The night before Valentine's Day, my fiancé, who worked for a classified government agency, sent me a text. [Honey, I'm so sorry. A mission came up at the agency at the last minute, and my wedding leave has been canceled again.] The moment I received this message. I was standing less than thirty feet from the main gate of his facility. I watched with my own eyes as he tucked his "work wife," Olivia Reed, inside his heavy overcoat. "Just to satisfy your sick sense of humor, your 'Papa' here has stood Emma up six times now." "This is the last time. Next year, no matter what, I am marrying her." Olivia smiled and held the Starbucks cup she had been drinking from up to his lips. "Didn't you guys just buy a new wedding bed? I should go over and test it out for the bride." "Don't thank me, just consider it an early wedding gift." Hearing this, I dug my fingernails into my palms and dialed the Brooks family's number. [Mr. and Mrs. Brooks, call everyone. Let's go over and decorate the new house tonight instead.] [Yes, I want to give Carter a surprise.] Since he didn't care about basic decency. Then he shouldn't blame me for going nuclear. ...... [Let's keep the fact that we're all in West City a secret from Carter for now.] [Okay, I’ll wait for you guys downstairs at the apartment complex.] After hanging up the phone. I opened the surveillance app I had just installed yesterday. On the screen, they were already making out, moving from the entryway all the way into the master bedroom. I saw the blessed silver cross I had prayed on my knees at a cathedral to get for him. Right now, it was lying all alone in the mess scattered on the floor. My body went completely rigid, letting the freezing wind bite into my skin. Before long, both sets of parents and relatives arrived on time. Before they even got close, my parents anxiously surrounded me. "How is it, Emma? Did you see that scoundrel Carter?" "Don't worry, your grandfather just called the director of his agency." "Even if the sky falls tomorrow, the unit won't call him in for a last-minute mission." I fought back my absolute breaking point of emotions. I forced a smile onto my face for them. "Okay." "Emma, didn't you say you wanted to surprise Carter?" "What are we standing around for? Let's get up there and start decorating." Seeing the bright red balloons and ribbons in the hands of my parents and relatives. My nose stung, and I let the tears spill over my eyelashes. I had known Carter Brooks for ten years, dated him for eight, and we agreed to get married six years ago. Six years ago, one month before our wedding. He said he was up for a promotion to Senior Agent, so I agreed to push the wedding back a year. Three years ago, one week before our wedding. He said he had to go on a classified mission, and I agreed to postpone it for another year. Until this year, when both sets of parents finally lost their patience. Three days ago, we brought all our relatives and friends. We arrived early in the city where his agency was located to prepare for the wedding. But I never in my wildest dreams imagined. The wedding house I had spent six years meticulously decorating. Every single piece of furniture, every inch of the hardwood floor inside. Had already been broken in by his female bestie, Olivia Reed. Thinking of this, my stomach churned. I rushed over to a nearby trash can and threw up for a long time. I really wanted to tell them, to tell everyone. Just half an hour ago. Carter personally texted me to notify me. The wedding scheduled for tomorrow was being postponed for another year. I really wanted to tell my parents that Carter had betrayed me. Over the past six years, every time he lied about his wedding leave being canceled. He was actually fooling around with his work wife, Olivia Reed. But I found my throat felt like it was being choked by a massive, invisible hand. No matter what I did, I couldn't force out a single word, nor make a single sound. As we walked into the apartment lobby, I took a massive gulp of ice-cold water. "Carter Brooks, it's time for you to taste what it feels like to be played like a clown." 2 The moment everyone stepped off the elevator. We saw shoes and a woman's blouse scattered in the hallway. Seeing my extreme embarrassment as I kicked the clothes toward the wall. Carter's mother covered her nose and smirked. Assuming she understood the situation, she unlocked the front door. At the same time, unspeakable sounds of intimacy drifted from the master bedroom. "Oh, baby, this bed is really comfortable." "Later, when you're doing this with your wife here, are you going to think of your bro?" "Change the sofa to leather, this fabric is too rough to lie on." Hearing this, everyone's expression froze. It was as if a spell had been cast over the group. Not a single person moved closer to see what was happening. Not a single person uttered a sound. I forced my heavy legs, which felt like they weighed a thousand pounds, to move. I picked up the silver cross, broken in two, from among the scattered bras and shirts. Even though I had prepared myself mentally. Being truly in the moment, I still felt as cowardly as a child who had done something wrong. I bit my lip so hard I tasted iron, letting the blood fill my mouth. "You Brooks son of a bitch, get your ass out here." "Carter Brooks, do you hear me?" "You actually dared to betray my daughter? You have a death wish." My dad ignored everything and charged toward the master bedroom. He slammed his fists heavily against the wooden door. Just as he was furious enough to raise his foot and kick the door in. Carter slipped out through a crack in the door, wrapped in a bath towel. "Uncle, Dad, Mom, Cousin..." "You, what are you all doing here?" "Why didn't anyone tell..." Before he could finish, my dad punched him hard in the face. "You godless animal, you have the nerve to ask us?" "Our Emma waited for you for six long years, wishing upon every star." "Was it just to wait and see how you would betray her?" Before Carter could even recover from his shock. My mom had already rushed into the kitchen and grabbed a heavy meat cleaver. "Where is that little bitch? Daring to ruin my daughter's marriage." "I'm going to butcher her. I'm going to butcher that little homewrecker right now." Just as she raised the cleaver to storm into the master bedroom. Carter snatched the knife away and threw it to the floor. "Uncle, Auntie, are you misunderstanding something?" "My original plan was to leave the base at 7 AM tomorrow." "Wasn't this just to give Emma a surprise? That's why I came home early." "I just finished taking a shower and wanted to change clothes, and you guys were already here." While he was speaking, my cousin Ethan had already rushed into the bedroom. "Carter, if you really betrayed my cousin, I'll murder you." The moment the door was pushed open. The wedding bed was made perfectly, incredibly neat. Scanning the entire room, there was no trace of a second person besides him. Seeing this, Carter's mother immediately chimed in to deflect. "See, I told you. How could our Carter do something like that?" "It seems we've all misunderstood him." "Emma, really, you should have just waited upstairs with Carter for us." "What, were you afraid we couldn't find our way with all these people?" She annoyed picked up his jacket from the floor and tossed it to her son. "Look at you, taking a shower is fine, but why are you watching those trashy videos?" "Now look, everyone misunderstood." Carter's cousin Jake also chimed in from the side. "To be honest, did you and the bride-to-be just finish a passionate session?" "You didn't even clean up the battlefield before having everyone come decorate the new house." "Yeah, you're really not treating us like outsiders." Carter, having quickly pulled his clothes on, took the easy way out. "Talk about bad luck." "Who watches a spicy video in their own home and gets caught in the act like this?" He faked an awkward cough a few times. "Since everyone is here, why don't we go out for dinner?" "Emma, what do you think?" 3 Seeing that I was completely unmoved. He strode right up and pulled me into his arms. "Weren't you just cuddling in my arms acting spoiled?" "Now, in front of everyone, you're getting shy?" As he said this, he lowered his head close to my ear. "Let's take everyone out to eat first. I'll explain the video thing to you later." "Things aren't what they look like, trust me." "Say something quickly, everyone is waiting." Heh, is he afraid everyone is waiting? Or is he afraid the person hiding in the master bedroom is waiting? After ten years together, Carter knew how to manipulate me better than anyone. He knew that every time he and Olivia Reed crossed the line under the guise of being "bros." I would tirelessly believe his excuses, time and time again. But he didn't know that when I found out he had done this for this so-called female bestie... Lying about his wedding leave being canceled for six consecutive years. I didn't want to marry him at all anymore. But I didn't want to just rip open this filthy paper window directly. I wanted to see with my own eyes how they would reap what they sowed and suffer the consequences of their actions. I laughed coldly, breaking free from his embrace. "What just happened was indeed a misunderstanding." "It's our fault for not being careful, sorry for making everyone laugh." "Mom, Dad, Mr. and Mrs. Brooks, since it's so rare for everyone to gather together." "Why don't we just order a massive BBQ feast here at home? It can be a housewarming for us." "No!" As soon as these words were spoken, all three members of the Brooks family refused almost simultaneously. Seeing my confused expression. Carter's mother was the first to explain. "There are no ingredients in the new house. Eating delivery here, wouldn't that be neglecting everyone?" "Besides, it's getting late now. There's no time to go buy groceries and cook." "Nancy is right, maybe we should all just go out to eat." "My parents are right. Emma, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, let's go out to eat." In the entire room. Only I and the three members of the Brooks family knew. Behind the hidden door, there was a master bathroom. They wanted to use dinner as an excuse to get me and everyone else out of the house. So Olivia could take the opportunity to slip away? In their dreams! I ignored the Brooks family's desperate attempts to feign calmness. I pulled my parents and relatives to sit down on the sofa. "Oh, everyone has been tired all day. Let's not make it a hassle." "I already placed an order on UberEats. It'll be here in twenty minutes." "Everyone wants extra brisket and ribs, right? I remember Cousin doesn't eat spicy BBQ sauce, right?" "OK, I added it to the notes." Although their faces were full of reluctance. The Brooks family still bit the bullet and sat down. While I was in the kitchenette brewing coffee and tea for everyone. Carter looked incredibly awkward as he whispered his explanation to me. "Emma, did you get the text I sent? I wanted to surprise you, I didn't think it would blow up like this." I pretended nothing was wrong, asking him casually. "What text? Did you just send me a text?" "Sorry, I was so focused on decorating the house, I didn't have time to look at my phone." Just as I was about to pull out my phone, he raised his hand to stop me. "It's good you didn't see it. The wedding will proceed as scheduled. After tomorrow, you are my lawfully wedded wife." I smiled coldly and pushed him away. I returned to the living room to warmly host our relatives. While waiting for the BBQ to arrive. Some people were putting up wedding decals. Some were blowing up balloons. And the task of decorating the master bedroom. Was left to us, the couple. Just as I was about to lift the comforter to sprinkle traditional wedding chocolates and rose petals on the bed. Carter yanked the fitted sheet and comforter entirely onto the floor in one motion. Seeing my confused look. He explained with extreme awkwardness. "No one has lived here for a while, I was afraid it was dirty." He pulled a brand new four-piece bedding set out of the closet. "You sit and rest for a bit, I'll change it." "Emma, I know it's been hard on you planning the wedding all by yourself these past few years." "Don't worry, once my security clearance upgrade goes through smoothly, I'll apply for a transfer to the private sector." "Then, we can live that 9-to-5, everyday normal life you've been looking forward to." I couldn't be bothered to listen to his lies. Just as I raised my hand to push open the hidden door to the bathroom. He grabbed me tightly around the waist from behind. "Wait!" 4 My face was filled with anger as I questioned him loudly. "What are you doing? I need to use the bathroom." The moment I broke free from his arms. I was completely enraged, shouting my question. "Carter Brooks, what exactly are you hiding?" I rushed into the bathroom behind the hidden door like a madwoman. Seeing that I almost ripped up the floorboards. But still couldn't find a single trace of Olivia Reed. Carter visibly let out a sigh of relief. "Alright, stop being so paranoid." "Hurry back to the living room, the BBQ is almost fully unpacked." As the smell of smoked brisket permeated the air. I felt my eyes tearing up and becoming misty. This moment was what I had once dreamed of the most. Parents, my lover, and relatives all by my side. Everyone eating BBQ, drinking a little beer. The elders talking about business and family gossip. The younger generation talking about ideals, about the collision of reality and the soul. "Emma, what are you standing there for?" "Hurry up and eat. After we eat, I'll drive everyone back to the hotel." It wasn't until Carter aggressively piled food onto plates and rushed the process. That I finally woke up from the illusion before my eyes. "What's the rush? Who finishes a feast in just an hour?" "Since everyone is here today, whatever else you guys want, I'll order it." "Two more racks of ribs, two more orders of pulled pork, two more sides of mac and cheese..." I completely ignored the urgent, panicked eyes of the three members of the Brooks family. If the person wasn't hiding indoors. And the bathroom window happened to face the external air conditioning unit. Then there was only one last possibility. Olivia Reed was currently hiding on the A/C unit outside the window. At this point, I just wanted to see. Would Olivia be frozen enough to call out to us for help while stark naked? Admitting she was intruding on someone else's relationship. Or would she, for the sake of her so-called dignity... Bite the bullet and endure the sub-zero freezing weather. Either social death or freeze to death. Let's see which one she chooses! Seeing the second UberEats delivery arrive. And everyone still showing no signs of getting up to leave. Carter finally, visibly panicked. He practically begged as he urged me. "Emma, let's just go back to the hotel after eating. If we stay any longer, something bad is going to happen." "If you like BBQ this much, after the wedding tomorrow, we can eat it every day, okay?" Feigning the liquid courage of alcohol, I grabbed him by the collar like a belligerent drunk. "What bad thing will happen? What could possibly happen?" "Carter Brooks, don't tell me you actually hid someone in our wedding house?" "Where are they hiding? Could it be outside the window? No, I have to go look." As I stumbled and swayed toward the master bedroom. Carter's parents anxiously followed behind me. "Emma, are you drunk? How can someone hide outside this window?" "Exactly, do they have superpowers or something?" "In this freezing weather, hiding outside the window would freeze them to death!" At that moment, Carter grabbed me around the waist and hauled me back to the sofa. "Emma, the whole family is here, you can't act crazy like a drunk." "Robert, Helen, it's already so late. Let me drive everyone back to the hotel first." "Yes, Robert, Helen, let's hurry back to the hotel. Tomorrow we still have to hold the wedding ceremo..." Before the words were finished, the doorbell was rung frantically. The moment the door was opened, a group of firefighters and EMTs rushed in with a stretcher. 5 (Chapter 2 in original) "Apartment 1203, right? Someone called to report someone in your house is trying to jump." "Which room is the external A/C unit in? Take us there immediately."
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