Chapter 3

"You don't have to tell them anything. Consider it a special surprise from me as a friend."

After everything was arranged, I received another message from Henry.

He sent me an address and taunted me.

[Tomorrow, I'm rehearsing the wedding with my wife. I've got a gift for you tonight. The question is, do you dare to come get it?]

I hesitated for only a few seconds before deciding to go alone.

The moment I stepped into the bar, I ran into one of Jenna's close friends. She was drunk, leaning against the door outside a private room, and catching her breath.

She squinted at me and grinned.

"Why do you look so much like Jenna's boyfriend? No way. I'm not seeing things, am I?"

She laughed again.

"Jenna's really something! She's about to get married and is still acting like this. Isn't she worried about messing it up? We don't dare say anything in case we let it slip out."

I stared at her slumped figure by the door. My heart sank.

So everyone knew.

Everyone knew she was marrying Henry except me.

Six years of my life turned out to be a ridiculous joke.

I stood quietly outside the room. Through the crack in the door, I saw Jenna, the same woman who had said she was working late, sitting in Henry's lap, drinking one glass after another.

Henry smiled broadly, his arm tight around her waist. They looked inseparable, like a couple deep in love.

Someone suddenly asked, "Jenna, are you really going to keep this from Chris forever? Isn't that kind of messed up?"

Jenna froze. Her expression darkened instantly.

"I'm warning you. None of you is allowed to say a word to Chris. If anyone does, you know exactly what I'll do!" She frowned impatiently and added, "This is just a marriage for power. Even if Chris finds out, he won't blame me. I'll explain it to him, but not now."

She downed her drink in one go, as if trying to drown the unease gnawing at her.

Henry seemed to sense my presence outside. The smile on his face only grew wider. As if deliberately provoking me, he reached up and touched Jenna's face.

"Honey, you act like you still love Chris right in front of me. You know I get jealous."

She laughed softly. "Such a jealous man. Want a kiss?"

She tilted her head up and kissed him deeply.

I watched the scene, numb. The feeling that had been torturing me for days finally let loose.

We had weathered so much together once, supporting each other through everything. Yet now, we had ended up walking away from each other completely.

It was ironic.

I knew Henry was doing this on purpose. Since I was already here, I wasn't going to leave empty-handed.

I silently took out my phone and recorded the nauseating scene. When I finished, I turned to leave.

Just then, Jenna swayed as she stood up.

She seemed to have had enough kissing and suddenly remembered me. She muttered softly,

"Alright, I'm heading back. I need to buy Chris a cake. You guys have fun."

My steps faltered for a moment, but I didn't turn around.

I walked straight out.

That night, Jenna didn't come home, and I never saw that cake.

My phone was filled with photo after photo, all sent by Henry; intimate shots of him and Jenna together.

Two days before I left, my alarm went off.

I didn't alert anyone. Wearing a mask, I quietly entered the hotel.

Henry and Jenna were rehearsing their wedding. They were wearing the wedding dress and suit I had designed.

I watched as they walked step by step across the stage, guided by the officiant.

I watched them gaze into each other's eyes and place rings, which symbolized their love for eternity, on each other's fingers.