Chapter 3

We picked a date and got our marriage license.

The wedding was set for two weeks later.

Jay was there for every step, helping me pick out a wedding dress and to plan the reception.

I felt so lucky looking at him. He was kind, gentle, and treated women with respect. Wasn't that way better than being with some so-called "top guy"?

Melissa kept sending me messages, trying to get under my skin, saying I was marrying a loser.

However, the tough times before were all because of her. If that project had worked out, Jay would have been the youngest top expert in the world, making a million a year, easy.

However, Melissa's crazy need to control everything messed it all up. She made such a fuss at the lab that the big shots did not want to work with Jay anymore.

Thinking about all that, I told him, "If you're busy with work, I can take care of everything else on my own."

Jay's eyes sparkled with emotion as he suddenly dropped to one knee and presented a ring.

The diamond was not big, but it was the perfect shade of sky blue that I loved.

It reminded me of a cloudless, clear blue sky that would cheer anyone up the moment they saw it. "I know I was pretty sudden the other day, so I wanted to give you a proper proposal.”

"Laura, will you marry me?"

I nodded, my smile wide, and held out my hand for him to place my very own ring on my finger.

It was not as grand as the prince's huge diamonds, but my heart felt completely warm.

In that place, jewels were just for showing off wealth.

They had hurt me, then tried to make it better with a gift.

The more jewels I had, the more scars I carried.

They even put me, eight months pregnant, in a cage with a lioness for fun, and drenched me with a perfume that big cats love.

‘So, Melissa, you ignore love that's free and true and, instead, you choose pain.’ That's what I thought to myself.

I could still recall the agony of being cut by a chainsaw in my previous life like it was yesterday.

Remembering Melissa's angry face, I just wished her "luck".

Before I even started sending out wedding invites, Melissa came looking for me, unable to wait.

"I'm your best friend, shouldn't I get a wedding invite first?”

"I want to see what your wedding's like. You probably won't get to see mine! It'll be way better than yours anyway!”

"What's the future for a poor PhD holder? Laura, you're just not seeing the big picture. You'll see what I mean later!"

I gave her the invite, keeping my cool, but I could not stop myself from saying slyly, "I hope you really enjoy your life ahead."

After the proposal, Jay was swamped with work, and I got busy with the wedding plans.

He was always busy, but he made sure to send me updates every day.

He said his project was going really well and it would not be long before it kicked off.

"Thanks for being so cool about this, Laura. I was really worried you'd be mad that I couldn't hang out with you."

I quickly replied with a message: [Just be there on your big day, okay?]

After I checked the money that had come in on my phone for the project, I split it up and put it into some funds.

On the wedding day, Melissa showed up looking even more stunning than me, the bride.

She was all dressed up in a fancy fairy dress, holding the newest designer bag, and wearing a shiny diamond crown.

Anyone who did not know better would have thought it was her party.

Melissa walked right past the people welcoming us, her head held so high it was almost in the clouds. It was as if she was saying, "As if you're good enough to touch me! My presence here makes this whole wedding shine!"

Jay took a big step forward and called for the security guys.

"Please take the person causing trouble outside. We only want friends here who really want to celebrate with me and my wife."

Melissa's face turned stormy when she heard Jay. She could not believe her ex was scolding her for another woman, and she felt super jealous.

"You think you've found someone special? I've known her for years. Do you think I don't get her?

"She loves attention, she's all about looks, and the minute you're not useful, she'll dump you and laugh behind your back!"

Whack! I slapped Melissa.

I took a deep breath, looked straight at Melissa, who was holding her face in shock, and said firmly, "You're not my friend anymore!

"What kind of friend would say such mean things? And on my wedding day, of all days!

"Don't take out your anger about going to the doctor alone on me. Go find the dad of your baby!"

Melissa was so shocked by the slap that she did not say anything for a bit.

Then she got it, laughed angrily, and tried to slap me back.

However, Jay was quick. He stepped in and kept me safe, giving Melissa a look that said that she’d better not try anything.

"Laura and I are not going to let anyone unimportant ruin our wedding day! "

Melissa looked around. Finding herself alone, she was so mad she was shaking. She spat out her final mean words.

"If you're brave enough, go ahead and end our friendship. When you're broke and struggling, don't come crawling back to me!

"You'll never be able to match my new status. You might as well spend your life with that useless PhD holder. Just wait and see!"

With that, she stomped off in her little high heels.

The wedding went on without a hitch, and I kissed Jay with my parents watching.

Three days later, Melissa tagged me in a post showing off a shiny gold invitation.

The caption said: [Showing some mean friend what a real invitation looks like.]

I turned off my phone and snuggled into Jay's shoulder while we watched a show.

Melissa was finally living her dream life, or so she thought. I just hoped it would not all come crashing down on her first day.