Chapter 1

I had barely gotten into the car when my phone buzzed.

Someone had uploaded a video to the bridal party group chat.

The footage was shaky, but I could still make out Rowena Jennings reclining on the couch, looking completely unbothered as she lazily swirled the wine in her glass.

Someone asked, "Are you really not going after him?"

Before Rowena could answer, her cousin, Amelia Jennings, cut in.

"Why bother? He's already this temperamental before the wedding. Once they're married, he'll probably expect Rowena to wait on him hand and foot."

Amelia tugged Lucas Foster closer and deliberately raised her voice.

"Personally, I like guys like Lucas. He's mature, thoughtful, and actually knows how to treat a woman."

Rowena's friends immediately piled on.

"Why don't you just marry Lucas, Rowena?"

"You two have been inseparable since you were kids. You were so close growing up, and you practically shared a bed. You were even taking drags off his cigarette a minute ago."

Something flickered in Rowena's eyes. Hooking one finger around the rim of her glass, she slowly lifted it with an amused smile.

"You guys are getting carried away. Now you're planning my wedding night, too?"

Then, Anthony Jones, my best friend, finally spoke. "You guys were pretty rough on Hansel tonight."

My eyes burned. At least one person was willing to stand up for me.

But in the next second, my body stiffened.

"Maybe it's better this way. I'm sick of being stuck in the middle anyway. He has no idea that the last time you two weren't speaking, I deliberately twisted what each of you said.

"Otherwise, how would you and Lucas get this close? I'd say I did a pretty decent job playing Cupid."

Heat rushed straight to my head before a chill ran down my spine.

All those late-night calls came flooding back. Whenever Rowena said something that hurt me, I'd call Anthony and tell him about it.

He always reassured me, telling me not to read too much into things.

He'd sounded so patient when he comforted me. All the while, he'd been turning around and using everything I told him as material for a joke.

As it turned out, all those times he'd volunteered to smooth things over between Rowena and me were because he was tired of listening to me.

I thought we had a solid friendship. Apparently, I was the only one who felt that way.

The video ended there.

I couldn't remember how I got home.

Once I was lying in bed, I tapped on the group chat again. No one had said a word.

The video remained at the top of the screen, sitting there like a live grenade.

I knew they were waiting for my reaction, wondering whether I'd go back feeling heartbroken, tell everyone it was fine, and insist I'd simply misunderstood.

Then, they could all relax and carry on as if nothing had happened.

Ten minutes later, another notification appeared. Someone had posted the video again. But this time, they made sure to tag me.

They'd grown tired of waiting, so they were practically shoving the video in my face to force a response.

I sent Anthony a private message. A part of me still wanted to believe he hadn't meant what he'd said.

"They made you say that, didn't they?"

Instead of replying, he called.

The first thing I heard was a burst of laughter from the other end. Anthony didn't speak until it died down.

"No one made me say anything. I'm just tired of pretending. Do you really think I enjoy listening to you unload on me every time something goes wrong? Hansel, do you ever think about anything besides your own feelings?"

I could barely process what I was hearing.

"Is that why you decided to stab me in the back?" I asked.

Anthony didn't sound even remotely guilty.

"Yeah. In fact, I've wanted to do it for a while. You'd call me in the middle of the night crying because Rowena stood you up again. Meanwhile, Lucas spent his entire day volunteering with kids with cerebral palsy, feeding them, cleaning them up, and helping with their physiotherapy.

"You two aren't even in the same league. If I had a choice, I'd rather have Lucas as my friend."

I stood there in stunned silence.

Then, Amelia's angry voice came through the phone.

"When Aunt Elena was in the hospital last month, Rowena couldn't get away from work, so Lucas stayed with her for seven days straight. Where were you when Rowena needed you?"

For a moment, I couldn't answer.

When Elena Burke was hospitalized, I'd planned to stay with her and help take care of her. But Rowena had been the one who suddenly sent me on a business trip.

The call ended abruptly.

Almost immediately, the bridal boutique called.

"Mr. Bowen, don't forget to bring your fiancee along for tomorrow's fitting. We've finished all the alterations exactly the way you requested."

My throat tightened as I spoke. "Go ahead and sell the suit to someone else."

After all, I wasn't getting married anymore.