I stopped the assistant from opening the curtain, listening carefully. I certainly didn’t want to be the only one standing at the altar next month.
“That’s rich. Should I be warm and friendly to my brother’s girlfriend? And friends? No thanks, not appropriate. I’m getting
married.”
“You…”
I signaled to the assistant, who pulled the curtain open.
The conversation halted as I appeared.
Seeing the stunned admiration in all their eyes–including Lucas, who had just rushed in–made me completely satisfied.
When people are awestruck by you, the money spent is worth every penny.
While I was admiring myself, Jackson leaned in and whispered: “How did these two suddenly show up here?”
“Take some photos! We look so damn good in this mirror.”
Jackson was being all smug next to me, and I was just about to grab the phone to snap some pics when Lucas suddenly spoke
up:
“You’re getting married? How did I not know about this?”
Then his furrowed brow suddenly relaxed, and his tone lightened: “Jackson, Riley might not know better, but you? Marriage isn’t something you rush into without telling Mom and Dad. What will people think? Stop acting like children.”
Olivia’s expression, which had been tense, brightened slightly at his words.
Since Jackson’s own brother didn’t know about their wedding, it must be some kind of act they were
“Bro, call Mom and Dad if you don’t believe us,” Jackson replied calmly, staring at him steadily.
Seeing we weren’t panicking, Lucas turned to me with a pale face: “Is it true?”
“Yes,” I answered simply.
ng on.
Still disbelieving, he called his parents right in front of us–the result confirmed we were indeed getting married.
Under the dazzling lights, the four of us stood on opposite sides, no one speaking.
Lucas looked at me with confusion, and when our eyes met, I suddenly didn’t understand–if he didn’t care for me, why did he turn pale at the news of my marriage?
I instinctively clutched Jackson’s sleeve. Feeling my grip, he turned and patted my hand reassuringly.
“Can you leave now?” Jackson asked coldly.
Faced with his question, they looked at each other stiffly. Olivia forced a smile: “Riley, didn’t you once say I could be your bridesmaid?”
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Chapter 5
The slightly shy, fresh–faced Olivia from our youth had transformed into this perfectly made–up woman before me.
Back then, she had clutched my hand, her eyes full of sincerity, and said: “No matter which of us gets married first, we’ll be each other’s bridesmaids, watching her walk toward happiness.”
But now, Olivia, are you still that girl who wanted to see me find happiness?
You’re not.
Whether thinking of the past or realizing that childhood friends would no longer be friends as adults, I felt a bittersweet ache.
I softly said: “No, thank you.”
It felt like saying goodbye to a companion from my memories.
Olivia’s face instantly turned ashen, and she stumbled back a few steps.
“Riley…”
I didn’t know how much sincerity was in her calls, but it didn’t matter anymore.
Chapter G
Chapter 6
As our wedding day approached, we finished selecting the venue.
Jackson held my hand to keep it warm as we looked up at the sky–snow was falling again.
Snowflakes landed on our heads, whitening our dark hair.
1 smiled, looking up, and he obligingly lowered his head.
I said: “Doesn’t this make us look like we’re growing old together?”
“Absolutely,” he agreed.
He urged me: “Such a poetic moment–let’s take a photo to capture it.”
Later, while organizing my things, I found an old group photo in a corner–it was from a school sports day.
Sitting on my bed, I wiped the dust off with a tissue.
Finally, I noticed the “accidental” moment when Lucas and Olivia’s eyes met. I recalled Olivia saying she’d wanted me to bite my medal for the photo, but it had been taken unexpectedly.
With our parents helping, most wedding preparations were nearly complete.
I next saw Olivia at my coffee shop. She wore a brown coat with newly curled hair, looking like the epitome of elegant sophistication.
Seeing me approach with no intention of stopping, she called out: “Riley, I regret it.”
Her eyes were reddened as she looked at me, but I remained silent.
She continued through gritted teeth: “Riley, Jackson doesn’t love you. If you marry him, you won’t be h
“So?” I smiled mockingly. “You want me to give him back to you? Aren’t you
I hadn’t heard from Jackson that they’d broken up.
My rapid–fire questions made her hesitate, her eyes darting away.
with Lucas?”
But she persisted stubbornly: “Has Jackson ever driven miles to take you home? Has he ever made you ginger tea? Has he ever gone out at midnight because you suddenly wanted spaghetti? Has he ever fought for you? Has he ever told you he loves you? I’m saying all this for your own good. I don’t want you throwing away your happiness just to spite me.”
How earnest she sounded, claiming to be my friend… But between the lines, she clearly wanted it all.
“Hmm,” I scoffed. “Trying to have your cake and eat it too?”
“I’m not,” she firmly denied having such intentions.
Calmly, I told her: “First, I live in Boston–I don’t need someone to drive miles to take me home. Second, everything else you mentioned will happen with me soon, except the fighting.”
“And Olivia, the fact that you can list everything he did for you shows you know how good he was to you. Yet you chose Lucas.
