Chapter 3

Emma froze for a moment before letting out a helpless sigh. She said, "Nathan, playing hard to get might work on some people, but it's not going to work on me."

I stubbornly stayed in the car, refusing to give in to what she wanted.

She let out a cold laugh and dropped her arms to her sides. "You're really going through with this?"

"Yes. Until we're officially done, don't expect me to do anything for you," I said.

Emma's expression shifted, complicated emotions flickering across her face as she glanced toward Ryan.

After a long moment, she quietly said, "Fine."

After getting the answer I wanted, I stepped out of the car and walked right past her.

She leaned closer and warned me under her breath. "If you're only doing this to take your anger out on Ryan, don't blame me if I leave you stranded here."

People from both wedding parties lined the roadside, watching in silence.

Dressed in a black suit and leather shoes, I walked toward another vehicle.

Whispers broke out around me, followed by a few mocking smirks as everyone assumed I was heading over to help Ryan.

Inside a Mercedes SUV worth more than a million dollars, Ryan sat in the back seat, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit and looking effortlessly polished.

He leaned back comfortably and extended his injured foot, his smile casual. "Thanks for this, Nathan," he said.

"We studied medicine together in college. Who would've thought that on my wedding day, I'd twist my ankle and end up being treated by one of my old classmates?" He chuckled. "What are the odds?"

Then he turned to Emma. "Emma, you really should cherish a fiance as kind and helpful as Nathan. If you ever treat him badly, I might have to stop talking to you."

Emma looked at Ryan, her eyes filled with unmistakable happiness.

I crouched, carefully lifted Ryan's foot, and examined his ankle.

"Ah!" Suddenly, he screamed.

"Nathan Cole! What are you doing?"

Emma suddenly grabbed me and yanked me away, cradling Ryan's foot as if it were made of glass.

I hit the asphalt hard. My palm scraped against the pavement, and blood began to well up.

"Ryan, Nathan barely even touched you! What are you yelling for?" Walter snapped, pointing angrily at him.

Then he turned on Emma. "And you, Emma! What the hell is wrong with you? Since when does treating an injury not hurt? The guy lets out one little cry, and you shove Nathan to the ground?"

"You—" Emma's chest rose and fell as she struggled to rein in her anger.

Knowing that she was in the wrong, she had no choice but to swallow her frustration. Reluctantly, she grabbed my shoulder and helped me back to my feet.

"I'm sorry. I overreacted because I was worried," she apologized.

Ryan shrugged and gave me an awkward smile.

"Sorry, Nathan. You know me. I've always had a low pain tolerance. I really didn't mean to yell."

I didn't want to hear another word. I just wanted to finish treating his ankle and leave.

"Do we have any ice? Gauze?"

Someone answered, "We have gauze, but no ice. Just some bottled water from the cooler."

"Bring me everything," I ordered.

Emma watched silently as I worked, my expression completely unreadable. A strange uneasiness began to settle in her chest.

She tried several times to help, but each time, I quietly moved her hands aside without saying a single word.

I soaked the gauze and carefully wrapped it around Ryan's swollen ankle.

"Ah!"

Ryan suddenly kicked me in the face. I lost my balance and fell backward onto the pavement.

"Oh, God— Sorry, Nathan! I swear I didn't mean to do that this time."

I lowered my head and took a slow, steadying breath.

Emma didn't even try to reach out to catch me.

She simply said, "Ryan, Nathan has been crouched there treating your ankle this whole time. Stop messing with him."

Ryan curled his lips into a mocking smile, looking completely unconcerned.

Then Emma added, "I'll apologize on his behalf. Let me help you up."

I gently pushed her hand away, keeping my voice polite but distant as I said, "No, thank you."

Then I finished the last step of the treatment.

"We don't have any ice, so every half hour, pour some ice-cold water over the bandage to help reduce the swelling. Avoid any strenuous activity, and don't stay on your feet for too long."

Ryan looked down at his ankle, slowly rolling his foot from side to side. "It doesn't really feel like I've been treated," he said, shrugging. "But thanks."

Without looking back, I walked toward my own wedding car.

Behind me, Emma bumped Lena's shoulder and whispered, "See? I told you. He's just playing hard to get. I knew it. All that talk about breaking up was just a way to make me feel guilty."

Lena praised her. "Emma, you really know how to handle Nathan. Look at you. You've got him wrapped around your finger."

Emma smiled. "Men are like that. You can't give them too much, or they'll start expecting everything."

I said nothing.

I simply opened the car door, grabbed my things, and motioned for my groomsmen to come over.

Then I strode toward the person who had come to pick me up.