Chapter 4

After putting my phone away, I grabbed the flowers and headed straight to the airport, completely forgetting everything Chloe had told me to do.

It wasn’t until later that night, when Chloe hadn’t received the cake I was supposed to make and her meticulously planned birthday party for Julian was ruined, that she blamed it all on me.

She stormed in, Julian following behind her. She kicked the door open, slamming it against the wall, and screamed:

“Liam, how many times is this? What new stunt are you pulling now? Where’s the cake I told you to make?!”

I glanced at the door, still rattling from her kick, and replied calmly with two words: “I forgot.”

Chloe saw my demeanor and instantly erupted. The thought that Julian had been humiliated because I hadn’t shown up with the cake made her furious.

She stepped forward and slapped me twice, yelling:

“Do you have any idea how much you embarrassed Julian? Everyone was whispering and pointing at him! And here he was, still concerned about your feelings, telling me not to get mad at you!”

“Julian is such a good person, why would you treat him like this?!”

“I’m giving you half an hour. You *will* make a cake to apologize, or I swear, I’m not done with you!”

With that, she slammed the door shut and left.

Watching her defiant back, I couldn’t help but think of my own birthdays. She’d never been this invested. I never got the special treatment a birthday person deserves. Instead, I had to bake *her* a cake, and if it wasn’t to her liking, I’d be punished with standing all night.

I let out a bitter laugh.

As I walked out of the room, I saw her sitting in the living room, meticulously peeling an orange for Julian, carefully removing every bit of pith before handing it to him. Julian saw me but didn’t make a sound. Instead, he smirked triumphantly as he took the orange from Chloe and ate it.

“Chloe, let’s set our wedding for three days from now, okay?” Julian asked gently, but his eyes were fixed on me, full of triumph.

Chloe, her back to me, said dotingly, “Okay, whatever you say.”

Hearing this, his grin widened, and he asked again:

“How about we invite Liam to our wedding? What do you think?”

This time Chloe didn’t answer immediately. Julian saw the hesitation on her face. He instantly pouted, sounding wronged. “I just want his blessing. That way our wedding will be perfect, and you always said you’d give me a perfect wedding, didn’t you?”

Chloe fell silent at his words. Then, remembering something, she nodded in agreement.

Julian’s lips curved into a smirk, and he looked at me. “Liam, did you hear that? Chloe and I sincerely invite you to our wedding.”

At his words, Chloe turned her cold face back to me. Her eyes seemed to freeze for a moment when she saw me, then she scoffed. “Since you heard it, I won’t repeat myself. Be there on time, don’t make us a laughingstock again.”

I clenched my fists, meeting Chloe’s indifferent gaze. Eight years of my devotion, and in the end, I didn’t even get a formal breakup. I gave a self-deprecating laugh, then nodded.

On the day of the wedding, I showed up dressed to the nines.

The moment the newlyweds appeared, they became the center of attention. Guests lavished them with praise, calling them a match made in heaven. Chloe accepted it all with a radiant smile, but when her eyes landed on me, that smile vanished instantly.

Chloe’s face turned sour, and she frowned, accusing me, “Liam, are you trying to steal Julian’s spotlight by dressing like that? Don’t forget, today is Julian’s and my wedding. Julian is the groom!”

“I knew this would happen; I shouldn’t have agreed to let you come! I thought you’d know your place, but I never imagined you’d stoop to such lengths just to cause drama!”

At her words, murmurs rippled through the guests. Those who didn’t know me accused me of being shameless. Those who did vowed to kick me out.

Julian, however, wasn’t angry. He even generously spoke up for me, “Chloe, if he wants to be my groomsman, then let’s let him. It’s a way of thanking him for taking care of you all these years, and it justifies his outfit today.”

With that, Julian shot me a provocative look. Chloe frowned, about to argue, but then heard the whispers around her and reluctantly gave in. She checked her watch and said with extreme reluctance, “Aren’t you going to get ready? Is this where you’re supposed to be standing?!”

A staff member came forward to escort me away. Before I’d taken two steps, Julian’s voice stopped them from behind:

“Wait. His outfit is actually quite good. How about we have him deliver our wedding rings later?”

At his words, my body stiffened. Deliver the wedding rings. That’s what the ring bearer does. Was he trying to make me watch them exchange vows, then watch Chloe marry him with my own eyes?

I glanced at Chloe. She said nothing, a silent agreement.

The ceremony began quickly. Watching Chloe on stage, touched to tears by Julian’s words, I couldn’t help but sneer.

The stage was set. It was time for the main act. Chloe, let’s see how long you can keep that smile.

The next second, the officiant excitedly announced, “Now, let’s give a big round of applause for our special guest who will present the wedding rings to the happy couple…”

A thunderous applause erupted. The couple on stage smiled, filled with joy, waiting for me to bring them their rings.

I smirked, took the gift box from the staff member, and slowly walked forward. I heard the whispers around me, but with each step, I moved further away from the altar.

Moments later, I turned and knelt on one knee in front of a slender, unfamiliar woman.

The entire hall gasped in shock. Chloe, realizing what she was seeing, instantly turned pale, losing her composure as she shrieked: “Liam, do you know what you’re doing?!”