My Bride Secretly Married Someone Else First

After I sent my reply, the group chat fell silent for half a minute.

The first to respond was Miles Sutton, the brother of my fiancee, Wendy Sutton. "Morgan, everyone's already been invited. Don't say something so irresponsible."

Next, her best friend, Lyra Manson, stepped in to smooth things over. "Morgan, don't take it the wrong way. It's nothing serious. Shiloh has been in a bad place emotionally. We're just helping him make up for a past regret. Everyone knows you're the real groom!"

She even sent a pleading emoji, as if to ask me to forgive them. It was as if this deliberate betrayal were nothing more than a joke that had gotten a little out of hand.

My phone rang moments later. It was my best friend, Lucas Ziegler. "Morgan, I knew from the very beginning that this was a bad idea, but I couldn't stop them—"

I immediately cut him off. "Who took the wedding ring I designed for Wendy?"

Lucas went completely silent.

I turned and walked into the dressing room. The velvet ring box on the vanity was still open, but the wedding ring was long gone.

"I took it," he finally admitted. "They said they wanted to take some commemorative photos. I was afraid you'd get upset if you found out, so I didn't tell you."

My knuckles cracked as I tightened my grip on the phone. "So you broke into the home, Wendy and I were supposed to share, took my wedding ring, and handed it to her so she could marry another man?"

"No!"

He hurriedly explained, "The registration's just a formality. They'll get divorced afterward. Wendy will still marry you. Morgan, I was caught between both sides. What else was I supposed to do? "

I couldn't believe I had called him my best friend for ten years.

I hung up the phone, pulled out my suitcase, and packed my belongings. I had just finished packing when I heard the sound of the keypad lock being opened at the front door.

Wendy was back. She was carrying a bag of takeout from my favorite restaurant. "Honey, you haven't eaten yet, have you? Look what I brought home!"

She placed the insulated bag down on the dining table, completely unfazed by what had happened in the group chat.

I stared at her left hand. The wedding ring I designed sat on her ring finger. I asked, "Did you two really register your marriage?"

Wendy's hands paused as she set the food down. "Honey, let me explain. Shiloh has just been fired from his company, and Lyra and the others kept egging us on. I couldn't exactly embarrass him in front of everyone."

She quickly added, "Don't worry, we'll get a divorce in a month. So don't be mad, honey."

She sounded as if she were coaxing me, but it was as if she were just stating a fact.

I retorted, "He's your legal husband now. Do you really think you can marry me without committing bigamy?"