On the eve of our engagement party, my fiancé, Asher Sterling, and his female "best friend," Harper Sloan, flashed a marriage license in the middle of a nightclub. Asher looked completely unbothered, waving his hand dismissively. "Relax, Elena. It's just a prank. We're going to annul it tomorrow morning. Everyone knows Harper and I are just buddies." His tone was light, as if he were talking about the weather. But in Vegas, a marriage license is never just a piece of paper. The real trouble lies in the legal process required to revoke it, and Asher clearly had no intention of taking this seriously. Harper, looking like she was deliberately trying to provoke me, blinked her doe eyes. "Hey, don't be such a buzzkill. You all witnessed us getting officially married. Aren't you going to give us wedding gifts?" Sitting on the other side of the booth, Carter Brooks burst into laughter. He was Asher's frat brother from college. "Sure thing. My real estate project in the Hamptons just got approved. I'll put that up as a gift. But in Vegas, we play by Vegas rules—if you want this big gift, you have to win it from me at the table." I didn't speak. I just silently sat down on the velvet sofa and picked up a martini. Seeing Asher's frowning face, I gently swirled my glass and flashed a perfect, polite smile. "Aren't we rolling dice for wedding gifts? Count me in." As I settled in, the noisy VIP booth fell into a momentary, deathly silence. Asher reached out, trying to wrap his arm around my waist, his tone filled with his usual superiority and dismissal. "Stop it, Elena. We're just drunk and joking around. You should go back to the hotel and rest." I shifted backward, dodging his touch, and swept a cold glance toward Harper. "Keep your hands to yourself, Asher. Legally speaking, Mrs. Sterling is sitting over there." Asher's face instantly darkened, and his voice turned impatient. "I've told you a million times, Harper is just my best friend. If I actually wanted to date her, do you think you would have had a chance these past few years?" I didn't respond. I had heard this gaslighting script too many times. Because of Harper, he "forgot" our anniversary dinner. Because of Harper, he would dump me on the side of the road at 3 AM just to pick her up because she was drunk. And now, impulsively getting married in Las Vegas. All explanations converged into one classic excuse: We are just friends. The atmosphere grew stiff, so Harper leaned in. She sat directly on Asher's lap. "Alright, don't ruin the vibe." She turned to me, smiling harmlessly. "Elena, there's really nothing going on between me and Asher. We were just drunk and impulsive tonight. The lawyers will handle it first thing in the morning. If you're upset, I'll drink a few extra shots to apologize, okay?" Saying that, she grabbed a bottle of champagne from the table and chugged it. Asher's expression changed. He immediately reached out to stop her, scolding loudly. "Are you crazy? Why are you drinking so fast!" When he turned back to look at me, his eyes were freezing cold. "Elena Vance, don't go too far." I couldn't help but let out a self-deprecating laugh. "It's fine. I'm not someone who can't take a joke. Since everyone says I don't understand you two, I'll join you in being crazy tonight."
The people in the booth were stunned for a moment, then immediately started smoothing things over. "That's the spirit, Elena! We've wanted you to hang out with us for ages. It's Asher's fault for always hiding you away." Carter winked at the couple. "Asher, get over there and take care of your girl." Asher sneered, leaning back deep into the sofa. He pulled Harper back onto his lap, his large hand resting on her waist. "Don't look at me. Tonight, she's my legal wife." Seeing that I maintained a faint smile and showed no signs of causing a scene, the group started to cheer. "Alright, alright! Happy wedding! How are we playing?" Harper had played with them for a long time. She laughed and explained. "Same as always. Dice game. But since Elena is here, and she probably doesn't get the complex rules, let's keep it simple—High or Low." "The loser not only has to drink, but to celebrate my marriage to Asher, they have to add a bet to the pot." The crowd got even more excited. "That's not fair, is it? Everyone in our circle knows Harper and Asher are the best duo here. You two have husband-and-wife telepathy now; how are we supposed to win?" Asher's hand stayed on Harper's waist. He hadn't looked at me for even half a second. He scoffed. "Then you can just fold now." Carter, feeling competitive, took off the Patek Philippe Nautilus watch on his wrist. "I'll start with a chip. Just won this watch at a Sotheby's auction last week." The electronic dance music in the club got louder, pumping adrenaline into everyone's veins. Others started taking off expensive jewelry and luxury watches. Another socialite named Sienna threw down a Van Cleef & Arpels diamond bracelet. Asher didn't say anything. He undid his custom Hermès cufflinks and tossed them on the table. My gaze froze for a second. Those were the engagement gifts I had given him. The back was engraved with our initials. Harper was still buzzing with excitement. She squeezed Asher's hand and pouted. "Honey, I want that bracelet. Win it for me." I said nothing. I took off the full-diamond studs from my ears and gently placed them on the table. "Happy wedding to you both. I'm in."
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