria, you're getting married in a week, and you didn't even know we changed the venue!"
"Hurry up and change your flight, unless you don't plan on getting married anymore."
The call abruptly ends.
Last month, they bet on how long it would take me to notice my wedding dress was swapped for Serena's favorite vintage royal style.
Half a year ago, they bet on whether I'd notice Serena wearing the Sinclair family heirloom sapphire necklace—the one meant for the future Mrs. Sinclair.
Now, they are even using our wedding venue to make a bet.
I pick up my phone. Instead of changing my flight, I reply to a text buried deep in my inbox.
"One week from now. Wedding in Ireland. Are you in?"
This time, it is my turn to bet.
Let's see how long it takes them to notice the groom has been changed.
A photo from the wedding planner pops up on my phone.
It is the welcome portrait for the wedding reception.
Serena wears a gorgeous vintage wedding gown, smiling at Julian.
Meanwhile, I am wearing plain clothes, kneeling to adjust her train like a maid.
My phone rings. The planner sounds apologetic.
"Miss Aria, I'm so sorry. Mr. Sinclair told me not to tell you about the venue change..."
"And just now, he told me to replace your wedding portrait with this one. He said he and Miss Serena were betting on how long it would take you to notice."
"But this is going too far. Anyone who sees it will think Mr. Sinclair is marrying Miss Serena. You should talk to him and have it changed back before the wedding..."
I stare at their intertwined fingers on the screen and answer calmly.
"No need to change it. Just use this one. Do whatever Julian wants for the wedding."
"Huh? Um... all right."
The planner hesitates but doesn't say anything else.
I hang up and pull out the original proposal for the Irish wedding.
Every page is covered in my notes. From the choice of the church to the type of bouquet, I confirmed everything piece by piece.
A month ago, when I did the final check, Julian even teased me:
"What? Afraid I'll make another bet with Serena? Don't worry, a wedding is a big deal. I'd never mess with something this important."
I pick up a pen and cross out the groom's name on the proposal, stroke by stroke.
I replace it with Ethan.
Just as I finish, the door is suddenly pushed open.
"What are you doing?"
Julian wraps his arms around me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder.
I wave the wedding proposal and use the movement to slip out of his arms.
"The groom's name was wrong. I was changing it."
"How could the groom's name be wrong?"
He freezes for a second. Just as he reaches for the proposal, his phone vibrates.
His hand naturally changes direction, reaching for the phone on the coffee table instead.
It is a voice message from Serena.
"A bet is a bet. Don't you dare cheat."
Julian chuckles and types back, "Okay."
When he looks back at me, he holds out a Cartier LOVE bracelet.
"Do you like it?"
I look down at it, stunned.
This bracelet has been sitting in my shopping cart for almost a year.
Every time I wanted to buy it, I couldn't bring myself to spend that much.
I didn't expect him to actually notice.
"Thank you."
I purse my lips and thank him softly.
But before the warmth can even rise in my chest, my left ring finger suddenly feels empty.
"If you like it, lend me your engagement ring for a few days."
Seeing my shock, he smiles and kisses the back of my hand.
"Serena won the bet about the wedding venue, right? This ring is her prize."
He pauses.
"Don't worry, I'm just lending it to her for fun. I'll definitely give it back on the wedding day."
The living room light hits Julian's face. For a moment, I see the man he was four years ago.
He pointed at the engraving inside the ring and smiled at me.
"Aria, you're the love of my life. This isn't just a ring. It's a promise that you're the only woman I'll ever love."
But it turns out, his love can be lent out so easily.
I smile lightly.
"No need to return it."
I don't need the ring anymore.
Or the man.
第2章
Julian frowns, staring at me quietly as if he wants to say something.
The next second, the sound of the front door unlocking echoes from the entryway.
"Aria, I brought your favorite matcha cake!"
Serena walks in barefoot, moving around as if she owns the place.
She winks at me playfully, then gives Julian a light punch on the arm.
"Give me your slippers!"
Julian sighs and helps her put on his slippers.
"What is wrong with you? We have guest slippers. Why do you always have to wear mine?"
Although he is complaining, the way he slips them onto her feet is so natural, like he's done it a hundred times before.
I watch quietly, not saying a word.
Julian is a germaphobe. He won't even let me wear his slippers.
But Serena has always been the exception.
I questioned him about it once, clearly upset.
He just said they grew up together and have always been like this.
But actually, it wasn't always like this.
When Julian and I first got together, Serena, as my best friend, smiled even brighter than I did.
She constantly reminded Julian to keep his distance from other girls, including herself.
But later on, Serena's family went bankrupt.
Everything changed.
"Aria, you don't mind me wearing this diamond ring, do you?"
The question snaps me out of my thoughts.
Serena can't hide her smile.
I smirk.
"It's just a ring. Why would I mind?"
"We're best friends. If you want him so badly, you can have him."
Serena's smile falters, and guilt flashes across her face.
Seeing this, Julian quickly pulls her behind him.
"Aria, you're crossing the line. Apologize!"
I tell the truth, and he demands an apology.
Yet they have trampled all over my boundaries again and again, and neither of them has ever apologized.
I ignore him and walk straight to my suitcase to start packing.
Julian freezes in place, his eyebrows drawing together.
"What do you mean by this?"
I don't look back.
"I mean you can have the wedding without me. We're breaking up."
Julian’s breath hitches. He stares at me intently, about to say something.
Then Serena walks over.
"Aria, stop using the breakup card to manipulate Julian. I'll just give the ring back to you, okay?"
"No need."
"Aria, you're thirty years old. Aren't you too childish to pull something like this?"
"Besides, don't you want your mom to see you get married?"
My mother's biggest wish is to see me get married.
When Julian found out, he knelt by my mother's bed and promised:
"I promise to give Aria the wedding of her dreams."
That promise feels like yesterday.
But the man who made that promise is long gone.
He takes a step forward and strokes my hair.
"Come on. Stop throwing a tantrum."
"I told you where the wedding is, so you still have plenty of time to change your flight."
"We have the bachelor party tonight, so we're heading over first."
With that, he takes the teary-eyed Serena by the hand and walks out.
I grab my suitcase and walk out the door too.
第3章
As soon as I get into the taxi, a message pops up on my phone.
Serena sends me a video.
In a dimly lit VIP booth, a group of people sit in a circle, playing a game where they pass an ice cube from mouth to mouth.
When it is Serena's turn, the ice cube is only the size of a fingernail.
Holding the tiny sliver of ice between her lips, she leans toward Julian.
He smiles, doesn't pull away, and catches the ice between his lips.
The ice cube instantly melts between their lips. The entire room erupts into cheers and whistles.
"Serena is the only one who can pull this off! Look at Julian’s eyes! Who else gets this kind of treatment?"
The guy shouting is one of Julian's childhood friends.
"Exactly! Those two are made for each other!"
This time, it's Julian's cousin.
When she was cheated on by her ex, I dropped all my work to go with her to confront him at his office.
Back then, she hugged me, crying, saying I was the only sister-in-law she would ever accept.
"Honestly, Julian, Aria is just some nobody with no family or connections. She really doesn't deserve you. Are you seriously planning to marry her?"
The room falls dead silent. Everyone looks at Julian.
And so do I.
He lazily twirls a cigarette between his fingers before answering.
"It's just marriage. Does it really matter who I marry?"
The video abruptly ends there.
But his words keep echoing in my head.
Julian and I met at a programming competition. I beat him and took first place.
From then on, he pursued me relentlessly.
At first, I didn't believe a rich, privileged guy like Julian would actually like someone like me.
Until one time, I was cornered by some local thugs near campus.
To save me, Julian ended up with two broken ribs.
I asked him, "Is it worth it? We're just dating. Wouldn't it be the same with anyone else?"
He smiled and said:
"It's different. I only love you, and I only want to spend my life with you. It could never be the same with anyone else."
That promise meant everything to me, and I held onto it for ten years.
But ten years later, he says it doesn't matter who he marries.
I calmly save the video.
The next second, Serena's obvious attempt to test me pops up.
"Aria, I sent you the wrong video just now. You didn't watch it, did you?"
"What did you send?"
The chat box shows "typing..." over and over. By the time I get out of the taxi, a reply finally comes.
"Nothing. Julian is drunk. I won't bring him home tonight, so we won't disturb your sleep."
I stare at it for a long time, then reply, "Whatever."
Then, I open the transfer offer from my company for a position in Ireland.
I click "Accept."
I received this offer six months ago. After working abroad for three years, I will be promoted to Technical Director.
But Julian didn't want me to take it.
He hugged my waist, saying he couldn't bear the thought of me moving so far away, and promised to take care of me for the rest of my life.
Although I didn't need him to support me, I was moved by his affection.
Originally, having the wedding in Ireland was partly so I could visit the company's office there and see what I was giving up.
Now, there are no regrets left.
