The night before the wedding, I found out that Alex and his ex-girlfriend were more than just old friends—they were friends with benefits. They stayed connected whenever they wanted, no matter the distance, always finding time to meet. His friend Davis challenged him, "What are you really thinking? You're about to marry Eleanor, yet you're tangled up with Morgan. If you weren't ready to let go, why did you break up in the first place?"

Alex lit a cigarette, his voice gravelly and tired. "With her, it's nothing but the physical connection; we don't click otherwise. But with Eleanor, it's completely different. Sigh."

"Don't worry," he assured Davis, "I've got it under control. We keep it strictly platonic—no emotions, no sleepovers. It won't affect my marriage to Eleanor."

-----------------------------------

With two days left before the wedding, I found myself running around like crazy, picking up packages. I'd made five trips just today. Unable to help myself, I sighed and said, "I'm exhausted."

"Thanks for the hard work, honey," Alex chuckled, coming over to massage my shoulders. "Did you grab my package too?"

"Of course I did." I sorted through the pile of deliveries and handed him a large box. "Here, this one."

He didn't take it; instead, he looked at me with a strange expression. My curiosity got the best of me. "What did you buy?"

Alex rarely shopped online; this was unusual for him. His mischievous smile lingered, "Open it and see."

I hesitated, then carefully opened the box. Inside was a set of cat-themed attire—fake ears and a tail, plus a remote control. Embarrassed, I quickly dropped it. "Why did you buy this?"

He moved closer, wrapping his arms around me and whispered seductively in my ear, "It's just for our wedding night."

I froze, my mind blank. He leaned in to kiss me, "Please?"

"Please, darling."

It took me a while to find my voice again. "No, I don't want to."

Seeing my firm refusal, Alex let go, slightly displeased. I met his gaze with the same look. We stood there, locked in silent confrontation for a while. He was the first to concede. "Forget it, let's eat."

At dinner, he prepared a new dish: pork meatballs with a spiced honey glaze. He had a knack for experimenting with food, often serving his creations like treasures for me to taste, eagerly awaiting my praise.

I thought for a moment before I spoke up, "It's delicious, sweet and flavorful."

He barely reacted, just let out a muted "Oh."

Neither of us said another word. When we first met, our relationship blossomed over the meals we shared. But this was the first time we’d eaten in such silence.

After seven years together, everyone saw us as the perfect couple. We always got along well, never arguing or showing anger. Except for that one time, similar to today's discord.

It was our first time together, and he suddenly called me a horrible name. I couldn't accept it and got upset with him. He didn't understand, asking why I was making such a big deal out of it.

He said all guys are like that; he learned it from watching videos. He thought it was perfectly normal, accusing me of overreacting, making trouble where there was none.

His words made me cry, and I broke up with him. Days later, he came to my school, apologized, and said after reflecting, he realized he was wrong and promised there wouldn't be a next time.

We were head over heels back then, with no other issues between us, so we reconciled quickly. And over the years, he kept his word.

I never expected that as we were about to enter marriage, we’d find ourselves at an impasse over this issue again.

"You finish eating; I'm heading out."

Alex's sudden words snapped me back to reality. I regained my composure and asked, "Where are you going?"

"Davis wants me to join him for a last bachelor's drink."

He explained while hurriedly grabbing his jacket from the couch.

I watched him, somewhat dazed. For reasons I couldn't quite grasp, I blurted out, "Are you coming back tonight?"

He turned, amused, "What do you think? When have I ever stayed out all night?"

Before he left, he kissed my forehead with a smile in his eyes, "You silly, obedient one."

"I'm leaving now, but I'll be back soon."

Alex's demeanor from earlier was so natural, it was as if the previous incident had never occurred. So, I guess he's not upset anymore, right? Feeling relieved, I got up to wash the dishes.

I’ve never been fond of cooking, but I have an odd fascination with collecting beautiful plates and genuinely enjoy washing and organizing them. This is where Alex and I complement each other perfectly. Our interests align, and our daily routines balance each other out; we're the ideal couple. So, how could everything come to a halt over something so trivial?

With this thought, the earlier gloom completely lifted. Cheerfully, I tidied everything up and began unpacking the parcels, arranging our home little by little. The once neutral-toned space gained festive decorations, becoming lively and welcoming. I was thoroughly pleased and couldn’t resist snapping a few photos to share on Facebook. Almost immediately after I posted, someone liked it. Judging by the profile picture, it was someone familiar, but only virtually; we haven’t met face-to-face.

Two years ago, Alex took me to his alma mater for an anniversary event, and I ended up adding many people on WhatsApp. She must be one of them. I remember her distinctly because whenever I post, she’s usually the first to like it, as if she’s always on Facebook. Her posts are also quite distinctive.

She once shared that she and her ex were so compatible that after breaking up, they decided to remain casual friends with benefits. Anytime either wanted company, they’d reach out, regardless of the distance, and the other would promptly arrive. She mentioned once going on a business trip and casually sharing the hotel name; her ex drove overnight to see her. I found it fascinating and quietly kept tabs on their reunion saga.

However, her posts gradually became a bit too provocative for my taste, so I tweaked my settings to avoid seeing them. This reminded me of the packages Alex received today. Curiously, I disabled the block and clicked into her profile. Three hours ago, she shared:

"Tonight, I'm playing nurse, sweetheart."

"Feeling under the weather, need some TLC."

"Image."

Goosebumps ran down my skin, compelling me to retreat before freezing in place. I reopened the post and enlarged the image. The bottom left corner showed a blurred silhouette against a floor-to-ceiling window. The figure bore a striking resemblance to… Alex.

The enlarged image was so pixelated that it was impossible to discern any details. Even though the silhouette didn't reveal anything remarkable, the moment Alex's name crossed my mind, I was captivated as if under a spell. I couldn't resist; my hands shook as I continued scrolling down.

The most recent post was from three hours ago, with the previous one dating back ten days to the afternoon. I remembered that day clearly. Alex had taken a day off to be with me as I tried on Victorian-style dresses. The shop assistant cheekily remarked that Alex was smiling behind me, clearly enchanted.

Reflecting on this, I browsed through my photo album. I had taken numerous selfies that day, one of which included both of us. While I reveled in the joy of soon wearing a stunning gown and marrying the love of my life, Alex stood behind me, smiling at his phone.

My heart sank. Shortly afterward, he received a call. He explained that the intern at his company had made an error in their proposal, and he had to rush back to fix it. He hugged me apologetically, expressing regret repeatedly.

I never doubted him. Instead, I assured him that work was a priority. After I finished trying on other dresses, he resolved the issue and returned to pick me up. We then had dinner and watched a movie. Everything seemed normal, like any typical day.

I had no hint of what was amiss. My breath quickened as I continued scrolling down, feeling a surge of resentment. So many posts. There were more. The longest gap between posts was two weeks, while the most frequent was five times a week. But they were so long ago, and my memory isn't the best. Sometimes, I struggle to recall what I did or ate the previous day without dwelling on it. My mind was already a tangled mess.

I couldn't remember what Alex was doing at those corresponding times. Was he genuinely absent each time?

Suddenly, a clap of thunder jolted me back to reality. My hands trembled as I dialed Alex's number.

"Where are you?"

"At the door, darling."

In the next moment, the door swung open. A chilly breeze swept in.

"I saw the weather forecast predicting heavy rain and thunderstorms, so I hurried back," he said as he walked over, crouching in front of me and gently patting my head to comfort me. "No worries, I'm here now."

I had a deep-seated fear of thunderstorms. Once, while he was traveling for work, he checked the weather forecast for my area, noticed there'd be a storm at night, and returned to be with me, leaving again early the next morning. In the past, this always deeply moved me.

But this time, I couldn't help linking it to the posts on Facebook. Same trip abroad, same urgent return from afar.

"Wow, babe, you finished decorating? It looks amazing, really sets the mood," he remarked, admiring the room, his eyes suddenly getting teary. "I can't believe we’re finally getting married."

I interjected sharply, "It's late; go take a shower."

"Alright, sweetheart."

After he went into the bathroom, I picked up his phone.