Chapter 1

On Valentine's Day, while I was sorting through paperwork, a sharp tap sounded against the service window in front of me.

"Jenna, don't be mad. It was just a dare."

I looked up and saw my fiance of five years, Chase Mitchell.

Standing beside him was his close friend, Ariya Holland. She had her arm wrapped affectionately around his, wearing a man's white shirt that was obviously too big for her.

I recognized it immediately. It was the birthday present I'd given Chase the week before.

Chase slid two IDs through the window, wearing an ingratiating smile. "We lost a game, and the punishment was to get married to Ariya for one day. Don't worry. We'll come back first thing tomorrow morning and get divorced."

Ariya leaned against Chase's shoulder, laughing so hard she could barely contain herself. The provocation in her eyes was impossible to miss. "Jenna, you wouldn't be so petty as to refuse to process our marriage, would you?

"We're practically siblings. It's all just a joke. You're not seriously going to take it to heart, are you?"

I took their documents, my fingertips cold.

One of them was the man I'd sworn to spend the rest of my life with. The other was the person he always described as "closer to me than my own sister."

And now, on Valentine's Day, they wanted me to personally register their marriage.

The whole thing was absurd and laughable.

I could feel my colleagues' curious glances from around the office and hear the whispers of the couples waiting in line behind me.

Chase looked a little uncomfortable and urged me on, "Jenna, hurry up. We'll leave as soon as we're done."

Meanwhile, Ariya deliberately rested her head on his shoulder and silently mouthed to me: "He was mine last night."

I took a deep breath, suppressing the disgust churning inside me. Then I lifted my head and gave them a perfectly professional smile. "All right. We'll follow the proper procedures."

I took out the marriage license application form and walked them through filling it out. I handled every step and every detail flawlessly, as though I were dealing with two complete strangers.

My composure clearly caught them off guard.

Chase frowned, seemingly displeased that I was being so sensible and understanding.

"All right, head over there to get your wedding photo taken. That area is less crowded."