Wedding switch
Chapter 1
Today marks the 99th time I’ve proposed to
Lane.
He nonchalantly adjusted the prayer beads on
his wrist, his face impassive as he rejected
me again.
I lay awake all night. In the dead of night, I
heard Lane’s choked whisper from his study. “Nancy, this is the 99th time. It’s alright. For a single ‘yes‘ from you, I can endure a thousand, ten thousand rejections.”
A salty taste filled my mouth.
I finally understood. Lane’s coldness was a
mask.
The fire in his heart wasn’t for me.
Finally, I gave up.
Ignoring the torrential rain outside, I burst out
of the house.
I ran into the courtyard and accepted the
marriage proposal from Lane’s brother, Henry.
Henry, seeing me, a drenched mess, raised an
eyebrow in front of the mirror.
“Alright, my birthday’s in three days. Let’s set
it then. But look at this gorgeous face–who
should I choose as my best man? It’ll be hard
to find someone…”
“Lane. He’s devout, his blessings will ensure
our lifelong happiness.
وو
My words made Henry pause, his hand still in
his hair.
He turned, looking at me.
“Lane? You’re still hung up on my little
brother? I don’t want a ‘lovers‘ quarrel‘
drama at my wedding!”
My heart skipped a beat.
“No.”
Henry stepped closer, smoothing my rain-
soaked hair.
“Good. I don’t want just your body, I want
<
your heart too–after all these years of
chasing you.”
Henry’s warm fingers touched my cold skin.
I instinctively took a step back.
“Henry, you can handle everything about the wedding, but one thing: I don’t want him to
know beforehand. Don’t overthink it; I just
want to avoid trouble.”
Henry’s hand dropped.
He seemed stunned for a moment.
Then he stepped closer, cupping my chin, a
playful smile on his lips.
“Fine. Whatever you say.”
Having secured his agreement, I avoided his
touch.
I fled the scene.
Henry was notoriously fickle.
I didn’t understand his half–joking, half-
serious words.
But my answer was genuine.
<
If I had to live with a shell devoid of heart and
soul, I’d rather briefly possess a man wholly
devoted to me.
Even if Henry’s infidelity made it short–lived,
I’d accept it.
On my way home, I saw Sienna’s social media
update.
“[Only I know how fiery the cold, Buddhist
brother truly is.]”
Among hundreds of comments, Lane’s was
the first, a kissing emoji, the most–liked.
I glanced at the timestamp; my breath
hitched.
It was precisely when I proposed.
How ironic.
I thought Lane was using his phone to mask
his nervousness.
Or perhaps he was deciding whether to
accept me.
He was actually flirting with Sienna.
Bitterness surged.
The world is one giant library of thirty–second
clips.
I couldn’t see Sienna’s posts before. She
seems to be in a good mood today…
When I got home, Lane was still in his study.
He came towards me when he heard the
door.
Seeing me soaked, he looked puzzled.
“Nancy, when did you go out? You ran out in
this heavy rain?”
He’s so devoted, he doesn’t even notice me
leaving…
He took a towel to give me.
My hand brushed his; he recoiled as if I were
something disgusting.
He always did this.
Lane avoided even the slightest physical
contact.
Initially, I was happy, thinking it was respect.
Later, I thought it was his cold nature.
But seeing those intertwined hands in
Sienna’s post, I knew–he simply didn’t want
to touch me.
I threw the towel at my feet.
I walked past him to my room.
Just as I was about to close the door, he
spoke.
“Nancy, don’t overthink the proposal today. I
forgot to tell you, my brother’s getting
married in three days, and I’m the best man.
You know, best men can’t get engaged. After
my brother’s wedding, our matter… I’ll
consider it.‘
I paused.
