Chapter 1

In the mirror, the words "Used Stud" were plastered across my face in bold letters.

The crowd around me jeered.

"Look at that, a used stud. Fits him perfectly."

"I heard he's a 30-year-old virgin. Total freak."

"Seriously, the nerve of this guy to even throw a wedding. Talk about shamelessness."

Just then, the door swung open, and my fiancee, Ariel Booker, walked in in her wedding dress.

My friend, Patrick Morris, sauntered over with a smirk. "Ms. Booker, your dress is a bit messed up."

With that, he reached out under the guise of fixing her tube top and slid his hand inside for a quick grope.

In my last life, seeing this had made my blood boil. I had rushed over and punched him in the face.

But Ariel had immediately grabbed a bottle of red wine from the table, smashed it over my head, and screamed at me, "Caleb Newman! Mr. Morris came all this way to do your makeup for free! He was just trying to break the ice. How could you be so petty and just hit him? Apologize to Mr. Morris on your knees right now, or the wedding is off!"

Back then, I remembered how she had stayed by my hospital bed for three days and nights when my stomach bled.

I remembered how she had done everything in her power to help treat Mom, who was in a vegetative state from a stroke.

Not wanting to ruin our wedding day, I had apologized to Patrick on the spot and begged Ariel to go through with the ceremony.

But this time around, I saw everything with perfect clarity.

When Patrick's hand slipped into her dress, she didn't flinch. Instead, she flushed as she looked at him.

Noticing my lack of reaction, Ariel suddenly looked guilty and pushed Patrick away. "Apologize to Caleb right now! Wipe that stamp off his face and redo his makeup!"

I grabbed a makeup wipe, cleaned the words off my face, and said quietly, "Don't bother. The wedding is off."

Ariel stared at me in disbelief.

I stripped off the custom suit she had ordered for me and headed for the door.

That seemed to snap her out of it. She grabbed my wrist, looking aggrieved. "Caleb! Stop throwing a fit! We've been planning this for so long! All our friends and family are out there. How can you call off the wedding over a harmless joke?"

I shook her hand off, ignoring the stares of the crowd, and looked at her with a mocking smile. "Ariel, you know exactly why we shouldn't get married. I'm not stopping you. Go be with the one you actually love. Isn't that what you want?"

I thought she would panic.

Instead, her expression didn't even waver. She just looked hurt. "Caleb, what are you talking about? Everyone knows you're the only one I love!"

She pointed at Patrick. "Is it because of him? I swear I didn't know he was going to pull a stunt like that. Besides, I made him apologize, didn't I? If you're still mad, I'll fire him. Will that make you happy?"

Patrick immediately teared up in a panic. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Should I get down on my knees? Will that make it right?"

I just watched them, offering no reaction whatsoever.

Ariel's parents, Arthur Booker and Isabel West, walked over. Their voices were laced with disapproval.

"Ariel is already swallowing her pride for you. What more do you want?"

"Caleb, you should know how well Ariel treats you. She performed your mother's surgery and arranged her aftercare. Don't bite the hand that feeds you."

A sharp ache pierced my chest.