Chapter 2

Colin's POV

I wasn't fond of sweets, so I quietly waited for Vera and Steve at the bakery's entrance.

The bakery owner was very friendly. She cut a slice of her new product and gave it to Steve, saying, "It's been a while since you and your girlfriend dropped by. Why are the two of you dressed so formally today? Are you going to a ball?"

Steve's ears turned red. He pointed at the entrance and said, "It's my best friend's wedding. I'm his groomsman."

The bakery owner's smile stiffened as her eyes darted between the three of us. In the end, she said, "I'm sorry. I assumed that the two of you were a couple since you drop by for tea quite often. I didn't know that there was another person."

It was obvious that the "other person" that she was referring to was me.

I hoped that Vera would speak up and explain the situation on my behalf, but she didn't. Instead, she bought all the different-flavored honey cakes in the bakery and had the staff members place them in over a dozen bags.

"Don't waste the food if you can't finish it," I said.

However, my words seemed to send Steve into a panic.

A troubled expression appeared on his face as he said, "I know that you don't care about the cakes, Colin. You must be mad that Vera spent her money on me. I admit that I'm in the wrong here."

He was shaking when he pulled out a 100-dollar bill from his bag and pressed it into my palm.

Meanwhile, Vera had run out of patience with me. She pursed her lips and snapped coldly, "Can you look at the bigger picture, Colin? It's our big day today. Do you have to cause a fuss? Besides, Steve is your best friend. It's perfectly normal for me to buy things for him."

Normal?

I shook my head and barked out a self-deprecating laugh.

Vera was the one who bought the expensive watch, belt, and limited edition sneakers that Steve was wearing. On the other hand, although we had been dating for seven years, the most expensive gift that she had ever given me was an electric shaver set.

In fact, I had personally bought the suit I was currently wearing. I had basically never spent a single penny that belonged to Vera.

At first, I thought that I could earn her love if I showed that I had no interest in her money. However, I had failed to earn both her love and her money.

"Don't blame Colin, Vera," Steve said, thoughtfully speaking on my behalf. "He doesn't know how to act since it's his first time as a groom. Don't mind him. The two of you living happily together is more important than anything else. Don't argue with each other because of me.

"As you know, my parents are divorced. I'm terrified that the two of you will end up unhappy together."

I looked up at Steve. The pain in my heart felt worse than if I had been stabbed by countless needles.

Steve had stayed awake for countless nights after his parents divorced.

I was the one who stayed by his side and took care of him during those difficult months.

I never would have imagined that he would repay my kindness by stabbing me in the back.

"Alright then. I'll listen to you," Vera said.

A long time passed before I managed to pull myself out of my memories. The pain in my heart slowly faded away.

All three of us were silent after we got back into the car. However, the silence didn't last long because Steve was suddenly thirsty.

"The honey cakes are too dry, Vera. I can't swallow them. I want to drink some iced soda," Steve said, his voice becoming gradually smaller at the tail end of his sentence.

He carefully snuck a glance at me when he said the last three words, wanting to gauge my reaction.

However, my expression remained unchanged. There wasn't even a trace of unhappiness on my face.

Vera hesitated for a few seconds.

"Steve… It's getting a little too late," she said before immediately changing her tune. "But I'll buy one for you if you're thirsty."

Her phone began ringing nonstop the moment her words left her lips.

"When will you get here, Vera? Most of the guests are already here! We're just waiting for you and Colin!"

Vera's chest tightened, but she still ordered me to drive to the nearest convenience store shown on the navigator as fast as possible after she hung up.