Chapter 1

The day before the wedding, everything was ready except for one thing—a maid of honor to go through the ceremony.

"Eve is still lying in bed recovering from her pregnancy. I think we should just pay someone to act as a maid of honor," I suggested.

I looked up at Steven, placing my hand in his palm, my eyes full of expectation.

We had been preparing for this wedding for over six months. The hardships and joys of the process were something only the two of us knew.

Steven ruffled my hair and smiled, confidently assuring me, "Don't worry, sweetheart, I've got this covered."

But on the wedding day, I didn't see the maid of honor we had arranged. Instead, there was Loopy, dressed in a wedding gown just like mine.

Loopy wore a form-fitting mermaid-style dress that made her look stunning, immediately becoming the center of attention.

When Steven saw Loopy shining so brightly, he seemed to lose all focus, his eyes fixed on her.

For the sake of the wedding's smooth progress, I swallowed my anger and refrained from making a scene, even though I felt betrayed.

Several friends who were familiar with the situation quickly noticed my displeasure and tried to subtly suggest Loopy leave early. But she snapped back at them:

"Steven invited me. Why should I leave?"

She then pushed her way through the crowd, bringing her wedding dress with her, and stood between Steven and me for photos.

It seemed as though everything was planned in advance.

The photographer kept positioning Steven and Loopy together, snapping pictures of the two of them as a couple.

I couldn't hold it in anymore. I stopped everything and asked, "This is my wedding. Have you two made enough of a scene?"

Loopy, taken aback, looked embarrassed, her eyes welling up with tears. She quietly apologized,

"I'm sorry, Seven Taylor. I just wanted to see Steven happy. I didn't mean to ruin your wedding."

Loopy's red eyes made everyone feel sorry for her, as though I were the one ruining the wedding.

But the more Loopy played the victim, the angrier I became. Before I could say anything more, Steven scolded me in front of everyone:

"This is Loopy's dream—to walk through a wedding with me. It doesn't bother us at all. Why are you being so petty?"

After that, Steven didn't look at me again. He turned and walked off with Loopy to continue the toasts.

I stood there, my heavy wedding gown dragging on the floor, tears streaming down my face.

The difference in Steven's reaction from the day before hit me like a punch to the gut. The shock left me standing there, unable to recover.

After Steven and Loopy quickly finished the rounds of toasts, the wedding planner urged me to change clothes and go for the next part of the ceremony.

Through it all, the whispers and judgment from the relatives reached my ears,

accompanied by their mocking glances. And all the while, Steven didn't seem to care about my feelings at all.

Chapter 2

After the wedding, I stayed in our bridal suite, staring blankly at the marriage certificate in my hands. I found myself absentmindedly rubbing it, overwhelmed with doubt and regret.

I wondered if I had made the wrong choice in marrying Steven.

When Steven and I first got together, I knew about Loopy. But didn't everyone have an ex? Back then, I wasn't too concerned about it, thinking that those old stories would eventually fade away.

Moreover, Steven was always decisive about relationships. He deleted Loopy's contact information the night we started dating, and promised me, "I'm done with Loopy. From now on, I'll love only you."

I believed him. I never questioned his sincerity. After three years of dating, we were ready to get married.

It was only on this wedding day that I realized I had been living in a fool's paradise. Maybe Steven had never truly let go of Loopy.

As I sat in my disappointment, my phone vibrated, signaling a new message.

It was from Brian Smith, an old friend I hadn't heard from in a while. Attached to the message was a large money transfer.

"Seven Taylor, I know you don't like me, so I've been too afraid to bother you. But today is your wedding, so I want to wish you happiness. Congratulations."

The transfer was a generous amount. It made me hesitate for a moment.

Just as I was about to decide whether or not to accept the gift, I heard a sound from the door.

Steven, who had been drinking, staggered in. When he saw the message on my phone, he immediately sneered, "I wondered why it was so quiet. Turns out, someone's keeping you company."

With that, he snatched my phone away. When he saw Brian's name in the contact list, his expression darkened. His fists clenched, and his voice trembled with anger:

"What does this mean? You think I'm treating you badly, so you want to accept Brian Smith's gift?"

I pursed my lips, anger from earlier rising up in me. I glared at Steven.

Steven was the one who knew me best. I hadn't been in contact with any other man. Even though Brian had been chasing me for years, I hadn't given him the time of day.

But Steven seemed to think differently.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Do you think everyone's relationships are as ambiguous as yours with Loopy?"

When Steven heard my mocking words, he froze for a moment, a sneer spreading across his face, as if he knew I wouldn't dare retaliate. He replied slowly:

"Loopy is simple-hearted, unlike you. If you think there's a problem between us, then I'll just do what you want."

With that, Steven turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

I collapsed onto the red wedding bed, feeling drained, as tears silently soaked the bedding.

Chapter 3

The dream felt so real, almost as if it were pulling me back six months.

Back then, Steven had a stable job. We lived together in an apartment, and every day he would prepare special meals for me.

He used to say that to love someone, you first had to win their heart through their stomach, and he did just that.

We even adopted a stray dog together and found it a new home.

That night, after we sent the dog away, my mood began to darken. Steven held me in his arms, comforting me, saying:

"It's okay. We'll move into a new house soon, and we'll adopt another puppy."

But how could things change so drastically just months later? After getting married, it felt like he had turned into a completely different person.

Late at night, when I couldn't sleep, I checked my phone again and found that Loopy had posted something on her alternate account.

In the photo, she was leaning against Steven's chest, wearing the same mermaid wedding dress from earlier, the two of them looking just like a couple on their wedding day.

The caption read: "Walking through a wedding with the person I love."

Seconds later, Steven liked the post and commented with a rose emoji.

I let out a bitter laugh. Unlike earlier, I didn't yell or confront him. I simply liked the post.

Soon after, Steven called me. His voice was hesitant but sharp:

"Loopy just wanted to fulfill a wish. Don't overthink it."

"I'm not overthinking it. You two look pretty compatible," I retorted.

Before Steven could say anything else, he coldly snorted and hung up.

Steven didn't come home that night. It wasn't until the next day, when we were supposed to visit his parents for dinner, that he reluctantly returned.