Joe’s messages came in one after another:

“Autumn, I know your wedding is the day after tomorrow, but I really can’t keep this to myself anymore.

“Ethan called all of us out tonight, said he argued with you and wasn’t in a great mood.

“But the moment we got here, he called Rose.

“Those two… they’ve always been like this, all these years.

“We’ve all seen it, but none of us dared to tell you.

“The address is Room 302 at NightSun Bar. I think you should see it for yourself.”

I stared at the photo.

Rose was looking at Ethan with a mix of worry and unmistakable affection.

And Ethan… he wasn’t resisting her at all.

I took a deep breath and rose from the sofa, grabbing my car keys.

Following the address Joe had sent, I found my way to Room 302 at the NightSun Bar.

The door was slightly ajar, and familiar laughter floated out from inside.

I stopped in my tracks, hesitating instead of pushing the door open.

“Ethan, don’t be mad. Autumn’s just got a bit of that spoiled-rich-girl temper. A little coaxing and she’ll be fine. You're getting married in two days anyway,” a man spoke up, trying to smooth things over.

Another voice chimed in right away.

“Exactly, what’s there to fuss over with Autumn’s little spoiled-girl temper?”

“If you ask me, Rose is so much better—gentle, thoughtful, never makes Ethan angry.”

“Right? If it weren’t for back then…”

“Ah, never mind. Ethan, you’re marrying Autumn, and we all feel it’s a pity for Rose.”

“A pity for what? Just look at who Ethan really cares about. He and Autumn are about to get married, but when they argue, the first person he thinks of is still Rose.”

Laughter erupted in the room.

I leaned against the wall, feeling my blood almost freeze.

These voices—I recognized every single one.

Ethan’s closest friends. Friends I had known for ten years.

I had even delivered their wedding invitations myself.

And in their eyes, I was nothing but a spoiled, high-maintenance girl, while Rose was the considerate first love.

And Ethan?

I pressed my eyes against the crack of the door.

Their gestures were so intimate, like a couple madly in love.

He didn’t deny anything. He didn’t say a word for me.

He just sat there, letting their teasing roll off him, while basking in Rose’s tenderness.

At that moment, I finally understood why, for ten years, I had always felt like an outsider in his circle.

Because in that group, I was the one who didn’t belong.

And Rose, she was the one they all naturally treated as Ethan's true love.

I didn’t have the courage to push the door open.

I recorded a short video through the crack and turned to leave.

Just as I rounded the hallway corner, I ran right into Joe.

He glanced at my red eyes, sighed softly, and handed me a tissue.

“You saw everything?”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

“No problem.” Joe rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

“I just feel it’s unfair to you. Ethan, he… Forget it. Just don’t take it too hard.”

I forced a smile. “I’m fine. Really.”

How could I be fine?

Ten years of love, shattered in an instant.

The man I loved deeply had been deceiving me for a decade.

The friends I trusted were laughing at my foolishness behind my back.

Ethan didn’t come home all night.

The next morning, a new contact appeared on my phone—an unfamiliar number.

I tapped the profile picture—it was Rose, her gentle, harmless face staring back at me.

We barely knew each other. Other than knowing she was Ethan’s female confidante, we had no connection.

I had no idea how she got my number, yet for some inexplicable reason, I didn’t block it.

Almost the moment I opened the chat, she sent a photo—without a single word.

It was taken in a hotel room.

Ethan lay on the bed shirtless, fast asleep.

Rose wore his white shirt, nestled against him, and flashed a V sign at the camera.

Her smile was both triumphant and teasing.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, daylight poured in.

Time, place, and people—it was all painfully obvious.

Looking at the photo, my heart froze and shattered into countless pieces.

Yesterday he was at the bar; this morning, he was already in the hotel.

Seamless.

I turned off my phone, expressionless, and walked into the kitchen. I poured myself a glass of ice water and drank it in one gulp.

The cold liquid slid down my throat, but it couldn’t extinguish the fire in my chest.

At 10 a.m., Ethan returned.

He still carried a faint smell of alcohol and some unfamiliar perfume.

Seeing me sitting in the living room, he froze for a moment, then plastered on a conciliatory smile.

“Autie, you’re still mad?”

I stared at him quietly, deciding to give him one last chance.

“Ethan, where were you last night? What did you do?”

His eyes flickered, avoiding mine, and he reached out to grab my hand.

“I drank too much last night. I slept at Joe’s place.

“Autie, can we not fight?

“The wedding’s tomorrow. Don’t let a little thing ruin our mood.”

He was still lying.

I gave up completely, yanked my hand free, and stood up.

“Ethan, I’m tired. Handle the wedding yourself.”

I went back to my room and locked the door.

He knocked, confused and impatient, but I ignored him.

I took out my phone, found Rose in my contacts, and sent her a message:

“3 p.m., Corner Café downtown. We need to meet.”

She replied immediately: “Okay.”

At 3 p.m., Rose arrived right on time.

She saw me and gave a sheepish smile.

“Autumn, I’m really sorry. Ethan got drunk last night and insisted on talking to me. I spent the whole night taking care of him.”

Her words sounded apologetic, but her eyes betrayed pride.

“Is that so?”

I stirred my coffee slowly, my tone calm.

“Well, that must have been quite the effort.”

She seemed taken aback by my calmness, froze for a moment, then spoke again:

“Autumn, don’t get me wrong. Ethan and I are just friends.

“I know you’re getting married, and I sincerely wish you both well.

It’s just… Ethan has some burdens he can only share with me. He said his biggest regret is…”

“…that he can’t give you a wedding, right?”

I finished for her.

Rose’s expression changed instantly.

I looked at her and smiled. “The time capsules you two buried together—I dug them up.”

She stopped pretending.

“If you know everything, why are you still holding onto him?

“Autumn, the one Ethan has loved all along… has always been me.”

I set down my coffee and met her gaze directly.

“If that’s the case, I’ll let you have him.”

Rose’s eyes widened in shock, utterly incredulous.

“You… what did you just say?”

“I said, tomorrow’s wedding—be the bride.”