"You don't have to tell them anything. Consider it a special surprise from me as a friend."

After everything was arranged, I received another message from Henry.

He sent me an address and taunted me.

[Tomorrow, I'm rehearsing the wedding with my wife. I've got a gift for you tonight. The question is, do you dare to come get it?]

I hesitated for only a few seconds before deciding to go alone.

The moment I stepped into the bar, I ran into one of Jenna's close friends. She was drunk, leaning against the door outside a private room, and catching her breath.

She squinted at me and grinned.

"Why do you look so much like Jenna's boyfriend? No way. I'm not seeing things, am I?"

She laughed again.

"Jenna's really something! She's about to get married and is still acting like this. Isn't she worried about messing it up? We don't dare say anything in case we let it slip out."

I stared at her slumped figure by the door. My heart sank.

So everyone knew.

Everyone knew she was marrying Henry except me.

Six years of my life turned out to be a ridiculous joke.

I stood quietly outside the room. Through the crack in the door, I saw Jenna, the same woman who had said she was working late, sitting in Henry's lap, drinking one glass after another.

Henry smiled broadly, his arm tight around her waist. They looked inseparable, like a couple deep in love.

Someone suddenly asked, "Jenna, are you really going to keep this from Chris forever? Isn't that kind of messed up?"

Jenna froze. Her expression darkened instantly.

"I'm warning you. None of you is allowed to say a word to Chris. If anyone does, you know exactly what I'll do!" She frowned impatiently and added, "This is just a marriage for power. Even if Chris finds out, he won't blame me. I'll explain it to him, but not now."

She downed her drink in one go, as if trying to drown the unease gnawing at her.

Henry seemed to sense my presence outside. The smile on his face only grew wider. As if deliberately provoking me, he reached up and touched Jenna's face.

"Honey, you act like you still love Chris right in front of me. You know I get jealous."

She laughed softly. "Such a jealous man. Want a kiss?"

She tilted her head up and kissed him deeply.

I watched the scene, numb. The feeling that had been torturing me for days finally let loose.

We had weathered so much together once, supporting each other through everything. Yet now, we had ended up walking away from each other completely.

It was ironic.

I knew Henry was doing this on purpose. Since I was already here, I wasn't going to leave empty-handed.

I silently took out my phone and recorded the nauseating scene. When I finished, I turned to leave.

Just then, Jenna swayed as she stood up.

She seemed to have had enough kissing and suddenly remembered me. She muttered softly,

"Alright, I'm heading back. I need to buy Chris a cake. You guys have fun."

My steps faltered for a moment, but I didn't turn around.

I walked straight out.

That night, Jenna didn't come home, and I never saw that cake.

My phone was filled with photo after photo, all sent by Henry; intimate shots of him and Jenna together.

Two days before I left, my alarm went off.

I didn't alert anyone. Wearing a mask, I quietly entered the hotel.

Henry and Jenna were rehearsing their wedding. They were wearing the wedding dress and suit I had designed.

I watched as they walked step by step across the stage, guided by the officiant.

I watched them gaze into each other's eyes and place rings, which symbolized their love for eternity, on each other's fingers.

I watched as they cried, overwhelmed with emotion, and kissed without restraint.

At that moment, my eyes welled with tears. I lowered my head and rubbed at my eyes to ease the sting.

A staff member beside me seemed to find someone to talk to and said excitedly, "Isn't it incredibly touching? I never thought there'd be real love in a wealthy family. They must truly love each other. You can't fake that kind of look in someone's eyes."

I forced a smile. "Yeah. They must really love each other."

Jenna seemed to sense something and suddenly looked in my direction.

Instinctively, I lowered the brim of my hat and dropped my gaze.

Henry followed her line of sight. A smug smile appeared on his face. "What is it, Jenna? Did you see someone you know?"

She paused for a second before shaking her head. "No. I must've been mistaken."

I lifted my head again and looked at their wedding attire.

"Guess that dream came true after all," I murmured.

Although the man wearing the groom's suit and going through the wedding ceremony wasn't me, at least the clothes themselves were designed by me.

In a way, it was a belated answer and a barely passable ending for six years of youth and wholehearted love.

After the rehearsal ended, Henry blocked my way outside the dressing room.

He looked me up and down with a sarcastic smile.

"After everything I've shown you these past few days, you still won't give up? Maybe Jenna loved you once. But if she really loved you, would she be marrying me? Even sleeping with me? You're not from the same world as us. I only befriended you before because you were Jenna's boyfriend. Now, take the hint and get lost! Stay as far away from us as possible."

With that, he turned around and walked away in disdain.

Just then, my phone rang. It was Jenna.

I didn't answer. Soon, she sent me a message.

[Chris, I worked too late last night, so I didn't come home. I didn't want to disturb you.]

Another message followed.

[I have a last-minute business trip these next two days. I'll be back the day after tomorrow. Don't be mad at me. I'll bring you your favorite cake when I get back.]

After reading the messages, a wave of bleak sadness washed over me.

She really went to great lengths to plan her wedding while carefully lying to me and stringing me along.

My eyes turned red, but no tears fell.

Someone who betrayed me wasn't worth my grief.

I didn't reply. I blocked her number and deleted all her contact information.

When I got home, I gathered the screenshots of Henry's taunts and the video of them kissing, bundled everything together, and sent it to the courier scheduled to deliver the flowers the next day.

I added a note.

[Please play this video in front of the bride. Thank you.]

On the wedding day, I wheeled my suitcase toward the airport.

At the venue, Henry greeted guests with a radiant smile, while Jenna kept glancing at her phone.

I hadn't replied to any of her messages. My phone stayed unreachable. An unexplainable unease crept into her chest.

But she couldn't leave. All she could do was wait anxiously for the ceremony to end.

Finally, the officiant announced the start of the wedding. The bride made her entrance.

The courier stepped forward with a bouquet and handed it to Jenna.

Henry was in the middle of his speech. Jenna smiled as she accepted the flowers, but the moment she read the card, all color drained from her face.

The courier spoke at just the right time.

"Miss, there's also a video. The gentleman who sent the flowers asked me to play it for you. He congratulated you on finding the person you'll spend your life with. He wishes you happiness, and he also wishes that you two will never meet again in this life."