The more I thought about it, the more nauseating I felt. I closed my eyes, suppressing my urge to throw up.

When I opened my eyes again, the first thing I saw was his graduation photo on the bookshelf—one where he wore a dead serious look.

Unable to hold myself back, I walked over, took down the graduation photo, and tore it apart.

The monastic miracle doctor? What an irony.

However, a thought crossed my mind as my gaze swept across the two shelves of trophies beside it.

This wedding wasn't just about the two of us. It was a calculated exchange between the Fowlers and the Hudsons.

I couldn't just think about myself.

After a moment of consideration, I tossed the shredded pieces of the photo into the trash can before returning to my bedroom to make some calls.

…

The next morning, I heard a key turning in the lock as I stepped out of the bedroom. However, it wasn't Edward who came in—it was Winnie.

"Morning, Sarah. I'm here to grab that pup's razor. I can't stand seeing that scruffy beard of his," she said.

Winnie then walked right into the master bedroom's bathroom and took the electric razor like she knew exactly where everything was.

I glanced at the key ring dangling from her fingers. It wasn't Edward's set.

This was the marital home we bought just last year, and I'd only moved in a week ago—yet her set of keys looked more worn out than mine.

By the time Winnie walked out, I was waiting for her by the doorframe with my arms crossed in front of my chest. I raised a brow and asked, "So this is where you usually hold lessons for my fiancé, Ms. Spencer?"

She was momentarily stunned, then turned away quickly. Almost under her breath, yet loud enough for me to hear, she mumbled, "Here we go again. Women are always so troublesome—jealous over nothing."

As Winnie walked past the guest bedroom where my lacey wedding dress was hung, she let out a laugh. "Why did you pick such an ugly wedding dress, Sarah? It's way worse than the set I bought with that pup last year!"

I narrowed my eyes just as Edward walked in. "What's taking you so long? Didn't we make plans to go to the bridal shop today?"

His words made me laugh.

"Who did you make plans with? It shouldn't be me, considering I was the last one to know about the postponement of the wedding," I replied.

Edward frowned when he caught the edge in my tone. He then gestured for Winnie to step out.

She shrugged and gave him a kick as she walked past him. "Don't start a fight with Sarah. I'll break your leg if you dare to upset her!"

"Alright, alright. You win, okay?" Edward all but ushered Winnie out.

However, his expression hardened as soon as the door closed behind him. "Haven't you made enough of a scene? Can't you take a joke? You ruined our mood last night, and you're planning to drag it into today as well?

"Don't forget, the Hudsons are banking on our five generations of medical prestige to grab half the healthcare business in the country. Keep this up, and you'll blow the deal and walk away with nothing!"

The way Edward was quietly threatening me now was a far cry from the doting act he'd just put on for Winnie.

This was the first time I'd ever seen his abrupt change of mood.

Edward first added me into his friends' group chat three days ago. He said that they were all buddies he grew up with.

At first, I thought it was normal for married couples to learn of each other's friend circles. As such, I'd even introduced my own friends to him without hesitation.

I wasn't expecting Edward's buddies to be different from my friends.

They went wedding dress-shopping together and fooled around with sex toys to the point of being admitted into the hospital. They could even make a celebrated, elite school-trained doctor drop to his knees and roleplay as a dog.

Upon revisiting that thought, I couldn't help but clutch my stomach. I nodded to him and said, "You're right. I was being immature."

Edward's expression softened seeing me own up to my faults. "It's good that you understand. I grew up together with Winnie and the others. We don't see each other as men and women. They're all my buddies. It won't affect what we have.

"Besides, everything she said last night was just a joke. If it really bothers you, I'll tell her to tone it down in the future."

I forced a smile on my face. Winnie's phone call came before I could even reply.

She said, "How much longer do you want me to wait for you, pup? I've already finished all the snacks in your car!"

Edward quickly stepped out. "I'm heading down now."

Looking at his retreating back, I pulled out my phone to check the texts from my friends' group chat.

"It's always good to uncover infidelity before the wedding!"

"How do you plan to execute your revenge? A word from you, and we'll immediately step in!"

I smiled before replying, "There's no rush. He's still going to take his role as the groom. Don't tarnish his noble reputation as Dr. Fowler."

…

Their banter never stopped throughout the journey.

Winnie stepped out of the passenger seat upon our arrival at the bridal shop. She then pointed at my custom wedding gown and said over her shoulders, "You have great taste, pup. This wedding dress is stunning. Let me try it on!"

The attendant was stunned, instinctively glancing over to me.

However, Edward walked in, looking amused. "Didn't you always say you hated dresses? That wearing one felt like wearing nothing at all?"

"This is different from any dresses—it's a wedding dress. Just tell me if you'd let me try it on or not!" Winnie said.

"Fine, fine. How could I say no when the little devil herself asked?" Edward waved the attendant over.

She reluctantly took down the wedding dress and led Winnie into the fitting room.

Only then did Edward seem to remember my presence. "Winnie's seen herself as one of the guys ever since she was young. She's never planning on getting married, so just let her have a little fun over it. Don't worry, she knows her limits. The wedding dress is still yours in the end."

My fingers dug into my palms inside the pocket, but I remained calm. "It's fine. She can wear it for a little longer if she likes it."

Edward wasn't expecting me to be so compliant. He frowned.

Just then, Winnie shouted for him from inside the fitting room. "Get in here and zip me up, pup! I can't reach the back!"

Edward started to make his way over without hesitation.

I stopped him. "Edward."

Standing in the middle of the room, Edward looked back slightly, but his body was still angled toward the fitting room. "What's wrong?"

I quietly studied his distracted profile. After a while, I pointed at the side and said, "Get her to try on the veil too. It'll look better if she wears the whole set."

Edward's eyes lit up as he picked up the veil and walked into the fitting room.

Soon enough, the attendant slipped out awkwardly, leaving behind the bickering sounds from inside.

"Take it easy! Are you trying to kill your buddy?" Winnie said.

Edward replied, "Not my fault you're so skinny. The laces still have gaps even when pulled tight."

Winnie retorted, "Cut the crap! Stop stepping on my train, pup!"

It quickly got quiet inside the fitting room. I sat down near the entrance of the bridal shop and started doing my own work.

After about two hours, Winnie finally got changed back into her own T-shirt and jeans. Her face was red as she walked out.

Edward's hair was somewhat tousled. He followed behind her and quickly told me, "We'll be out tonight. Head home and rest up once you're done adjusting the size. Don't let tomorrow's ceremony get delayed."

I smiled slightly and replied, "Okay."

I watched the car pull away. Then, I heard the attendant's surprised gasp from inside the fitting room. "Wait, how did the bodice tear like this? This wedding dress is entirely hand-stitched, Ms. Hudson. There's no way we can remake this in time! What do we do?"

I didn't look up, not wanting to see the ruined wedding dress with my own eyes.

I merely picked up my phone and said, "It's okay. Just wrap it up and have it delivered to this address tomorrow."

I woke up naturally on the wedding day itself.

As I reached the hotel, the person in charge hurried over. "I'm sorry, Ms. Hudson. Mr. Fowler said…they'll take some photos first since you're not here yet."

I glanced inside and spotted Winnie dressed in a brand new wedding gown, sporting full bridal makeup. Her arm was hooked through Edward's as they took the wedding photos.

Even though he was complaining, he remained cooperative when the photographer asked them to strike a pose. He turned to face her, got down on one knee, and took her hand.

When Edward stood up again, he lost his balance and almost knocked over a flower arrangement.

The photographer chuckled. "Is the groom nervous?"

Winnie poked Edward's shoulders and said, "Look at you, what a wimp! Don't worry, I'm always by your side."

The crowd laughed, and they finally noticed me.

Winnie waved at me. "I've tried it out for you, Sarah. The aisle's nice and smooth!"

She then casually patted Edward on the shoulders. "Alright, I'm done having my fun. Don't let me hold up your real deal. Thank you, pup."

He raised a brow and said, "Why are you thanking me? Do you not treat me as your buddy?"

Winnie hissed as she shook her fists before ducking into the bridal suite.

Edward straightened his suit jacket. "You're late. Where are your parents? There are only a few of your relatives here too. Did they get caught in a traffic jam?"

He spoke nonchalantly, then switched on his phone.

On his phone was a photo of a golden field of blooming canola flowers. "I changed our honeymoon spot to this place. Turns out Winnie and the guys haven't been there yet, so we'll all go together. We'll leave tonight—don't forget to get your tickets."

I tilted my head, realizing how Edward had never once looked my way when he was talking.

Just like the past three years, he'd never treated me as his only one. All he had in his mind was his medical profession.

I used to complain to my friends that Edward was a workaholic in the past, that love only took up five percent of his life.

Now, I realized that love probably did take up 90 percent of him. It just wasn't for me.

"It's time. Why isn't the host here yet?" Edward was about to make a call when he caught the plain long dress I was wearing.

His eyes widened as he asked, "Why aren't you in your wedding dress?"

I almost laughed. "The dress was in shreds after the way you two went at it yesterday. How could I wear it?"

Edward immediately frowned and chided, "How many times do I have to tell you that Winnie and I are just buddies? Stop twisting things with that filthy imagination of yours!"

"Is that so? And here I thought you just couldn't control yourself. Too impatient to wait for your sex toys before getting at it," I replied.

Edward yelled, "Sarah! One more filthy word out of your mouth and we'll call off the wedding!"

"Sure." The way I replied without hesitation left him choking in his own fury.

Before Edward could react, I picked up the microphone and stepped onto the stage. "Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the wedding of Mr. Edward Fowler and Ms. Winnie Spencer. I'm your host for tonight, Sarah Hudson."

The guests who had just settled into their seats were stunned.

Edward bolted forward in a panic, trying to snatch the microphone away.

I took the opportunity to snap my fingers, and the large screen behind me flickered to life. The surveillance footage from the bridal shop was shown.

"Before we begin the ceremony, let's all enjoy the bride and groom's most intimate moments," I said.