Shawn Hansen, Wigston's most notorious playboy, always has a thing for dazzling women. This time, his eyes are set on Carrie Myers, my fiance Harvey Anderson's close friend.

And now, he decides to marry her on the same day as my wedding.

When I go to Harvey to discuss the wedding details, I walk in on him holding Carrie and promising, "Don't worry. I'll marry you. Our churches are side by side, and with your face hidden under the veil, I'll swap you in for her. No one will ever notice."

Carrie sobbed, her voice filled with concern. "Angelina is clever. She will undoubtedly notice something is wrong."

He kisses her forehead gently and comforts her, "I'll drug her so she won't be able to think straight or resist."

Only then does she relax, yet she asks curiously, "You really don't mind letting her marry Shawn?"

Harvey thinks seriously before replying, "I love you and must marry you first. Shawn is my good friend, so even if he marries her, he wouldn't touch her. I'll bring her back once he realizes the bride has been switched. By then, the two of you can serve me together."

I can't bear to listen any longer, and I turn to leave with a broken heart.

Despite the sorrow, I am determined to become Shawn's wife.

The rain poured down on me as I wandered aimlessly through the streets, feeling hollow and broken. Each drop of rain stung against my skin, but none of it compared to the ache in my heart.

I had never imagined Harvey would fall for another woman. Worse, he had even planned to swap brides on our wedding day. His expectation that I should share him with someone else stung even more.

Even though I was his fiancée, if he married Carrie first and only came back for me afterward, the world would see me as nothing more than a mistress.

He wanted two women at once, yet he never considered my feelings.

All the years we had spent growing up together as childhood sweethearts didn't matter to him like Carrie's place in his heart.

As I wrestled with these thoughts, I received a message from Harvey. "Darling, I miss you. Are you off work yet?"

I stared at the text blankly for a long while before composing myself and replying, "I'm working late until 10:00 pm tonight."

"Okay. Remember to drink plenty of water, or your stomach will hurt. I'll cook your favorite dish when you get back." His response came instantly and was full of care.

Tears blurred my vision. His care was genuine, but so was his betrayal.

…

After walking for a long time, I got exhausted and dragged myself home.

Before entering the bedroom, I heard Harvey's low and tender voice coming from within. "Please don't cry. It hurts me when you cry."

Then came Carrie's muffled sobs. "I can't help it. I don't want to marry Shawn, but he's forcing me into it."

The door was ajar. Through the narrow gap, I saw him reach out and gently wipe her tears away.

"Don't worry. I won't let you marry that useless man," he assured her.

She nodded and clutched his hand. "I believe you. I'll always stay with you."

Harvey smiled at her affectionately and teased, "Good. And you'll also give me children."

Carrie blushed instantly and threw herself into his arms. "But I am scared Angelina won't let me stay by your side. If she finds out, she'll definitely make a scene."

"Don't worry. She loves me a lot, so she'll forgive me." Harvey dismissed it without hesitation. Then, he paused before adding, "She knows we're friends, so I'll tell her I need to protect you, and she'll agree to let you take her place. With time, she'll slowly accept you."

Carrie's eyes flickered as she nodded. "You're right. Angelina listens to you completely and will do whatever you ask. So there's nothing to worry about."

"You're so lucky to marry your childhood sweetheart and the woman you love," she added with a smile tugging at her lips.

Pride flashed across his face at her words. Then, he pulled out a ring and slid it onto her finger.

My breath hitched. That ring was our wedding ring that Harvey had designed and spent a fortune on. It was supposed to symbolize our love, but he had given it to another woman.

Carrie's eyes sparked as she stared at him in shock. "Are you really giving it to me?"

Harvey nodded and stroked her hair. "Of course it's for you. You are my wife."

Upon hearing his words, she smiled sweetly and leaned to kiss him.

He responded eagerly by pulling her close and kissing her hungrily in the room I had decorated for our wedding night.

A wave of nausea surged through me, and bile rose in my throat at the repulsive sight. I clamped my mouth with trembling fingers, struggling to hold back a sound as my heart broke apart.

I lied about working late, and he brought Carrie into our bridal suite. What he did tonight was nothing short of betrayal.

Harvey assumed I would forgive him because I loved him too much to leave. But this time, he'd crossed a line, and I wouldn't tolerate his cheating.

Since his heart belonged to another woman, I no longer wanted him. If he wanted to marry Carrie, so be it. I would become Shawn's wife.

When Harvey and Carrie came down the stairs, they froze momentarily when they saw me sitting in the living room.

Harvey instantly stepped away from her and gently approached me, grabbing my hand. "Darling, why didn't you tell me you're home?"

I acted as if nothing had happened and spoke in my usual playful tone, "I'm tired, that's all."

He smiled and kissed my forehead, as though no one else was in the room.

I smiled sweetly at him, then glanced at Carrie and greeted her with a nod. That was when I noticed the book in her hands.

It was a posthumous work by a late literary author, a book I had long liked. I had even mentioned to Harvey several times that I wanted it, but he had never paid me any attention.

With Carrie's status, there was no way she could've gotten it on her own. There was no doubt that he had given it to her.

When she noticed my gaze, she quickly covered the book cover with her hand and said, "I should leave now. It's getting late."

As soon as Carrie stepped forward, her foot slipped and she crashed to the ground with a loud thud.

Her forehead bled immediately, and Harvey rushed to her side. He lifted her and pressed the tie I gifted him against her wound.

"How could you be so careless?" he asked.

He sounded like he was chastising her, but the panic in his voice was evident.

That tie had been my gift to him on his coming of age. It was a piece I designed and stitched with my own hands. He had always treasured it, keeping it spotless. But now, it was drenched in another woman's blood.

When Harvey caught my gaze shifting between him and the tie, a flash of helplessness and guilt flickered across his face. Yet, when he saw Carrie's critical condition, he swept her into his arms.

"Darling, she's hurt. I'll take her to the hospital. Go to bed and don't wait for me."

Before I could respond, he ran out of the house with her. My expression darkened as I stared at his disappearing figure.

I couldn't sleep that night, and Harvey didn't come home as he only returned the next day around noon.

…

When he saw me sitting on the couch in a daze, he hurried over and pulled me into his arms. "I'm sorry, Darling. Carrie had a concussion and a fever, so I had to stay with her and couldn't come back."

I disregarded his apology as my eyes were fixed on the collar of his white shirt, where a faint lipstick stain bloomed red.

Judging by his wrinkled clothes, I wonder if they slept together last night.

When Harvey realized where my gaze was, he tugged at his collar in a panic and tried to cover it up.

"A nurse bumped into me and accidentally spilled some medicine all over me. It was so awful!" He lied without missing a beat.

I arched a brow at his lies but didn't bother exposing him. Since he wanted to play dumb, I was willing to play along. "Go take a shower," I muttered calmly.

He nodded and smiled. "Alright. Once I'm done, I'll take you out to pick out the jewelry for our wedding."

With that, he disappeared into the restroom.

…

A hollow chuckle broke free from my lips, and soon tears streamed down my face, draining me until nothing was left but emptiness.

I believed in love, but I had no desire to salvage it once it was tainted by distrust.

After Harvey had finished showering and was dressed in a new pair of clothes, he took me to the jewelry store.

As we entered the store, my eyes landed on a familiar figure. A group of women surrounded Carrie, their voices sharp and cruel as they berated her.

Wasn't she supposed to have a concussion? How was she already out of the hospital?

Harvey sensed my skepticism and jumped in to clarify, "She insisted on being discharged as she thought it was just a minor injury."

I continued to watch the scene in silence.

Carrie was in tears, looking pitiful under the women's attacks, and out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Harvey clenching his fists tightly as he stared at her.

Nonetheless, Harvey didn't step forward to help. Instead, his gaze landed on me with eagerness.

I knew he wanted me to help Carrie. After all, it wasn't the first time he had given me that look and silently begged me to smooth things over.

He'd known Carrie for a long time, and he'd ask me to help her on his behalf to prevent any unwanted rumors.

Though Carrie had risen from the slums and navigated upper society with ease, she lacked the refinement to truly fit in, which made her an easy target for the wealthy heiresses.

Even now, with her new status as Shawn's fiancée, they didn't pass up the opportunity to humiliate her.

"Hey, what trick did you use to seduce Shawn into marrying you?"

"Why don't you show us how alluring you are?"

"Exactly! Let's see some of those seductive skills of yours."

Carrie shook her head frantically and was too frightened to speak.

"Come on, stop acting innocent. If you didn't seduce him, how would he know how seductive you are?"

"Exactly! If you can show him, show it to us too."

"I think he must've been attracted to your nice physique. Go ahead and take off your clothes!" One of them reached out and tugged at Carrie's clothes.

In a panic, Harvey shoved me forward. "Darling, hurry and help her!"

I almost slammed into the glass door to my right. Luckily, I caught myself in time. Otherwise, the glass would've shattered.

However, Harvey didn't notice this as his gaze was stuck on Carrie.

A bitter smile tugged on my lips as I walked toward the group of women. The moment Carrie saw me, she instinctively darted behind me like a shield. "Angelina, take me away."

I glared sharply at the heiresses and warned, "That's enough. Don't go too far."

We had grown up in the same circle, so everyone knew one another.

They only backed off when I spoke.

"Angelina, it's not that serious. We only wanted a look."

"Exactly! She's not that innocent."

"I've seen her looking cozy with Harvey many times. You have to be careful."

Upon hearing this, Carrie panicked and hurried to explain, "Angelina, don't listen to them. Harvey and I are just friends!"

The heiresses scoffed at her words.

"Please! You two are way too close for just friends."

"That's right. I saw you hugging him the other day. That's too much for just a friendship."

"She's clearly pretending to be innocent!"

One of them grew heated and raised her hand to hit Carrie.

I was about to stop her, but Carrie grabbed my arm in fear and tugged hard, dragging me backward. Her grip hurt, and I snapped, "Let go of me!"

But she didn't. Instead, she pulled even harder.

Without another word, I furiously yanked my arm free. The force sent her stumbling back, and she toppled into the pool.

The water was deep, and she flailed helplessly, crying out, "Help me!"

Harvey immediately dived in and pulled her out of the water. He patted her face frantically when he saw that she was unresponsive.

"Carrie, wake up! Come on, wake up!"

After a few moments, her eyelids fluttered open. As her gaze shifted to me, she began to cry, "Angelina, why did you push me? Are you going to hurt me too?"

I was taken aback for a moment before realizing she was trying to play victim.

"I asked you to help her, not hurt her!" Harvey roared.

"She fell in on her own. Angelina didn't push her," someone spoke up on my behalf.

Upon hearing this, Carrie's cries grew louder, as if she had suffered the greatest injustice in the world.

Harvey didn't believe a word, and he snapped, "I saw it clearly with my own eyes that you pushed her, so don't bother denying it. You've really disappointed me, Angelina!"