The One You Never Remembered

Harrison's POV

The photos were developed one by one.

No matter how much I enlarged that photo, the scar on the web of the hand remained perfectly clear. And Derek Huxley was the only person with a scar like that.

I could barely breathe. Clutching my camera, I made my way to his bedroom.

The door was open. Derek was sitting at his desk, his face partially visible in profile.

I pressed the shutter. The image on my camera showed Derek passionately kissing Vivian Rutherford in their wedding bed.

"How is this possible?" Something inside me snapped. I stared at the image on my camera, barely remembering to breathe.

"Derek, why are you still awake?" A familiar voice came from the stairs. It was my twin sister, Allison Huxley.

I took a deep breath, turned around, and slipped into the shadows around the corner of the hallway.

"Allison, I'm a little nervous." Derek's voice came from inside the room, low and hesitant. "Are you sure this is okay? Won't Harrison be angry?"

"Of course not. He's always been willing to give things up for you. He's done it since we were kids."

My fists clenched.

She was right. Ever since our parents brought Derek home from the orphanage, I had practically given up everything for him.

When we were kids, because Derek was younger, I had to give him the biggest and brightest bedroom.

When we got older, Derek developed depression, so I had to give up my spot in a graduate program just to keep him happy.

Cakes, toy cars, holiday gifts.

I thought I had given up enough already. But now, was I supposed to give up my girlfriend, too?

"This is your wish. Of course we're going to help make it come true." Allison's voice grew gentler. "With Mom and Dad backing you, he won't dare make a scene. Once we pick up Vivian three days from now, I'll get him a groomsman's suit.

"If he behaves, we'll let him attend your wedding. If he refuses, we'll lock him in his room. That way, he won't interfere with your wedding."

"Allison, you're amazing!" Derek grabbed her hand, his face lighting up with delight.

Standing in the darkness, I suddenly felt like the biggest fool in the world.

This was what he wanted, so they were going to make it happen. But what about me?

What about the girl who had sworn I was the only one she wanted and promised to marry me? What did she really think of me?

In a daze, I returned to my room. Before long, Vivian called.

"Harrison, you got my gift tonight, right?" she asked tentatively.

I found the whole thing even more ironic.

No wonder she had suddenly had someone deliver a watch to me that evening. Was she trying to make up for something? Or was she just playing me for a fool again?

I had already seen it on her feed. The watch was just a free gift that came with all the luxury items Derek had bought that day.

"Vivian, why are you giving me a gift right before our wedding?" I kept my tone light. "Don't tell me you've got something to feel guilty about."

"Of course not!" She laughed. "Don't overthink it."

I forced a faint smile. "Okay. But Vivian, I'm only getting married once in my life. If anything happens to our wedding three days from now, I won't marry you."

There was a brief hitch in Vivian's breathing. But she quickly answered with certainty, "That won't happen."

She did not mean I would be happy with the wedding. She meant I would never leave her.

"Harrison, what are you talking about?" Her tone grew serious. "The wedding is just a formality. Don't let it get to you. All you need to know is that you're the person I love most."

In an instant, the image of her kissing Derek flashed through my mind again. My heart had been racing just moments ago, but now it finally went cold.

But I did not complain. I did not make a scene. I simply ended the call with Vivian. Then I called someone else.

If the groom could be replaced, then there was no reason the bride could not be, either.