Chapter 1

On our wedding day, my fiancée climbed into her ex-boyfriend's bridal car and made outrageous demands.

The entire venue fell dead silent as guests whipped out their phones, waiting to record me becoming the biggest laughingstock in town.

Instead, I unpinned the groom's boutonnière from my chest and tossed it straight through the driver's window.

"What are you waiting for, groom? Hit the gas! Everyone is waiting for the reception dinner!"

1

"The bride is in the car!"

The moment I stepped out in my custom tuxedo, upbeat music blasted through the speakers, accompanied by cheers and applause.

My heart was racing with pure excitement.

Seven whole years of dating Jenna were finally culminating in this perfect moment.

I walked out eagerly, ready to sweep my bride off her feet.

The very next second, the smile froze on my face.

A black Mercedes was parked out front with its door wide open.

A man in a sleek suit knelt halfway on the ground, holding a huge bouquet of crimson roses.

And my fiancée, in her pristine white wedding gown and flawless makeup, was being held in another man's arms with a blush on her cheeks.

"Kiss her! Kiss her!"

The surrounding crowd erupted in wild cheers, many snapping photos with their phones to capture the romantic scene.

My mind went completely blank, as if struck by lightning.

The man holding her was none other than her ex-boyfriend, Austin Reed.

Years ago, Jenna's parents looked down on Austin because he was broke, ruthlessly tearing them apart.

I genuinely believed Jenna had moved on from him.

Yet the blissful look on her face right now proved otherwise.

I stood frozen in place, watching them flaunt their intimacy without a single care in the world.

I felt like a complete outsider at my own wedding.

Soon, the guests noticed something was wrong.

When their eyes fell on the groom's boutonnière on my lapel, the noise died down instantly, as if someone had hit pause on reality.

Only my chest pounded violently, the heavy thuds ringing painfully in my ears.

"Wait, isn't that the actual groom? Why is the bride in another guy's arms?"

"Man, this is so awkward."

"Talk about shameless!"

My face burned hot, feeling as though someone had delivered a brutal slap across my cheek.

I was being paraded like a clown for everyone to mock.

The wedding I meticulously planned, the future I dreamed of, shattered in an instant.

And I was turned into the ultimate joke.

In the distance, Jenna caught my gaze.

She immediately looked away, like a guilty child afraid of making eye contact.

Seeing me clench my fists in silence, Austin poked his head out of the driver's seat.

With a smug grin of victory, he gave me a fake apology.

"Sorry about that, Garrett. Jenna got so excited just now that she twisted her ankle, so I had to carry her into the car. Don't take it the wrong way!"

He stepped toward me with a hypocritical smile, pretending to be the good guy.

I looked down at Jenna's slender, pale ankles.

There wasn't a single scratch or bruise.

Her supposed injury was just a cheap excuse to get close to Austin in front of everyone.

I sneered internally at the pathetic lie.

Instead of playing into his game, I stared right into Austin's eyes and asked coldly, "Austin, why do you have the keys to my car?"

Before Austin could reply, Jenna snapped defensively, rolling her eyes at me.

"Show some respect! Austin is our family's private driver now, of course he has the keys!"

"His driving is way better than yours anyway. What's the big deal if he drives me?"

I looked at the unreasonable woman standing before me.

All the gentleness and understanding she used to show seemed like a distant illusion.

This wasn't the first time she had pulled something like this.

Throughout our relationship, she never consulted me on anything, always acting entitled and selfish.

I had imagined our wedding day a million times, but I never imagined she would team up with another man to humiliate me.

Seeing me remain silent, Jenna rolled her eyes again in annoyance.

Her glittery manicure caught the harsh sunlight.

"Fine, talking to you is like talking to a brick wall. The ceremony is about to start, and you're acting like a petty child over nothing."

"Get in the car already! My family is waiting at the venue, starving!"

She spoke with such entitlement, painting me as the unreasonable villain ruining her big day.

Looking at her arrogant face, the last shred of my affection vanished into thin air.

I walked up to the car, ignored her outstretched hand, and slammed the door shut.

While Jenna stared in shock, I ripped the groom's boutonnière from my chest and casually threw it at Austin like a piece of worthless trash.

"What are you waiting for, groom? Hit the gas! Everyone is waiting for the reception dinner!"