Chapter 3

Over the next few days, Brandon went out of his way to make it up to Tiffany, whisking her away on lavish getaways across the country.

Like a high schooler desperate to show off, Tiffany posted on Instagram five times a day.

Our mutual friends saw every single update, and naturally, they all waited with bated breath for me to blow up Brandon’s phone.

After all, that was my signature move in the past.

Whenever Brandon took Tiffany anywhere, I would throw a fit, demanding that he take me too.

Brandon would always scoff, rolling his eyes and asking why I had to turn everything into a competition.

Yet, in the end, he would always indulge me with a fond, resigned smile, taking me on the same trip and showering me with expensive gifts.

It was that very pattern of indulgence—that gentle, giving-in to my demands—that had fed my delusions for years, making me believe that deep down, he secretly loved me too.

Snapping out of my daze, I dialed my mother’s number.

"Mom. I agree to the arranged marriage. You can start planning the wedding."

The match my mother had in mind was with the son of her closest lifelong friend—Julian Vance.

My mother had watched Julian grow up and adored him like her own.

In fact, our families had jokingly promised us to each other when we were just kids.

Later, when Brandon found out about that childhood promise, he blew an absolute fuse. He fought with me for days, demanding that I break off that ridiculous arrangement immediately.

It was nothing more than an offhand joke made by our parents over dinner, yet Brandon had treated it like a genuine crisis.

And because of that fiery jealousy, I had let myself believe I held a truly special place in his heart.

Looking back now, it was nothing more than a momentary lapse of male possessiveness. And like a fool, I had taken it as gospel.

On the other end of the line, my mother let out an ecstatic gasp.

"Oh, sweetheart, that's wonderful!"

"You have no idea—Julian has carried a torch for you since he was a little boy!"

Auntie Vance’s cheerful voice chimed in over the speaker as well.

"She's right, Chloe! Just you wait—I am going to make sure Julian gives you the most breathtaking wedding this city has ever seen!"

Hearing their warm, unfiltered joy, heat rushed to my cheeks.

I had spent years dreading how impossible it would be to let Brandon go. But now that I had ripped the band-aid off, it wasn't all that difficult after all.

Brandon and Tiffany deliberately set their wedding date on the exact day my flight was scheduled to depart for my studies abroad.

It was as if they were taking precautions, ensuring I wouldn't be anywhere near the country to ruin their picture-perfect day.

The group chats were buzzing with rare excitement.

Brandon’s groomsmen flooded their Instagram stories with congratulations, their captions doubling as public jabs at me.

"Huge congrats to my brother Brandon for finally tying the knot and shaking off that clingy parasite for good! Nothing but clear skies ahead, man!"

"Congratulations to Tiffany and Brandon! A true match made in heaven. Somebody just got hit with a massive reality check."

Every sweet wish for the bride was paired with a cruel sneer aimed at me.

In their eyes, I had never been worthy of Brandon; I was just a desperate groupie who had overstayed her welcome.

Before heading to the airport, I met up with Julian.

We officially signed the marriage documents and agreed on a private, intimate ceremony three months down the road.

I wasn't a fan of flashy, public spectacles, and neither was Julian.

Life felt largely the same as when I was single.

The only real differences were the stunning diamond ring sitting on my left ring finger and the ten-million-dollar trust fund Julian’s family had wired directly into my personal account as a bridal gift.

As Julian was driving me toward the terminal, my phone suddenly rang on the dashboard.

The caller ID displayed the name of Brandon’s younger cousin, Harper Shaw.

After a beat of hesitation, I answered.

"Chloe, Brandon and Tiffany are about to walk down the aisle! Why aren't you here yet?"

I answered calmly.

"I'm on my way to the airport."

Harper gasped, her voice shrill with urgency.

"Then tell your driver to whip a U-turn right now! If you floor it, you can still make it in time!"

Before I could decline, the phone rustled, and Tiffany’s sugary, triumphant voice took over the line.

"Chloe, sweetie, today is the most important day of Brandon’s and my life. Are you really not coming to celebrate with us?"

I glanced over at Julian sitting beside me in the driver's seat, his calm, reassuring presence anchoring me completely. A genuine smile touched my lips.

"There's no need for that anymore."

"By the way... congratulations on your wedding. I truly wish you both a lifetime of happiness."