Chapter 1

On my wedding night, I pushed open the door, only to find eight men standing inside.

It was my husband, Sean, and his groomsmen.

Emily, my sister, smiled wickedly.

"Chloe, to prove you really love Sean, let's play a game."

"Blindfold yourself and guess which one is your groom."

"No matter who you choose, you have to kiss him."

I agreed, smiling.

Sean and I had been dating for three years.

I knew his scent and his body like the back of my hand.

When my hand brushed against the fourth man, I felt the cold metal of our wedding ring.

I smiled and called out, "Sean!"

But the man suddenly wrapped his arms around me, pulling me tight against his chest.

"Chloe, how could you mistake your own husband? I just borrowed Sean's ring for a second."

My smile faded instantly, and my face went cold.

"Sean, how could you let another man wear our wedding ring?"

The next second, Sean grabbed my hand as I tried to pull off the blindfold. He coaxed me in a soft, gentle voice, "Chloe, it's just a game. Don't be a party pooper."

Emily chimed in from the side, cheering. "According to the rules, whoever you touch is the one you have to kiss!"

Before I could even protest, the stranger leaned in to kiss me.

I shoved him away with all my might.

"I'm not playing this game, and this wedding is off!"

Sean's best friend, Jared, gripped my shoulders tightly. His breath, heavy with the stench of alcohol, came closer and closer to my face.

I couldn't believe Sean was just standing there, doing absolutely nothing to stop him.

"Get off me! Let me go!" I screamed.

Emily laughed from the sidelines.

"Oh, come on, Chloe. Why are you making such a scene?"

"You're ruining the whole kissing game!"

I gritted my teeth, grabbed the edge of the blindfold, and ripped it off.

"Ah!"

A sharp, agonizing pain flared across my face. It felt like my skin was being violently torn off.

But the blindfold was still stuck fast to my eyes.

Panic surged through me.

"Sean! Help me take this off! There's glue on it!"

The room fell dead silent.

Only Emily's giggles broke the quiet.

"Chloe, you'd really tell such a pathetic lie just to cheat at a game?"

"If you're too scared to play, just admit it. It just proves you don't actually know Sean!"

The stranger's wet tongue suddenly trailed across my cheek.

I shrieked, my voice trembling with terror.

"Mom! Dad! Sean! Help me!"

No one answered.

It was just like the day we went wedding dress shopping.

Emily thought it would be funny to play hide-and-seek. She dragged Sean, Mom, and Dad away to hide from me.

When I came out of the fitting room, I couldn't find them anywhere. I ran home in a panic, only to get a Snapchat message saying they were still waiting for me at the boutique.

Rip!

My sleeve was torn open.

Jared grunted in frustration and grabbed the back of my neck.

I struggled to back away, screaming hysterically.

"Sean! Get out here right now!"

The next second, I was violently shoved to the floor.

"Chloe, you're the one who walked into my arms. What's wrong with a little kiss?" Jared sneered. "Sean said if you couldn't recognize him, he'd let me stand in as the groom for the night!"

He lunged, pinning me down.

I thrashed against him, screaming at the top of my lungs.

"Get off me! Don't touch me!"

"Sean! The wedding is off! I'm calling it off!"

Suddenly, a heavy fist slammed into flesh, followed by Jared's sharp cry of pain.

"Did I not tell you to know your limits?" Sean's voice finally rang out as he draped his warm jacket over my shivering shoulders.

"I'm sorry, Sean! I messed up!" Jared whimpered. "Chloe, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"

Sean ignored his pleas and took my hand.

"Chloe, how do you want to handle this guy?"

Before I could speak, Emily's voice cut in.

"Sean, it was just a joke!"

"Jared is your best friend. I didn't think Chloe would be such a drama queen over a silly game."

"If she can't handle a joke, let's just forget it."

Sean didn't defend me.

I gripped Sean's hand, my fingers shaking violently. "The blindfold... it won't come off..."

Sean poured a cup of warm water and handed it to me.

But just as my fingers brushed the glass, Emily let out a soft cough.

The cup was instantly pulled away from my hand, shifting directions.

"Emily, drink some warm water. Don't catch a cold," Sean said softly.

My fingertips froze in mid-air.

Only then did Sean turn back to address my panic.

"Emily put the blindfold on you. There shouldn't be any issues. Are you sure you're not just overreacting?"

He reached out to help me take it off, but Emily whined, clutching his arm.

"Sean, wait! The rule is she can't take it off until the ceremony is over. It's the game's rule. Don't spoil her, okay?"

Sean's hand stopped.

Feeling his hand retreating, I grabbed his wrist in a panic.

"Sean, I'm not lying!"

"My face hurts so bad... please, just take it off..."

Sean hesitated for a fraction of a second, then gently but firmly pushed my hand away.

"Be good, Chloe. Just listen to Emily."

"She spent a long time planning this game for us."

My heart went completely cold.

When Sean tried to lead me to the altar, I pulled my hand away and stumbled back a few steps.

Sean grabbed my arm, his voice tight.

"The ceremony is starting, Chloe. What are you doing?"

I let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh.

"Sean, I can't even find my own groom. Do you really think there's any point in going through with this wedding?"

He froze, tightening his grip on my hand.

"Chloe, you're the one who couldn't even recognize me, and I'm not even mad."

"I've already kicked those guys out."

"Just go rest for a bit, and we'll restart the ceremony in a few minutes, okay?"

His voice held a hint of compromise.

I let out a soft laugh and pulled my hand free.

"No."