Chapter 1

Caleb's POV

The wedding hall fell silent for a moment before Tyra Stone's voice broke the silence. "That line isn't in the script. Remove it."

She glanced at me coolly, clearly annoyed that I had added my own words without permission.

I froze, bitterness settling in my chest.

Even now, she still thought I was playing along with her perfect wedding game. To her, my thoughts and opinions were suggestions she could dismiss at will.

It wasn't just this. She removed my favorite cuisine and replaced the wedding menu with what Jeremiah Young liked instead.

She left out my closest friends and asked Jeremiah's coworkers to be my groomsmen. Even the wedding suit that had been passed down in my family for three generations was replaced by one he had picked out.

Whenever I complained, she always said Jeremiah's clothes fit her wedding theme better. She chose perfection, so she willingly disregarded all my preferences.

Somehow, when it came to Jeremiah, she was willing to throw perfection out the window and make exceptions for his mistakes.

Seeing me standing there in a daze, Jeremiah smiled and tried to smooth things over.

"Don't be so rigid, Tyra. Caleb meant well. Besides, I think what he said adds a nice touch to the wedding. It makes it even more perfect. Don't you think so?"

I was just about to tell him there was no point in convincing Tyra things she had already made up her mind about, but the next second, she caved under his gaze.

With a helpless sigh, she said, "Fine. We'll add it."

My fingers curled slightly at my sides. It felt like my heart had been pricked with thorns.

It wasn't as if I had never fought back after experiencing countless disappointments from Tyra, but not once had she ever compromised with me.

The worst fight we ever had was over the heirloom watch Dad had left me. I insisted on wearing it when we got married because I wanted my parents to be there in spirit and witness me finally finding happiness.

No matter how much I pleaded or argued, Tyra refused to budge. I even pretended to give in, planning to put the watch on only after the ceremony started.

She still called off the wedding five times rather than compromise on her principles.

Now, a door I had never imagined could open swung wide with just one word from Jeremiah. It turned out she wasn't incapable of breaking her own rules. I simply wasn't worth being the exception.

Amid my daze, Tyra had already wrapped her arms around Jeremiah and timed their staged kiss perfectly. The entire hall erupted in cheers.

Someone in the crowd laughed and teased, "Come on, Tyra. Everyone knows you're crazy about Jere. Do you really have to hold a wedding every few months just to rub your happiness in our faces?

"We've seen this whole groom-swapping act enough times already. It's getting old! Try something new next time!"

Tyra didn't say anything, but I could see the amusement in her eyes. She silently allowed this little stunt that wasn't part of the ceremony.

In doing so, she silently accepted me as the clown who had been swapped out 18 times in this ridiculous show.

I looked around the room. Every guest was either a friend or relative of Tyra's or Jeremiah's. The people who were close to me had long since been worn down by the embarrassment and humiliation.

It was no wonder no one recognized the real groom anymore.

Little did Tyra realize, even the most dedicated clown would eventually get tired. Sometimes, they, too, wanted to break free from all the strings that held them up and walk off the stage for good.

For me, I was finally ready to take my bow and leave her perfect little performance behind.