“Where’s the groom? There are dozens of
guests waiting. Don’t play games!”
Mike, whose pride I had just wounded, yelled,
“Yeah, bring out the groom! We’re all waiting
to witness your love!”
Hearing the commotion, the guests stood up,
their gazes piercing me like swords.
Just then, the emcee’s clear voice boomed
from the stage.
“Now, let’s welcome the bride and groom!”
A flicker of triumph crossed Sarah’s face, and
she rushed over, pretending to be concerned.
“Ashley, just admit it! I’m worried you won’t
be able to handle this!”
I pushed her away.
“Excuse me, I need to go on stage.”
Sarah stumbled backward, knocking over a
life–size standee by the entrance.
She frantically tried to right it, then froze.
After a moment, she slowly looked up at me,
disbelief in her eyes.
“Ashley, why is your picture with David on
that standee?”
Josh froze, rooted to the spot.
“What? No way!”
He rushed over, grabbing the standee, his
body trembling.
“Did you make this yourself? Put it here on
purpose?”
He stared for a long time, then gave me a
thumbs–up.
“Wow, Ashley, you really went all out!”
“I underestimated you!”
“What else you got? Bring it on!”
His friends hesitated.
“Josh, the standee’s right there. Could it be
く
“Yeah, is this actually Ashley’s wedding?”
Josh chuckled dismissively.
“Look at her, does she look like someone who
could get married?”
His friend immediately replied,
“Yeah, what rich guy would want her?”
Sarah was still stunned, murmuring,
“How could it be David?”
“Impossible!”
A deep, magnetic voice cut through the
crowd.
“Ashley, why aren’t you up here yet?”
A man in a black tuxedo, making the
elaborate stage look dull in comparison,
smiled gently and extended his hand towards
- me.
Mike exclaimed,
“Wow, Ashley, you really spared no expense!
Got yourself a handsome actor!”
“Not bad at all compared to Josh!”
く
Before he finished, Sarah’s voice trembled
behind him.
“Mr… Mr. Carter, is that really you?”
Sarah worked for one of David’s company’s
partners. Seeing how rich and handsome he
was, she’d been throwing herself at him.
Hearing he was getting married, she rallied
her friends to crash the wedding.
Josh’s vape dropped to the floor.
“He’s the David you were talking about?”
I ignored him, placing my hand in David’s.
As I stepped onto the stage, I took one last
look back.
Josh seemed frozen, still standing there, his
eyes bloodshot in the shadows.
I suddenly remembered something.
Once, Josh asked me to write a paper for
Sarah.
I was exhausted after an overnight train ride.
He handed me a stack of materials at the
<
“Two days. You have two days to finish this.”
Then he walked away without another word.
I spent two sleepless nights in a cheap motel
near their campus, finally finishing just as
dawn broke on Monday.
Afterwards, Josh simply said “good job,” and I
felt like I’d won the lottery, all my exhaustion
forgotten.
Before I could catch my train back, Josh
returned.
He was smoking dejectedly, his voice hoarse.
“Turns out the paper wasn’t for her. It was for
her new boyfriend.”
“Another one bites the dust.”
I was about to comfort him when he suddenly
hugged me.
“Ashley, I’m so tired of chasing after Sarah
like a dog! You’re always so good to me. Why
don’t we get together?”
My heart pounded. I thought my years of
devotion were finally going to be rewarded.
Before I could agree, his phone rang.
He pulled away abruptly.
Sarah’s affected voice came from the phone.
After hanging up, Josh looked at me, the
gloom gone.
“Sarah broke up with her boyfriend again.”
“I was just kidding earlier. Don’t take it
seriously.”
“Ashley, we’re still friends.”
The warmth of his embrace still lingered, but
he was already gone.
I used to think I would wait for him forever.
But after fifteen years of being toyed with, I’d
had enough.
Now, on this stage, it was my wedding with
another man.
I looked at the man beside me, his eyes filled
with my reflection.
The officiant beamed, asking loudly.
Г
“David Carter, do you take Ashley Miller to be
your wife, to love and cherish her, for all the
days of your life?”
David answered without hesitation,
“I do.”
The sudden happiness was dazzling. After the
officiant’s repeated prompting, I nodded.
“I do.”
“Alright, then this wedding is…”
“I object!”
Josh jumped onto the stage, grabbing my
hand.
“Ashley, the joke’s over. Come down with
me.”
David pushed him away, stepping in front of
- me.
“She’s my wife. What do you think you’re
doing?”
Josh’s eyes were bloodshot, but his face was
still disdainful.
<
“Wife? Dude, you’re just a prop!”
“She’s using you to get back at me! Wake up,
you’re being played!”
