Chapter 2

Selene and Julian kept kissing, as if they hadn't heard a thing.

Cosmo turned to look at her other bridesmaid and close friend, Gloria Mayer.

But the latter was actually wiping away her tears. She was crying as she watched Selene and Julian.

Stunned, Cosmo asked, "Gloria, why are you crying?"

"Cosmo, let me be honest with you," Gloria said between sobs. "Julian and Selene have actually been together for a long time now. Remember when I asked you before whether you would want me to tell you if a close friend of ours fell for Julian?

"You said not to tell you, because you didn't want to lose a close friend. Well, that friend was Selene. They've been together for three years already. But we didn't want to hurt you, so none of us told you.

"All these years, Selene has loved him so cautiously. Today she just couldn't hold back anymore, and that's why she's doing this. Please don't be angry. Once they finish kissing, let's just carry on with the wedding, okay?"

Tears came crashing down without warning. Cosmo bit down hard on her lip, feeling as though even breathing was an unbearable agony.

"You knew all along? You knew they were together all this time, and you didn't tell me?"

She was so angry that she shoved Gloria to the ground. Only then did Selene push Julian away and kneel in front of Cosmo to explain.

"Cosmo, I know I was impulsive today. But you shouldn't have laid a hand on Gloria either. The three of us are best friends, after all."

Cosmo shook her head. Looking at Selene's lips swollen from Julian's kiss, she felt the rage surging in her chest. Unable to hold back any longer, she slapped her across the face.

"You knew the three of us were best friends, and you still hooked up with Julian? Selene, I don't have a friend as vile as you."

A crisp slap rang out through the room, and a red handprint bloomed on Selene's cheek. Cosmo was about to strike again, but Julian caught her hand.

"That's enough. Stop hitting. Selene has already admitted her mistake—what more do you want? She values her dignity above all, so don't embarrass her in front of everyone."

Cosmo's wrist hurt from Julian's grip. She looked at him numbly and questioned, "Julian, today is our wedding. With so many friends and relatives here, I've just been betrayed in public by my best friend.

"Yet, you're telling me to spare Selene's dignity? What about me and my mom? Did you ever think about our dignity?"

"They won't care. Besides, your mom already found out about this a long time ago."

When Julian said that, Cosmo thought she must have misheard.

But when she looked up at her mother, Cathleen Braun, she saw that she had turned her head away. Out of guilt, Cathleen was unable to meet Cosmo's gaze.

Cosmo looked at the others again and found that no one was surprised or shocked. Everyone present knew that Selene and Julian were already together.

Only she was kept in the dark like a fool.

"Mom, you knew too? So, you, the groomsmen, the bridesmaids, and all our relatives knew about them? Yet, you all helped them hide it from me?"

"Cosmo, please don't be upset." Cathleen walked over and clasped her hand. Then, she continued tearfully, "I was very angry when I found out too, but Selene has had it hard since she was a child.

"I have always treated her like my own daughter, and she also said she wouldn't come between you and Julian. So, I just let her be. What she did today was indeed out of line, but this is just a one-time outburst.

"She won't do it again. In a bit, everyone will act like nothing happened, and Julian will go with you to the hotel to continue the wedding. It's almost time for the ceremony, so let's get moving."

Get moving? Cosmo couldn't believe that Cathleen was still urging her to marry Julian at this moment.

She looked at the faces before her, and all the strength drained from her body. She collapsed to the floor, looking utterly wretched.

Since elementary school, Cosmo and Julian had been neighbors, childhood sweethearts, and innocent playmates.

In high school, Cosmo met Selene and Gloria. And from then on, the pair became a group of four.

Cosmo had always felt that she was the luckiest woman in the world because her best friends were by her side and the man she loved most lived next door.

The four of them even attended the same college.

Julian had always loved Cosmo ardently. He would send her flowers on holidays and gifts on birthdays. He was also very gentlemanly and treated Selene and Gloria well too.

He remembered their birthdays and would give them gifts as well. Sometimes the gifts he gave Selene were even more expensive than the ones he gave Cosmo.

Cosmo had even told Julian it made her jealous. But he said it was only because Selene's family wasn't well off, so he just looked out for her a little more.

Three years after graduation, just as her career was taking off, Julian proposed to Cosmo. She thought it was too soon, but Cathleen talked her into accepting it.

Cathleen had said she hoped Cosmo would find happiness soon. Yet, Cosmo had become the biggest laughingstock in the world today.

Breaking down, Cosmo hurled her bridal bouquet at Julian's face.

"Julian, since you love Selene, I'll give you my blessing. There's no need to continue this wedding. From now on, we'll go our separate ways. I'm cutting ties with all of you, and I never want to see any of you again!"