Chapter 2

Caleb's POV

Back in the dressing room, I took off my suit and changed into something more comfortable. Only then did I feel like I could finally breathe.

While I was packing up my things, Tyra and Jeremiah walked in. Tyra looked at me and, as usual, started lecturing me.

"You left the stage five minutes early this time, and you still missed the timing on the vows. That's another five points off your wedding score.

"Learn from this. Practice on your own for another five months before the wedding. Stop making us pay for your mistakes."

Tyra had always measured the perfection of our wedding with a number. Every point she deducted meant I had to practice for another month. First it was five months, then it was another five.

After 18 weddings, I had spent a full seven years waiting for her. Seven years hadn't been enough to secure me a wife, so what difference would an eighth year make?

I didn't have that many seven-year stretches left to waste, and I didn't want to wait around for nothing anymore.

Faced with my silence, Tyra took it as an agreement.

Jeremiah, on the other hand, looked genuinely curious. "Wait. You can lose points? I thought Ty's system was based on accumulating points."

He turned to me. "How many points do you have now, Caleb?"

My throat suddenly felt dry. "Negative five. What about you?"

"What? I have over six thousand!"

I stood frozen. Jeremiah thought I didn't believe him and eagerly pulled up his social media to show me.

The screen was filled with photos of Tyra and Jeremiah together, each one accompanied by the points he had racked up.

"Made the perfect coffee. Ten points for you."

"Left work right on time without working overtime. 20 points for you."

"Got into my passenger seat without getting wet from the rain. 50 points for you."

The latest one was posted three minutes ago.

"Cleaned up the mess that is Caleb's vows. 100 points for you."

The post came from an unfamiliar woman's account, but I recognized the profile picture instantly. It was the engagement ring I had given Tyra.

When I first found out that Tyra used a different account to follow Jeremiah, I assumed it was just an inactive side account. I thought she was being considerate.

Now, I realized the account sitting quietly in my following list, the one that never posted anything, might have been the real side account all along.

I stared blankly at those glaring numbers, my eyes burning so badly that I dared not look up.

Seven years of struggling just to accumulate negative points suddenly felt like a cruel joke.

Jeremiah seemed to realize something was wrong and immediately punched Tyra lightly on the arm. "This is on you. Caleb's your fiance. How can he only have negative five points?"

They started bickering over the score.

Meanwhile, I quietly took out my phone and texted one of my clients. "Mr. Lincoln, is the offer to transfer me to your international branch still on the table?"

"Of course!" he replied. "My flight leaves the morning after tomorrow. Should we go together?"

I looked up and met Tyra's deep gaze. My heart skipped a beat.

She frowned and clicked her tongue. "Fine. I'll give you five points. That way, somebody can stop saying I'm too critical and always giving you negative points.

"But if you wear this again next time, I'm deducting two points. You've worn it so many times. It's practically falling apart. You should've thrown it out ages ago."

Her eyes fell on the corner of the suit sticking out of my suitcase.

My hand froze around my phone before I sent the message. "See you then."

Then, I pulled the suit out. Along with it, I threw every piece of clothing and accessory Tyra had prepared for our perfect wedding into the trash.

"You're right. Old things should go into the trash."

Tyra stared at the pile of trash, hesitation crossing her eyes. Before she could say anything, the clock in the dressing room chimed.

I piped up, "It's time for the toast. If we wait any longer, we'll miss the mark."

At Jeremiah's expectant look, Tyra turned and left with him. Just before she closed the door, she paused. "Good job reminding me about the toast. That's another three points. You only need to practice for one more week."

"Don't worry," I said flatly. "Our next wedding will definitely go perfectly."

I kept packing without missing a beat, my heart still.

Little did she know that there wouldn't be another wedding a week from now. I stopped trying to become her exception, even though it might happen one day.