Chapter 4

Three months later, the wedding ceremony proceeded as planned. My wedding suit had been made to fit me if I weighed 140 pounds, which Madison considered to be my ideal weight. Since it didn't fit me now, I just changed into a random suit instead.

When Madison saw me, she could hardly believe her eyes.

"Greg! It's been three months, and you haven't lost a single pound—you've actually ballooned into a pig. I'm so disappointed in you. You don't deserve to be my groom!"

In reality, I'd already dropped back down to 160 pounds, which was a perfectly healthy weight. I wasn't fat in the slightest. She was just being overly critical of me and insisted on tearing me down like this.

Meanwhile, all of her relatives from the countryside had also crowded around to make comments about me.

"Madison, didn't you say your fiance was tall and handsome? Why is he so fat? How much does he eat at home every day?"

Madison's parents, the Hodges, were eyeing me disdainfully as well.

"I even bragged to our neighbors that Maddie found herself a handsome city boy, but look at that belly of his! He's the farthest thing from handsome!"

This wasn't my first time meeting the Hodges. We first met when I followed Madison back to her hometown.

Her family home was a shabby house filled with clutter.

Meanwhile, her parents picked on me in every way possible. They complained that the coffee I brought wasn't the most expensive kind, and the wine wasn't the most premium quality on the market.

During our meal together, her parents also informed me, "In our town, it's customary for the groom to give the bride's family a sum of cash as a sign of his commitment to the marriage. The marriage won't happen without it. You understand what we're saying, right?

"Maddie is our only daughter. If we don't follow the customs, word will get around, and our family's reputation will be affected."

Later on, when it was time for Madison and me to return to the city, her parents simply sent us off with a bag of cheap snacks from the gas station.

Madison kept telling me that her parents had a hard time raising her. She told me to try to be more understanding toward them, so I put up with it as best I could.

Thinking that I hadn't prepared enough for the wedding, I also gave the Hodges the cash they wanted.

After all, I'd naively believed that Madison loved me. Her love was all I needed.

Thinking about it now, I found the entire situation ridiculous. Even before we got married, she and her family had already teamed up to gaslight and brainwash me.

Thank goodness I wasn't going to marry Madison. Otherwise, my life would definitely turn into a living hell.

Shrugging indifferently, I declared, "If you think I'm too fat, go ahead and call off the wedding."

I'd always been the one who gave in to Madison at every turn, so my nonchalance now infuriated her.

"What do you mean by that, Greg? Don't tell me you think that just because it's almost time for the ceremony and all the guests have arrived, this marriage is a done deal, and you can do whatever you want. Quit dreaming! I've got men lining up the block to marry me, and I'm dumping you, you fat pig!"

I crossed my arms and said, "Go ahead and call it off. Just don't regret it."

"The only thing I'd regret is marrying a pig like you!" Madison screeched with an angry scoff before grabbing the microphone to make an announcement.

"I'm sorry for the scene, everyone, but I hereby declare that I'm switching grooms. I'll be marrying the best man instead. Not only is he handsome, but he has an incredible figure as well. He's a thousand times better than this pig, Greg Jefferson!

"I call upon all of you to act as my witness. From this moment onward, my relationship with Greg is over. Even if he comes begging like a dog for me to take him back, I won't change my mind!"

My smile deepened, and I said nothing.

The crowd began whispering among themselves.

"The best man? Isn't that the groom's best friend?"

"The groom looks pretty attractive to me. He's not fat either. But if the bride has decided to marry someone else instead, I'm guessing this best man must look like a god."

Madison shot me a smug look before calling out, "You can come out now, Danny. It's time for us to get married."

As the guests looked on in anticipation, Daniel, dressed as the best man, slowly came in.

However, the moment the crowd saw him, their eyes widened in shock. In fact, they looked horrified.

Even Madison's smile froze. Within seconds, she doubled over and started puking her guts out.