Chapter 2

It was not just me who was taken aback. Shirley's parents were appalled:

"Shirley! Don't be so ungrateful! Your husband has been more than fair to let you meet another man on your wedding day. How can you ask for something so outrageous?"

My own family was fuming.

"What do they take our kid for? Whoever heard of swapping grooms mid-wedding? It's disgraceful!"

Shirley, under fire from all sides, was sweating bullets. However, even so, she was not ready to back down.

"Anthony, this is my final plea to you. After this, I'll follow your lead, okay?"

The whispers around us swelled, their message clear: if I could stomach this, then I was the ultimate doormat.

However, hey, being the target of ridicule was old news to me.

The taunts grew harsher, yet they paled in comparison to the physical agony I faced in my previous life.

I let out a weary sigh.

"No worries, life's too precious, and my feelings? They're small potatoes."

My cool-headedness shone next to Hank's tantrum, drawing a frown even from Shirley.

Hank, catching her look, lost his cool.

"If you hadn't snatched Shirley from me, would I have to act this way? You're the real intruder here!"

The crowd erupted, scolding him for his pettiness, his ingratitude, and for lashing out at me.

Hank went white as a sheet but stood his ground.

"You don't get it! Shirley's heart belongs to me. If it weren't for all the family gossip, we'd already be hitched!"

I nearly burst out laughing.

Shirley's reputation was her everything, and Hank's public outburst?

He was dancing on her last nerve!

As expected, Shirley cut him loose: "What are you blabbering about? Anthony's the good guy here, stepping in so you wouldn't mess up. Me? I've got zero interest in you."

Hank realized his blunder and, feeling the heat, reluctantly hung his head in apology.

"I got carried away. I thought you were finally coming around to me."

"So, are we good for the wedding? Anthony doesn't seem to mind."

Shirley's eyes flickered with worry as she edged closer, reaching out to wrap me in a comforting hug. I sidestepped her silently, muttering an excuse about needing the restroom.

No sooner had I stepped out than I caught Shirley on stage, gazing at Hank with such tenderness it was almost sickening. Reluctant? Her smile was so wide it could have split her face.

I was ready to bail when Hank leaped from the stage, beelining for my brother with a snarl, "What did you say? Say it again!"

My brother stood his ground, firing back, "You two are made for each other, both so low and despicable!"

In a flash, they were tangled in a brawl, the hidden turmoil beneath our calm façade bursting forth.

I could take a hit, but my family? That was another story. I stormed over, fury fueling my hand as it met Hank's cheek with a resounding smack. "Enough already, will you!"

My brother, my little sidekick since forever, was ready to fight my battles, especially since he was my rock when life knocked me down. I owed him everything.

In the chaos, I landed a few good ones on Hank, puffing his face up like a balloon. However, then Shirley, frantic to defend her sweetheart, shoved me hard.

I stumbled back, my head crashing against the sharp corner of a wedding prop. The room spun, screams pierced the air, "Blood! There's so much blood!"

My forehead split open, a crimson flood unleashed.

The old fear of death, a shadow from another life, crept over me.

Shirley was a mess of panic, "Are you okay?" She reached out, but I shoved her away, done with her, done with words.

My little brother jumped, tears streaming down his face.

"Don't freak me out! What's wrong with you? We need to get to the hospital! Now!"

I tried to tell him I was okay, but my head was spinning so much that all I could do was lean into his embrace.

So, the chaos came to an eerie close.

Chapter 3

The hospital was abuzz when Shirley's father, Bennett Lowell, started yelling at the top of his lungs in the hallway.

"You can't blame it all on my daughter! If this guy hadn't run his mouth off, none of this would've happened!"

Shirley was shaking, not expecting things to escalate.

"Yes! Yes! I was freaked out, and getting cursed out on my wedding day, I was obviously upset, you get that, right?"

'Understand you? As if. Drop dead.' I seethed silently.

The doctor was stitching me up, and even with his years of experience, he could not help but suck in a breath at the sight of my wound.

"You're lucky. This is a nasty one, almost hitting the bone. You could've ended up paralyzed!"

Shirley jumped in hastily. "Even if you were paralyzed, I'd be there for you!"

The word 'paralyzed' triggered a flood of bitter memories.

"Shut up!"

It was the first time I ever snapped at her, and she was taken aback.

I turned to Bennett.

"Mr. Lowell, it seems like you've forgotten that on her wedding day, it was your daughter who ditched her husband to see another man, not me. If I didn't step back, today's joy could've turned into mourning. Don't you think I've given up enough?

"Look at me, all beaten up. Who do you think deserves a little sympathy here?"

Bennett, clearly knowing he was at fault, shot me an angry look.

"That's just how our daughter is. If you can't handle it, no one's forcing you to marry her."

When he could not win with logic, he resorted to pettiness.

In that, he was no different from Shirley.

Her brother could not take it anymore and scoffed."What a shameless bunch."

Shirley moved closer, trying to show some softness.

"Don't be mad, I never saw this coming. I'm too busy loving you to ever want to hurt you. It was just an accident."

Hank could not stand her playing the caring card and jeered.

"A big guy like you gets a couple of taps and ends up like this? For real? Or is this just another one of your games?"

I was about to give Hank a piece of my mind when Shirley shoved my hand away.

"Yeah, you've pulled stunts like this before, Anthony. Didn't you say you were done with all that? Are you lying to me again?"

Just like that, I was cast as the villain once more.

I was so ticked off, I had to laugh. "With imaginations like yours, you guys should be writing fiction."

Shirley hesitated, biting her lip, about to check on my injury.

However, Hank beat her to the punch, dramatically clutching his chest and collapsing.

"Shirley, my heart; it's acting up again. I'm sorry, I'm such a letdown."

Shirley was frantic, veins popping as she cradled Hank, who was feigning weakness.

"What's wrong with you all? Get a doctor, now! If he dies on me, I'm done for!"

She could not even fake concern for her husband's head injury. However, at her so-called soulmate's slightest discomfort, she was a mess.

I felt a wave of sadness wash over me.

Hank was always her number one, and I regretted not realizing it sooner in my previous life.

Even my kid brother could see what was going on.

"You'll be fine. You're a great guy, lots of people will like you."

I gave his hand a reassuring pat. "I get it."

Just then, the doctor came in for his rounds, but Shirley was already pulling him aside.

"Doctor, can you please check on Hank first? He was just fine, and now he's passed out?"

The doctor's face was stern. "Stop this foolishness! I'm not a heart specialist. Move aside, the patient needs his medication changed immediately, or there could be serious complications!"

However, Shirley was not hearing any of it. "What do you mean? You're a doctor, you're supposed to know how to handle everything! It's just a little scrape, but Hank's out cold! He's obviously in worse shape!"

The throbbing in the back of my head intensified, and my back was slick with sweat.

I was still bleeding from my head, and she calls it a little scrape?

With great effort, I stood up. "No, help me first!"

Hank was just jumping around a moment ago, and then he's unconscious,

Who would buy that?

However, Shirley was relentless, grabbing the doctor and heading for the door.

"If you don't look after Hank, you won't be treating Anthony either!"

She treated life-and-death matters as if they were a game.

I felt a chill in my heart.

I tried to catch Shirley's eye, but she would not meet my gaze.

"Anthony, I'm doing this for your sake. If he dies, it'll affect you, too, right? Now's not the time to be stubborn. It's just a little blood, you can tough it out."

'Can I really just tough it out?' I wondered.

As they vanished through the hospital doors, and I was on the verge of passing out from the pain,

I collapsed into a warm, fragrant embrace.

"Idiot! You can't let anything happen to you!"

Chapter 4

When I next opened my eyes, Shirley's supervisor was there.

Harriet White.

I thought I was still half-asleep, so I rubbed my eyes and took a good look.

I was shocked.

In my previous life, the only socializing we did was when I went with Shirley to company parties.

After my death, she actually came back to visit me.

I just could not wrap my head around it. She was sobbing her heart out, as if her life depended on it.

All that for someone she barely knew? Really?

However, what threw me for a loop was finding her in the hospital room.

Was it just happenstance?

Before I could get to the bottom of it, Shirley burst in like a whirlwind.

"Honey! Honey, how are you feeling? I've been so worried!"

Harriet stepped in front of her, blocking the door with outstretched arms. "What are you doing here? Upset that he's still kicking? Trying to push him over the edge?"

Shirley froze; her first impulse was to lash back, but she bit her tongue, considering Harriet's position.

Her face flushed with the effort, and she finally managed to get her words out, albeit with a stutter.

"That's not it at all! I'm truly worried about my husband. You don't know anything about our relationship, so why are you stopping me?"

Harriet gave me a meaningful glance. "If it weren't for you, he wouldn't be in this mess. Your heart's all wrapped up with that phony man. When have you ever shown concern for Anthony?

"Seems like you've forgotten. The man you had the ceremony with is Hank, not Anthony. Anthony isn't your husband, so stop calling him that."

My brother was reluctant to speak harshly to Shirley because she was a woman, but then Harriet was giving her a piece of her mind, he was visibly delighted.

"Did you hear that? Now scram! Our family doesn't accept you as a sister-in-law! Some high-and-mighty scholar back from studying abroad, as if!"

Just then, a wave of nausea hit me, and I coughed a couple of times violently.

I knew all too well that there was no such thing as a stand-in at a wedding just for show. Once married, the couple was legitimate in the eyes of all. Everyone who witnessed the ceremony was proof enough. No one outside would ever believe that I, the man barely shown in the photos, was her true husband.

Shirley found the perfect moment to back down without losing face, all while juggling the attention of two men.

Her expression was a masterpiece of emotions. "You're spouting nonsense! I had no other choice! Anthony's on my side!"

"Slap!"

In a flash, Harriet's hand connected with Shirley's cheek in a sharp smack. "We're both women here, do you think I'm blind to your little games? Cut the innocent act!"

As tensions threatened to boil over, I sent a cup crashing to the floor.

"Enough from both of you!"

Shirley made her move, rushing over to me. "Anthony, are you okay? It's all my fault. Whatever punishment you see fit when we get home, I'll accept."

I shook off her hand with a swift motion. "Leave, I can't stand to look at you right now."

Her face twisted in embarrassment, not expecting my coldness.

"I realize I didn't think things through. Please, can I have one more chance?"

I turned my gaze to Harriet. "Ms. White, I'd appreciate it if you'd handle your employee."

Harriet was waiting for my cue, and she stepped up, grabbing Shirley's arm.

"Have you lost your mind? Can't you see he's fed up with you?"

Shirley stood her ground.

"What's it to you? Our marriage is none of your business!"

"Did we sign any papers?" I cut her off sharply.