He looked at me, his tone softening.
“Ashley, let’s stop this. Come with me now,
and I won’t hold this against you.‘
David’s face darkened.
“Have you said enough? I’m letting this go
because you’re Ashley’s friend. If you don’t
leave, I’ll call security.”
“This is our wedding, not some play you think
you’re in!”
I tugged at David’s sleeve, whispering,
“I’m sorry, David. I should have told him
beforehand.”
I turned to Josh, my face serious.
“Look at the guests. Does this look like a
game to you?”
“You’re the one who needs to wake up!”
David took my hand, his voice gentle.
<
“It’s okay. Let’s just consider this little
interruption as entertainment for our
wedding.”
His eyes were so loving, I felt momentarily
dazed.
The unexpected happiness was overwhelming.
For years, I had followed Josh blindly,
experiencing countless heartbreaks.
On graduation day, he mysteriously called me,
asking me to meet him at an amusement
park.
Full of anticipation, I arrived to see Josh, in a
suit, walking towards me amidst fireworks.
But he walked right past me.
Confused, I turned to see Sarah, in a princess
dress, looking back at him with a sweet smile.
As they walked past me hand in hand, he
whispered,
“This is my 35th confession. I won’t have a
chance after graduation! Keep the fireworks
く
going, don’t let them stop!”
They embraced under the bright fireworks,
while I ended up in the hospital with burns
from the sparks.
Later, he ignored my bandaged arm, blaming
me instead.
“Sarah rejected me again! It’s all your fault! If
the fireworks hadn’t stopped at the crucial
moment, she would have said yes!”
“Now that we’re graduating, how am I
supposed to chase her?”
My arm was numb from the anesthetic, but
my heart ached.
How could this be?
He would ruffle my hair and call me cute
when I got a new haircut.
He would hug me and say it wasn’t my fault
when I cried, feeling guilty about his father’s
death.
He even traveled miles to celebrate my
birthday every year during college.
Everything gave me the illusion of happiness.
But in the end, I was left with nothing.
Maybe I had been a simp for too long, and he
was tired of it.
He made his choice, and it was time for me
to move on.
A weight lifted off my shoulders, and I felt
lighter than ever.
I looked back at David, squeezing his hand.
“Mr. Carter, I look forward to spending my life
with you.”
His eyes lit up, bright as fireworks.
We walked to the front of the stage,
accepting the guests‘ blessings.
“Wishing Mr. David Carter and Mrs. Ashley
Carter a lifetime of happiness! May you have
many children!”
After the commotion, the guests finally
settled down.
After the ceremony, I changed into my
reception dress.
As we toasted the head table, I was surprised
to see Josh’s grandma sitting there.
“Grandma, what are you doing here?”
“Ashley, dear, I wouldn’t miss your wedding!”
She sighed heavily.
“It’s a shame my grandson is so foolish.”
“Grandma…”
Josh’s dejected voice came from behind.
Grandma smacked him on the head.
“I know everything! You lied about me being
sick to trick her into marrying you.”
“Now look, she’s marrying someone else!
When will you wake up and realize what
you’ve lost?”
Josh looked up at me, his expression
mournful.
“So, this really is your wedding?”
I looked back, my expression calm.
Dʊ you шIINIK IIIIIIKt you, trijuуny playiny
games with people all the time?”
“The dress was custom–made, and David
bought the ring for me from overseas.”
“I didn’t rent anything.”
Josh winced.
“Then the e–vite…”
I opened my phone and showed him my
post.
“I know you misunderstood. Take a look, did I
set it to ‘visible only to you‘?”
Josh swayed, as if he might collapse.
Sarah rushed over.
“Josh, honey, leave her alone. Let her marry whoever she wants. Let’s go!”
Her eyes were red, looking enviously at David.
She defiantly took Josh’s hand, but heed it
away.
“This is between Ashley and me. Stay out of
it!”
“You couldn’t get David
