Chapter 1

At our college reunion, someone asked me again when I was finally getting married.

I smiled, pulled out the invitations, and started handing them out.

"What perfect timing. It is set for mid-October. I hope you all can make it."

Everyone chimed in with congratulations while glancing at the woman beside me.

"You two have been together for nearly a decade. You are finally taking Janelle down the aisle!"

Suddenly, Janelle splashed her glass of wine straight into my face.

"Clayton, is it fun forcing me into marriage like this?" she hissed.

The entire table fell dead silent in shock.

I calmly wiped the wine from my face, unfolded the invitation, and held it right in front of her eyes.

"Excuse me, but your name is nowhere on this card."

1

At every annual reunion, whether Janelle Foster and I were tying the knot was always the main topic.

Couples who had been together for ten years without getting married were rare, so people could not help but be curious.

When I announced the date and began handing out invitations, the room froze in disbelief.

After the initial shock, congratulations began pouring in from around the table.

When I reached Janelle, I hesitated over whether to hand her one.

Before I could decide, a glass of cold water splashed across my face.

"When did I ever agree to your proposal? Clayton, is it fun forcing me into marriage like this?"

The room fell into stunned silence.

Only Janelle's furious voice echoed through the private dining room.

"Let me make this clear. When I say no, I mean no! Pulling cheap stunts like this will only backfire!"

"Instead of playing games, why didn't you just behave and wait another two years?"

"Excuse me, but aren't you flattering yourself?"

I wiped my face and looked at her calmly.

Then, I spread open the invitation right in front of her.

"Take a good look. Your name isn't written on the bride's line."

By then, several classmates had already opened their envelopes.

They exchanged bewildered glances and began whispering among themselves.

"Wait, the bride really isn't Janelle."

"It says... Alana. Why does that name sound so familiar?"

"Is this a joke? Haven't they been together for ten years? Why the sudden change?"

Janelle snatched the card from my hand.

Once she saw the name, she crumpled it into a ball and hurled it at my chest.

"What is this supposed to mean? You even hired an actress to put on a whole show?"