Chapter 2

Penny laughed coolly even before Aron could speak. "It's just a video, Lydia. Do you really have to go that far?"

Aron kept quiet, but I could see the agreement on his face.

However, I didn't stop, and Penny held my bouquet high in the air as she said loudly, "Well, Aron… since a certain someone is intent on emotional blackmail, I want you to honor our bet early for safety's sake. That means I'm taking over this wedding, my dear husband."

With those words, she raised her hand to Aron, gesturing for him to put the ring on her finger instead.

Aron leered at me haughtily in turn and snorted. "You better be sure about this, Lydia. Once I put this ring on Penny's finger, there's no turning back. So be mature for once—apologize to everyone, and we can still carry on."

I didn't even look back as I left without hesitation.

Just before the door shut, Penny was laughing again. "Oh, Aron—your gal sure is petty, running away from her wedding because of a prank! I guess I have to make it up to you and spend your wedding night with you!"

Aron snorted too. "Oh, don't worry about her—she's always so jealous and getting upset over a video. Her mom is dying, and she'll be begging for the wedding again in no time."

I felt like I had been stabbed in the chest, and the moment I turned, I saw Aron lovingly put the ring on Penny's finger.

And that was when the doors closed, separating me from their world.

My phone began to vibrate repeatedly as my father sent me a barrage of messages.

I dropped to a crouch by the curb to slowly read through them.

[Sorry we can't make it, Lydia. We wish you all the happiness with Aron, and your mom is still waiting for your wedding video.]

[She looks much better today. Who knows, we might even be able to help babysit when her surgery is finished.]

Just reading the texts left my chest hurting.

I had a huge fight with Aron because of Penny before Molly got sick, and we were ready to break up.

But after Molly collapsed and was rushed to the hospital, he came immediately, holding my helpless self in his arms and assuring me tenderly, "Don't worry. She's going to be fine—I'll get her the best doctor right away."

And he came good on his promise, having meticulously overseen Molly's stay at the hospital.

When I cried hysterically during Molly's worst nights, he was there for me, helping me get through the pain.

At that time, he was completely cut off from Penny, which was why this wedding was possible in the first place.

I just didn't think that it would be at the wedding when Aron combined with Penny to hit me the worst way they could.

Wiping away my tears and taking deep breaths to quell the pain in my chest, I tried to get on my feet when I received another text from Penny.

Attached with it was a photo of her making love with Aron, and she wore a bridal gown!

Even as my eyes widened, too stunned to react, another text came.

[You can tell if these are real, can you? I won't lie—I tried your bed with Aron a month ago.]

[He's pretty good, but since you rejected him, then I shall happily receive him.]

A month ago…?

Realizing what Penny was getting at, I felt like I'd fallen into an abyss again.