On my wedding day, my childhood sweetheart, Julian, stormed the venue with a rowdy group of his friends, kicking open the chapel doors. He declared he was there to steal the bride and take me away. But we hadn't even made it to the parking lot before he let go of my hand, a lazy smirk playing on his lips. "Alright, boys, I win again. That’s the hundredth bet. Pay up." He turned back to look at me, eyes glinting with mockery. "Relax, I was just joking. You didn't actually think I was serious, did you? Go on back inside and get married." Everyone laughed. They all mocked how I had been obsessed with Julian for ten years, how I would do anything for him. But what neither they—nor Julian—knew, was that this "interruption" was just a scripted part of my wedding program. 1 When Julian explained it was just a bet, the crowd had already been laughing for a while. The ridicule was sharp, piercing my eardrums. "Man, Eva, you’re such a liability. Can you use that brain of yours for once?" "It's hilarious. Did you really hallucinate that Julian would marry you?" This feeling of humiliation was all too familiar. I instinctively clenched the fabric of my wedding dress, my nails digging into my palms. Julian lit a cigarette, a look of disgust flashing in his eyes. "Eva, if you're thinking about how to cling to me right now, I suggest you give up. I don't do clingy." The laughter grew louder, rippling through the group. Usually, at a moment like this, I would have broken down crying, asking Julian why he treated me this way. But this time was different. As soon as Julian finished speaking, I turned around. A strong hand clamped down on my arm. "Where are you going?" "Back to get married." Julian froze for a second, then let out a scoff. "Eva, when it comes to being pathetic, no one beats you." I closed my eyes. Even now, that sentence made my heart skip a beat in pain. Yeah. No matter what I do, in Julian’s eyes, I’m just pathetic. Three days before the wedding, I mailed him an invitation. I don't know who pocket-dialed me, but I heard the bet with my own ears. "Interesting. She's really going through with it." Someone asked Julian, "Think it's real?" Another guy chimed in, "No way. Everyone knows she's obsessed with Julian. She's probably just jealous of his new girl and wants attention." Julian’s new girl was Sasha. Julian really liked her. He chased her for a long time. I heard Sasha pick up the invitation, glance at it, and toss it on the floor, giggling. "She looks cheap. If I were a guy, I wouldn't look twice." Amidst the laughter, Julian slammed his drink on the table and asked: "Wanna bet?" "Again? If we win, you break up with Sasha." Julian’s voice went cold instantly. "Who said you could use Sasha as a chip?" On the other end of the line, I heard him casually set the terms: Would I run away from the altar for him? Sasha couldn't be used as a chip. But me? I was the chip in over a hundred of his games. 2 Almost everyone in the room bought in. "Damn! That's a huge bet. No way she'd bail on her own wedding. Count me in." "Yeah, Eva might be a simp, but I don't believe she has zero dignity!" My hand holding the phone trembled. I pressed the end call button repeatedly, but my fingers were shaking too much. A tear fell, hitting the speakerphone button. I panicked and shut off the phone. I stared blankly ahead, then suddenly laughed. Absurd. Tragic. That was my relationship with Julian. Everyone knew I loved him. But no one knew Julian and I had been together for a long time. Before he went abroad for grad school, Julian asked me to wait three years. He promised that once he made a name for himself, he'd come back and marry me. But when I saw him again, he was surrounded by women. He had made a name for himself. I asked him if he remembered what he said. His look was unfamiliar, cold. "Everyone does stupid things when they're young. Are you trying to blackmail me with that?" No matter how hard I tried, the distance between us only grew. So I gave up. But why? I was already getting married. I had already admitted defeat. Why couldn't he just let me go? "Eva, you're actually an idiot." "If I were the groom, I'd slap you the second you walked back in. Do you have any idea how cheap you look right now?" Julian was yelling at me, spitting insults. I just felt exhausted. I shook off his hand. "Is that so? Watch me." I walked away. Julian’s voice trailed behind me, impatient. "Fine. Don't come crying to me when you get humiliated." I didn't look back. When I re-entered the chapel, the confetti cannons popped on cue. Pop! Gold streamers rained down on my head. The guests applauded. "I didn't believe the program when it said there was a 'Runaway Bride' skit, but that was intense!" "Adds a little spice, doesn't it?" "What was the meaning again? 'True love survives all obstacles'?" 3 I kept a straight face and walked back onto the stage. The ceremony continued. Someone closed the heavy oak doors, leaving Julian standing outside, frozen in shock. We exchanged rings. We said our vows. During the reception, I checked my phone. Julian had sent a barrage of texts. What was that? Eva, did you just play me?! Yes. I played him. I was tired of being the puppy he summoned and dismissed at will. I hoped he learned some boundaries. I didn't reply. Just as I was about to block him, he called. I declined. He called again. I finally picked up. Julian’s voice was dripping with rage. "Eva. You have three minutes. Come out here and explain yourself." I answered casually. "Julian, the bet is over, right? You got the outcome you wanted. You won the money." He took a deep breath, suppressing a scream. I was about to hang up when his tone shifted. "You really went all out just to make me jealous. A fake wedding? Was it fun?" "Fake wedding?" "Eva, I'm putting it out there. After today, don't expect to ever see me again." Julian was always arrogant. Whether he believed me or not, I didn't care. I rubbed my temples. "That would be best." I hung up. Suddenly, a shadow fell over me. I turned and bumped into Liam's handsome face. He was leaning against the wall, taller than Julian, his black tuxedo radiating a silent pressure. "Who was on the phone?" I paused. There was a hint of jealousy in his voice. We hadn't known each other long. The marriage was... sudden. Before I could speak, he leaned in. His breath was close. I held mine. Before I could ask if this was too fast, he grabbed a glass from a nearby table and smiled at my reddening ears. "To celebrate? Cheers?" 4 Liam chose juice. We leaned against the balcony railing. He suddenly asked, "You never told me why you were at the City Clerk's office that day." I’m a lightweight. Even the thought of alcohol made my face flush. I squinted. "Just a coincidence." But that day was actually my birthday. I hadn't heard from Julian in months. He suddenly contacted me, saying he had a birthday surprise. Even though I knew better, I went. Near City Hall, I heard a roar overhead. It was a helicopter dropping flower petals. Julian was inside. My heart hammered against my ribs. The petals were custom-made. I picked one up. Be mine— My phone rang. It was Julian. "Told you it was a surprise." I froze. Because I unfolded the petal and saw the name on the back: Sasha. Julian laughed over the roar of the engine. "Eva! She said yes! Wish me a happy relationship!" I went cold. I couldn't hear what he said after that. I thought about college, when Julian first confessed to me. He lost a game of Truth or Dare. He picked me out of a group of girls. It was a joke. I should have laughed. But I thought he just needed courage. So I said yes. We were together for four years. Just like a normal couple. I watched the petals fall. I realized Julian and I had never even had a sincere "I like you." I was so tired. No matter how hard I tried, Julian and I were a dead end. Liam walked out of the marriage license bureau toward me right then. He was breathtakingly handsome, surrounded by people staring. He begged me: "Help me out. Pretend to be my girlfriend for five minutes." One afternoon later, we had a marriage certificate. It felt unreal. He said his family was pressuring him. I was 28, exhausted from chasing Julian. It clicked. Why not? 5 Liam finished his juice and walked me to the car. My head was spinning a little. Halfway to the hotel, he slammed on the brakes. A black SUV was blocking the road. I recognized it immediately. It was Julian. Through the window, I saw Sasha in the passenger seat. Julian hopped out and knocked on my window. Liam just lowered the glass. He was wearing sunglasses, his gaze clashing with Julian's. "Can I help you?" Julian looked him up and down. He leaned on the door frame, smirking. "Eva, you hired a decent actor. Must have cost a fortune to stage this all day." I twitched. If I had the certificate on me, I would have slapped him with it. But I had zero patience left for self-defense. "Move." Julian’s expression faltered but recovered quickly. "Sasha forgot her jacket. It's cold. Give her yours." Sasha glanced at me, then looked away with a sneer. I was speechless. "Julian, are you that broke?" He did this often. He loved seeing me jealous. If I got mad, he’d toss me a crumb of affection. I used to cling to that crumb. Now? I grabbed a jacket from the backseat and threw it at him. "Here. Consider it a donation." It was a matching couple's jacket we bought in college. It was time to trash it anyway. He recognized it. He froze. Then the anger hit. "Eva! Enough is enough. Don't push it." Liam didn't wait. He floored the gas, swerving around the SUV. We stopped not at Liam's house, but at a high-end boutique. Liam opened my door. "Let's go." "Now? I have clothes." He changed the subject smoothly. "I don't. I have nothing to wear." "And I need... matching couple stuff." He strode inside. I stood there for a moment. How did Liam know that was a couple's jacket? 6 Come to think of it. Julian barely ever wore that jacket. I rushed into the store, grabbed Liam, and stared at his face. He rubbed his chin. "Something on my face?" "No..." I remembered. A photo on Julian’s Instagram. One of the people in it... was Liam! I gasped. "You... you know Julian?" Liam smirked, noncommittal. "Maybe. But he didn't seem to recognize me earlier." With sunglasses on, Liam looked different. And Julian had probably never looked at my invitation. Liam’s eyes crinkled at the corners. "There's a party tomorrow. You'll understand then." The next day, we arrived at a private room in a restaurant. Before we entered, I heard the noise inside. Julian was asking Liam: "Long time no see. What have you been up to?" "Getting married." The room exploded. Julian sounded shocked. "You? Married? I thought you were asexual or something. When did you even date?" Liam crossed his legs and took a sip of wine. "You met her yesterday." "Yesterday?" Julian dismissed it. "You're mistaken. I was with Sasha all day. We only went to the hotel... and..." He stopped. He remembered something he didn't want to discuss. A flash of loneliness crossed his eyes. He pulled out his phone. "Anyway, excuse me." I was about to push the door open when my phone buzzed. Eva, consider the bet my apology. Come find me. Sasha isn't here. First time Julian ever apologized. I turned off my phone. Then, a phone rang. Almost simultaneously, my ringtone rang out from the hallway, identical to the sound inside the room. Julian looked toward the door. His eyes lit up when he saw me. Then his face fell. Liam pulled me into the room and kissed me on the corner of my mouth. "Everyone, meet Eva. My wife."
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