At the wedding pickup, my husband Jordan James called over six groomsmen to play an "eat the banana" game with me.

During it, the bolder ones started getting handsy.

I didn't resist.

Seeing me cooperate, they got even more excited, declaring that tonight they would definitely have their fill before leaving.

I nodded and made a phone call.

After hearing what was said on the other end, they couldn't laugh anymore.

——

After I hung up, the room fell into a deathly silence.

My husband Jordan James frowned. "What nonsense are you talking about? How could you possibly be from Clearwater Village? You're clearly registered in the city."

The moment everyone heard "Clearwater Village," their expressions changed.

That village was notorious for being brutal. People from Clearwater Village were fiercely united, their fighting power off the charts, and when they couldn't settle something with words, they settled it with fists.

And on top of that, the village had top-tier lawyers. Even if someone did lay hands on a villager, those lawyers could make sure that person went away and never came back.

There was once a villager running a street stall who got shaken down for protection money. That very day, the whole village mobilized and tore down the extortionist's house. The guy was so scared he pissed himself, and only after he crawled over to apologize did the matter end.

Hearing Jordan's words, everyone relaxed a little. His best buddy Leon Lambert's eyes still burned with that look.

"It's just a game. Luna, why are you in such a hurry?"

I laughed in disbelief. The "wedding pickup game" they were talking about was making me, alone, eat bananas from the hands of all six of them. Anyone with eyes could see their filthy intentions.

I looked at Jordan's certain expression and frowned. After we got together, I had told him I used to be from Clearwater Village—I only moved my registration out later.

Seeing me refuse to cooperate, the smile on Jordan's face faltered.

"Luna, this is the rule for wedding pickups here. Don't mess around!"

"It's just eating a banana. It's not going to kill you. Just cooperate!"

I was about to speak when they pounced.

They'd been drinking outside—their bodies reeked of booze. Leon looked annoyed and shoved the banana straight into my mouth.

"Mmph—"

He was strong. My face flushed red in seconds.

The men around me turned into wolves catching the scent of blood, all whistling. Their looks said everything.

Humiliated beyond reason, I bit down hard.

The man who got bitten yanked back in pain.

I shot Jordan a vicious glare. "Jordan James, today is our wedding! How can you let them do this!"

His eyes flickered with guilt.

"What are you making a fuss about? After it's done, we can still make it to the ceremony, can't we?"

"It's just a game. Is it necessary to be this angry?"

Just a game?

I laughed bitterly. This was humiliation, plain and simple.

The stench of the men in the room made me sick. I don't have many friends—as soon as they came in, they drove everyone else out.

I gathered all my strength and kicked Leon hard.

"Don't touch me! Get out!"

At this point, there was no pretending anymore.

"Chief Simmons and my uncle are already on the way. If you insist on doing this, you're dead for sure!"

Jordan looked at me with a complicated expression. In the end, he turned his head away.

"Luna, these are the rules here. Do you really need to be this angry?"

"Keep going. There are still five."

The second banana was shoved into my mouth without the slightest hesitation.

I was so angry my whole body shook.

They…

They were simply shameless!

I couldn't take it anymore. My hand flew up and connected with his face.

Smack!

The slap echoed through the room.

Jordan's eyes went wide, a red handprint blooming across his cheek. "Luna! What the hell are you doing?!"

I didn't care. I screamed at the top of my lungs. "Help! Someone help me!"

The groomsmen outside heard the commotion and crowded toward the door, trying to push their way in.

"What's going on?"

My best friend Amy Lambert shoved through, eyes blazing. She started toward me immediately.

But Jordan's voice turned ice-cold. "Amy, stay out of this. They're just playing a game with Luna."

Amy looked at my face—flushed with rage, nothing remotely playful about it.

I glared at the men surrounding me and spat out everything they'd just done.

Amy's expression shifted to horror. Her hands shook as she reached for me, trying to pull me toward the door.

But Jordan moved to block the exit. The others exchanged glances and closed in.

Amy and I locked eyes. We both felt it—something was very wrong.

My voice cracked. "Jordan! There are dozens of guests right outside. What exactly are you trying to do?"

He said nothing.

My stomach dropped.

Leon let out a low laugh. "Sister-in-law, the pickup game isn't over yet. We're just getting started." His eyes slid to Amy. "And your little friend here—pretty face, nice figure..."

He didn't need to finish. I knew exactly what that look meant.

Revulsion crawled over my skin. I grabbed Amy's arm and tried to force our way past them.

Two of them lunged. They seized our arms and legs and threw us both onto the bed.

"Why can't you just behave?" Leon loomed over us, his breath reeking of liquor. "Hold them down. Feed them the bananas."

One of the men grabbed Amy by the shoulders and shoved a banana toward her mouth.

Amy—sweet, sheltered Amy—had never seen anything like this. Her eyes instantly filled with tears.

I glared up at them through the rage. "You'll regret this. I swear I won't let any of you off!"

"Jordan! Is this your family's idea of wedding tradition—humiliating women? I'm calling the police!"

Jordan's gaze flickered. His voice came out thin, guilty. "Luna, it's just a joke. Just do it and we can move on. We'll miss the auspicious hour."

I must have been blind to ever fall for such a spineless coward.

I swallowed my fury. "Jordan, I'm not marrying you. Let us go before my family gets here—or I can't promise what happens next."

Jordan hesitated.

Leon cut in fast. "Jordan, she's not even your wife yet and you're already letting her boss you around? What happens after the wedding—she gonna walk all over you?"

He was getting worked up now. "It's just the bride pickup! You can't even handle this? If you let her go now, what will people say about you?" He sneered. "They'll say your household is run by women."

The other groomsmen piled on, voices overlapping in agreement.

Jordan's expression shifted, wavered. He looked at me, torn.

"Luna, Mom said nothing can go wrong on the wedding day, or our future will be cursed. Just... just bear with it."

Looking at that pathetic face, everything became crystal clear.

This marriage was never going to happen.

I pulled out my phone.

Leon charged at me and smashed it to the floor.

"Trying to call for help again? Didn't expect you to have some fight in you."

Leon's lips curled. "How about this, Jordan—let's skip that last game. I've got a better one."

I glared at him, shielding my best friend behind me.

"What do you want?"

He whistled, voice dripping with mockery. "You and your little friend here—kneel down and put shoes on all of us. Do it until we're satisfied, and we'll call it even. How's that sound?"

I laughed—a cold, sharp sound.

"In your dreams."

But before I could react, Jordan's face went livid and he charged at me. Everyone in the room stared at him in surprise.

I froze too. Was he finally coming to his senses? Did he realize how wrong this was?

Then he stopped in front of me and snarled:

"Luna! Hurry up! You're going to miss the auspicious hour! You wanted to marry me so badly—shouldn't you show some respect?"

He grabbed my shoulder and shoved me toward the floor.

The groomsmen exchanged glances, smugness flickering in their eyes. Leon lifted his chin with a cold snort and kicked off his shoes. The others followed.

My face went stone cold. I swung hard, slapping Jordan across the face—once, twice, three times.

"You're disgusting!"

"You want me to put shoes on you? I spit on you! Who the hell do you think you are? Get out of my way before I make you!"

My best friend had never been humiliated like this either. Her voice turned shrill.

"You've gone too far! Animals! I'm calling the police!"

Ten minutes had passed since I made the call. My family would be here soon.

I narrowed my eyes at them. "You'd better back off. Let us out. Now."

They snorted. "Jordan, come on! It's just a little game—she can't even handle this?"

Jordan forced a smile. "Of course she can! Bride-picking games are supposed to be fun for everyone!"

They all nodded approvingly, laughing so hard they nearly doubled over.

"Then what are you waiting for? Put the shoes on—" Leon's voice dropped, half-smiling. "And if you still won't behave, we'll make you lick them first."

My stomach lurched.

A crowd had gathered outside. I screamed for help, gambling on someone hearing.

Jordan's patience snapped.

"What the hell are you yelling for? Hurry up!"

Hands clamped down on our shoulders, forcing us both to our knees.

Tears blurred my vision. I wanted to kill every single one of them.

But they looked ready to get serious. My breath shook as I gritted my teeth. "Don't push me. The second I get out of here, I will destroy you."

They exchanged looks and burst out laughing.

"Sure, sure. Now hurry up!"

Leon lifted his blackened, reeking foot. Jordan grabbed my head and shoved it down.

The door slammed open.

"Stop!"

Jordan froze. I sprang up and drove my knee into his groin with everything I had.

He staggered backward, doubled over in pain.

My mother-in-law stood in the doorway, panting.

When I saw her, hope sparked in my chest.

Back when I agreed to marry Jordan, part of the reason was her—a decent woman, straightforward, no hidden agendas.

"Ma'am… they—they're bullying us!"

She frowned deeply, taking in my filthy, ruined wedding dress.

"Jordan, what is—"

Before she could finish, Jordan pulled her aside and whispered something in her ear.