Chapter 1

The wedding continued, and the emcee's enthusiastic voice rang out from the stage, "And now, the bride may embrace and kiss the groom!"

Before the words had even faded, Ruby Clark lifted her veil and leaned in to kiss Steve Lane. Her movements were so natural, as if they had been rehearsed countless times.

I watched quietly without saying a word.

The expression of my childhood friend, Cameron Reilly, darkened.

I grabbed him just as he was about to rush onto the stage and shook my head. "Don't."

He turned back and asked indignantly, "Ivan, how could Ruby do this to you? You had been looking forward to this wedding for seven years. You personally designed the venue and purchased all the materials.

"Even her bouquet was something you finally chose after visiting more than ten florists. How could she just turn around and give it to Steve because of a Reconciliation Voucher?"

He was right. I had indeed been looking forward to this wedding for seven years.

Even Cameron, who was far away abroad, knew how much I had been longing for it.

Yet, Ruby—who had been by my side through it all and had once sworn in front of my mother, Ethel Kline, that she would give me a home—said the wedding was just for show.

Cameron grabbed my hand, his voice thick with indignation.

"Ivan, you loved Ruby for ten years. When she couldn't sleep after her breakup, you stayed up with her. When her drinking gave her stomach problems, you spent three years helping her recover.

"When she got into a fight, you risked your life and took a knife for her. But look at her—she never got over Steve!"

I followed his gaze.

Steve, dressed in a well-tailored wedding tuxedo, was moving among the guests, making toasts.

Meanwhile, Ruby trailed behind him, thoughtfully replacing the wine in his glass with orange juice.

Perhaps they had planned it all along.

Aside from Cameron, who was supposed to be the best man, all the guests on the groom's side turned out to be friends and family from Steve's side.

They smiled and praised what a perfect match the two made.

The picture was eerily perfect, so much so one would have thought this was their wedding from the very beginning.

I blinked, and the two of them were already standing before me.

Steve put on a sheepish look, but his eyes were brimming with smug satisfaction.

"Ivan, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to steal your wedding. I just wanted to make up for the regrets of my youth. I never expected Ruby would… Well, she didn't want to go back on her word either.

"If you want to blame someone, blame me. Still, thank you for being gracious enough to let us have this. Here's to you."

It sounded like an apology, yet every word dripped with gloating.

But Ruby acted as if she didn't understand. She just smiled and mouthed silently at me, "Be good."

I had heard those two words countless times over the past seven years.

When she ditched me on our anniversary to watch a movie with Steve, she told me to be good.

When I had gastroenteritis and needed surgery, she went with Steve's dog to a vet checkup and told me to be good.

And now, as she handed over the wedding that was supposed to be mine to another man, she was still telling me to be good.

It was as if I weren't her fiance, but just a dog to keep her company when she was bored. She could play with me in her spare time, but when the real man of the house came home, I had to stay obediently in the doghouse.

Snapping out of my thoughts, I picked up my glass and clinked it against Steve's.

"It's all good. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness together."

Then, I tilted my head back and downed it in one go.

Steve laughed heartily, whereas Ruby froze for a moment.

The next second, the sharp burn of the wine sent me into a coughing fit.

Ruby patted my back and hastily swapped the wine glass in my hand for a glass of orange juice.

"Drink some orange juice to ease it."

The concern in her eyes seemed genuine.

But as I gazed at the golden liquid, I felt a wave of bitterness rise unbidden in my heart.

In seven years of dating, I had told her more than once that I was allergic to orange juice, yet she still never remembered.

No, it wasn't that she couldn't remember. It was just that orange juice was Steve's favorite.

I raised my hand and pushed the orange juice away.

"Thanks, but I'm allergic to orange juice."

Ruby froze. Her lips moved slightly, as if she wanted to say something.

But Steve tugged at her sleeve and said, "Ruby, it's time to take photos with the guests.

Her attention was instantly pulled away. She left me behind and followed him to the photo shoot.

Cameron watched the two of them walk off arm in arm, anger simmering in his eyes. With a heavy heart, he urged me earnestly, "Ivan, let her go. Don't go through with the registration tomorrow."

"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."

I would definitely be registering my marriage tomorrow, no doubt about that. The only question was with whom.