Chapter 3

I went straight to the bridal store.

When I arrived, Benjamin stood in front of the mirror in the so-called backup suit. Natalie sat on the couch with her phone in hand, but her eyes remained fixed on him.

Benjamin turned around and asked with a grin, "Hey, how do I look?"

Natalie scoffed. "You look terrible."

But I clearly saw her lower her head and open the camera on her phone. When Benjamin turned away, she secretly snapped a picture. Then she quickly flipped her phone face down in her palm as if nothing had happened.

That small gesture hurt more than any compliment could have. My throat felt clogged with wet cotton, so tight and bitter that I couldn't speak.

So she did secretly save someone's best moments. Just not mine.

The day I tried on my wedding suit, Natalie had said something had come up at work and told me to decide for myself. I had sent her pictures, and three hours later, all she had replied was: [Not bad.]

Now Benjamin had merely tried on a suit, and she could sit here, complain about how terrible he looked, and secretly take pictures of him.

Benjamin tugged at the hem of the suit and said casually, "I probably won't ever get the chance to wear a proper suit in my life. Might as well take advantage of Logan's wedding and dress up a little."

Natalie frowned. "Don't say that."

Benjamin raised an eyebrow. "What, afraid your hubby will get jealous? Fine, fine. I'll take it off so he doesn't get upset again."

I turned to the staff. "This is my wedding. Why is there a backup suit in someone else's size?"

Benjamin finally noticed me.

Surprise flashed across his face before he quickly took a couple of steps toward me. "Logan, that's really not what I meant. I was just helping you see how it looked on camera. Don't get the wrong idea."

Impatience crept into Natalie's voice. "He's a groomsman. He's supposed to be part of the interactive portion of the reception. What's wrong with having him try it on?"

I was about to respond when a sharp crash came from the display area beside us. A clothing rack toppled over and crashed toward Benjamin and me.

Natalie didn't hesitate. She rushed forward, pulled Benjamin into her arms, and shielded him as she backed away.

The metal rack slammed into my shoulder and sliced my arm open. The pain hit a moment later, and blood trickled down my wrist.

Benjamin let out a frightened cry and trembled in Natalie's arms. Yet even then, he tried to push her away.

"Why are you worrying about me? Your hubby is over there. I'm really fine. I've been falling and getting hurt since I was a kid. Go check on him."

But his hand remained tightly clenched around Natalie's sleeve. He didn't let go.

Natalie lowered her head and checked him for injuries, her voice tense with concern. "Did you get hurt? Are you scared?"

I stood there and clutched my injured arm, suddenly unable to say a word.

Just then, Hannah and Kayden rushed over.

The moment Kayden saw Benjamin, he frowned at me. "What's wrong with you again, Logan?"

Hannah's expression darkened too. "Benjamin was just helping try on a suit, and you still had to make a big deal out of it. No wonder nobody likes you."

Kayden helped Benjamin to his feet, clicked his tongue, and added impatiently, "Can't you be more like Benjamin? He doesn't fight over anything. He can joke about anything. That's why everyone wants to be around him.

"You walk around with that miserable look on your face all day, like the whole world owes you something."

Natalie finally looked at me. Her gaze lingered on my bleeding arm for barely a second before she said, "Logan, you've really gone too far today."

I looked at all of them. Humiliation and hurt weighed on my chest until I could barely breathe. But I refused to cry in front of them anymore.

I lowered my head and slipped off my engagement ring. The numbers engraved inside the band, Benjamin's birthday, felt cold beneath my fingertips.

I placed the ring on the table in front of Natalie. "Natalie, we're breaking up."

The shop instantly fell silent. Natalie's expression changed.

I pressed a hand against my wound and said softly, "There won't be a wedding tomorrow either."

Natalie's face darkened completely. "Logan, think this through. The invitations have already gone out, and our family and friends are already here. You're saying we should cancel now? Do you want everyone to laugh at us?"

I didn't respond.

Benjamin let out a quiet gasp and said he felt dizzy. Natalie immediately looked down at him before turning back to me with a cold expression. "You need to calm down. I'm taking him to the hospital."

With that, she helped Benjamin out of the store. Hannah, Kayden, and Veronica hurried after them. Soon, I was the only one left.

Only then did an employee quietly approach me. "Mr. Wilson, Miss Cole already paid the rush fee last night. She said that if you didn't show up tomorrow, the wedding would continue with Mr. Henderson in his backup suit for the reception activities. She didn't want your spot to be left empty."

I simply stood there after hearing that. I even forgot to say thank you.

That answer filled in every blank and settled every question I'd had. Benjamin hadn't been dragged into this as some last-minute joke. He had had his own place in my wedding all along.