The door closed, cutting off the view, and only the noise of laughter and chaos from outside could be heard.

I leaned against the window, watching the lively scene below.

My friends followed behind, fuming with anger.

"This is just too much! If this wedding doesn't happen, who cares anyway?"

But any more words were quickly swallowed, as they glanced at my expression and chose not to continue.

Everyone thought this wedding wasn't Mason's idea, but something I had begged for.

Not long ago, Mason said he wanted to marry me, and I agreed.

I had naïvely believed that after eight years of waiting, I was finally going to get my happy ending.

But today's events were like cold water, waking me up.

My best friend, Sophie, who had spoken up for me earlier, was frustrated beyond words.

"You've been humiliated like this, and you still want to marry him?"

I looked at Sophie and said, "Then I won't."

As I spoke, I started taking off the golden hairpins and jewelry.

Sophie was startled and quickly stopped me. "Are you crazy?"

She looked at my calm face, then sighed sadly. "Forget it, your happiness is what matters. Maybe after the wedding... he'll settle down."

Sophie had been my close friend since childhood and was a witness to my relationship with Mason.

During college, Mason was the handsome star student, and I was just a bespectacled nerd struggling to make ends meet.

Ridiculously, I also had depression.

The day I graduated from high school, my father passed away. My mother remarried, leaving me with just 200 dollars, as if telling me to fend for myself.

My exam results came out, and the good news was that I got into a top university. The bad news was that I couldn't afford the tuition. Even if I could apply for a student loan, the living expenses were suffocating me.

Life and studies left me exhausted, feeling weak and inferior. I was bullied and insulted by those around me. I always kept to myself, avoiding others, with Sophie as my only friend.

With my withdrawn personality and depression, I became an outcast. My dorm mates and classmates isolated me and even bullied me.

During that time, I often sat on the rooftop, contemplating jumping off countless times.

It was Mason who sat beside me, brought me cake, listened to music with me, and let me vent about the frustrations of life...

Knowing I was struggling financially and had to take on part-time jobs, he quietly stayed by my side, walking with me through those difficult times.

When he learned I was being bullied, he didn't care about the mocking stares. He held my hand, letting everyone know that I had a friend.

Once, at a class gathering, a girl who liked Mason deliberately made things difficult for me, daring me to kiss him in front of everyone.

I was panicked, and the mocking jeers only magnified my insecurity.

But Mason calmly smiled and waved at me. "It's fine, kiss me. I like you too."

At that moment, the breeze lifted the hair from his forehead. As if by some unseen force, I reached out and held his hand tightly.

In the countless nights that followed, I always felt like I had grasped the hand of a god.

Eventually, we really got together, though no one believed in us. They envied and mocked me, saying Mason was like a flower planted in manure. His admirers never took me seriously, thinking I was just someone he spent time with out of boredom.

I was incredibly anxious, constantly fearing someone would steal him away, or that he would leave me.

So I did everything I could to be good to him, like a devout follower, offering up everything in my life to him.

He gave me affection and a sense of security in return.

When Claire came back to the country, everything changed.

His attitude toward me became more and more dismissive, and his interactions with Claire became increasingly inappropriate.

They had long crossed the boundaries of friendship.

Yet I didn't give up. I willingly stayed by his side.

I was even afraid to think about how I would live without him.

I thought, "People aren't made of stone." Eventually, he would warm up to me.

But now, I felt cold inside. I was unable to warm him anymore, and I didn't want to try either.

"Maybe."

I went along with Sophie's suggestion and strode out of the room.

Outside, Mason was holding Claire, and everyone around was cheering.

When Claire saw me come out, she shyly snuggled deeper into Mason's arms.

His face darkened. "Who told you to come out?"

Mason scolded me harshly as I stood there silently, not making a move.

Even now, he still thought he had done nothing wrong.

I glanced at him indifferently.

"If you feel wronged, we can choose another day to get married."

As soon as I finished speaking, Mason grabbed my wrist forcefully.

"You don't want to marry me, is that it? If you don't want to get married, just say it. Who are you trying to show your attitude to?"

He glared at me, tense and furious.

He still thought it was my fault.

I stood my ground and spoke coldly, "Hasn't it always been up to you whether we get married or not?"

"You..."

Mason was so stunned by my words that he couldn't respond.

Mason cared deeply about his reputation. The fact that he hadn't left already after such humiliation was unusual.

Mason spoke up when I thought he couldn't take it and would ruin the wedding.

"Of course, we're getting married!"

I was momentarily stunned.

But he quickly shattered any illusion I had.

"But I want Claire with me."

As he said this, he had already taken Claire's hand.

Claire's face lit up with joy, and she quickly agreed, blushing.

Anyone who didn't know better would have thought they were the ones getting married.

As they walked ahead, all eyes turned back to me.

People were looking at me with disdain, mockery, and schadenfreude.

It was painfully obvious.

"Should I throw a tantrum right here and give you all what you're waiting for?"

I shot them a cold smile and followed behind.

As I instinctively reached for the handle of the lead car, Claire poked her head out.

She gave me a taunting smile.

"Audrey, Mason wants me by his side for the most important moments of his life. Is that okay with you?"

"You two getting married?"

I was about to retort, but caught a glimpse of Mason's indifferent expression.

I swallowed my words and opened the door to the passenger seat.

"If the groom didn't care, why should I? Just to humiliate myself?"

I smiled back and handed the bouquet to Claire.

Through the rearview mirror, I saw Mason's gaze fixed on me, his brows furrowed. I knew he was angry.

But I didn't say a word. I just closed my eyes to rest.

The car was quiet until we were almost at the hotel, when Mason finally couldn't hold back.

"Audrey, what's your deal?"

I was confused.

"What do you mean?"

Mason grabbed the bouquet from Claire's hand and threw it onto the back seat, scattering fresh petals everywhere.

"I really don't understand what game you're playing. Who are you trying to impress with this act?

"I've made it clear, Claire is just a friend. I'm marrying you, what more do you want?"

Claire chimed in, "Audrey, I don't mean to say this. As a woman, you should be more generous. Sure, I like Mason, but you're the one marrying him. What are you so worried about?

"Isn't a wedding supposed to be a happy occasion for everyone? The teasing during the reception is normal. And when we play games after, there'll be more intimate moments like kissing. You're not going to stop us, are you?"

I lifted my eyelids and knowingly nodded.

"Sure, when it's time for the wedding games, I'll leave with everyone. You can do whatever you want."

I could clearly feel that Claire wanted to steal Mason away from me.

That's why she was always trying to provoke me. And after I'd get mad, she'd act all innocent, telling Mason I twisted her words to bully her.

She succeeded every time because Mason's heart was always on her side.

Then he'd scold me for being jealous and petty.

Suddenly, I realized how foolish I was back then, fighting like we were in some ridiculous royal harem.

Claire didn't get what she wanted. Of course, she wasn't going to let it go. She sneered sarcastically.

"Your mind is as filthy as always. Mason and I are innocent. Why do you keep imagining things?

"It's your wedding with Mason. Do you really have to humiliate him like this?"

"Who's humiliating who? Does someone who knowingly becomes the third wheel have any right to speak?"

I shot back coldly.

It wasn't that I was jealous of Claire. I just wanted to stand up for myself and stop being a doormat.

Mason saw an opening and assumed I was jealous.

He sighed, his expression exasperated.

"Audrey, how long are you going to be this childish? If I didn't love you, would I have married you?"

In the past, I would have argued back, saying marriage doesn't equal love and that Claire was a manipulative snake.

But I didn't want to argue anymore. I just looked straight ahead, letting him say whatever he wanted.

Mason finally lost his temper because of my indifference and shouted at me, "Audrey, what does your silence mean? Do you think I'm wrong?"

I let out a cold laugh, playing along.

"How could you be wrong? It's me who judged you unfairly."

I gave my usual response, but my tone carried an unfamiliar ease and mockery.

Maybe I was mistaken. For a moment, I saw a flash of panic in Mason's eyes, though it quickly disappeared, too fleeting to grasp.

As arrogant as he was, he wouldn't dwell on it.

Thinking I was scared like before, he smugly ordered, "I'll take you inside."

His tone dripped with charity.

When we arrived at the front hall, all the invited relatives and friends were already there.

Mason walked half a mile ahead of me, holding Claire's arm.

The usher naturally turned to Claire and said, "The bride needs to be separated from the groom for a while."

Claire glanced at me proudly, offering no explanation.

I was about to leave with a sneer when Mason grabbed my wrist and explained to the usher, "What are you talking about? This is my wife!"

It was the first time he had ever said that.

Mason stood up for me and called me his wife.

But soon after, as if my hand had burned him, he let go.

The ceremony flowed smoothly.

Soon, it was time for the bouquet toss.

Mason didn't say anything and handed the bouquet to Claire, passing right by me.

His eyes were slightly red and moist.

"I hope you find happiness."

Claire, holding Mason tightly, said tearfully, "Mason, you'll soon belong to someone else. As a friend, can you give me one last kiss?"

I stared at Claire in shock.

I was astonished by her shamelessness.

But what surprised me more was the crowd egging them on.

Mason and I hadn't informed our parents about the wedding, only inviting a few close friends.

I had painfully few friends, and most of the guests were Mason's.

Before the wedding, I had mentioned that it should be formal, with both our parents invited. Otherwise, it would seem like child's play.

But he claimed I didn't respect his wishes, and if I didn't want to marry, I should just say it.

The crowd immediately began to shout excitedly, "Kiss! Kiss!"

The host had never seen anything like this and didn't know how to proceed.

Their chests were pressed together, noses almost touching, as if they were about to become one.

Claire didn't forget to shoot me a provoking glance, while Mason held on for only ten seconds.

This was being humiliated right in front of me!

And at our wedding!

Any other woman would have already lashed out at these two.

But I didn't move. I even maintained a perfectly composed expression.

Was I not a woman?

Of course, I was.

I just didn't love Mason anymore.

But that didn't stop Mason's friends from coming after me.

Grayson was the worst of them, yelling the loudest.

"Audrey, how many times have I said it? Mason and Claire are just good friends. Friends hugging and kissing is normal. I don't get why you're so jealous.

"We feel sorry for Mason, dealing with a control freak like you. He's got no freedom at all.

"If it were me, I couldn't take it anymore. This wedding shouldn't even happen."

Mason's friends started to gaslight me.

It had always been like this. Whether I was jealous or not, as long as I was by Mason's side, they would criticize and lecture me.

"Grayson, does that mean we're friends?"

Grayson was stunned for a moment, then replied, "Of course. Mason and I are like brothers, and you're about to be his wife. I already think of you as my sister-in-law."

Mason looked at Grayson, his eyes full of emotion.

The air was filled with a sense of deep brotherhood.

I inwardly laughed and suddenly leaned toward Grayson. Amidst his gasp of surprise, I stood on tiptoe and kissed him.

While Mason and Claire had only kissed for ten seconds, I kissed Grayson for more than thirty seconds, nearly taking his breath away.

Grayson came to his senses and pushed me away.

At that moment, everyone was dumbfounded.