Three People in the Wedding
Room?
Chapter 1
My boyfriend, Chad, always dodged meeting
my parents.
But he was playing the role of fiancé with his
ex, meeting her relatives.
And they were meeting in the condo I’d
gotten ready for us, as our first home!
Little did he know, I was actually a distant
cousin of his ex.
Chad pretended not to recognize me, putting
his arm around the woman and saying, “I
bought this place outright for my future wife.”
Г
Everyone was gushing about how in love they
were.
Afraid I’d blow his cover, Chad pulled me
aside to warn me:
“I’m just helping a friend avoid pressure from
her family, okay? If you mess this up, we’re
done.”
I wished him all the best, saying:
“Since my cousin and I have the same taste in
houses and men, I ordered a bunch of
wedding stuff in bulk that I figured she’d like.
It’s a gift.”
Chad finally started to sweat.
く
“It’s crazy how connected my distant relatives
and I are. We have condos in the same
complex, even the same floor and unit
number! I must be seeing things.”
I texted my boyfriend, Chad Miller, bitching
about this weird coincidence.
Right after I sent it, my distant cousin, Ashley
Davis, and her “fiancé” walked out of the
bedroom.
Her relatives cheered, and Ashley snuggled
into her “fiancé’s” arms, all lovey–dovey.
I stood there stunned.
My mom nudged me with her elbow, giving
me that look of disappointment.
“Look at your cousin, already getting married.
And you? Still talking about that imaginary
boyfriend of yours. When am I ever gonna
meet a real one?”
Mom, you just did.
The guy standing next to another woman,
looking at her all adoringly, is my boyfriend,
Chad.
But I couldn’t bring myself to say it. My mom
would’ve had a heart attack on the spot.
When I walked into the complex, I thought it
was wild that my cousin and I were so similar,
we’d picked condos in the same complex.
く
But the further I walked, the weirder it got –
same building, same floor, now the same unit.
I had the condo keys safe at my place.
There was no way they’d gotten out.
So I just assumed I was in the wrong building.
But the second Chad walked out, I knew.
It’s always an inside job.
Because we don’t expect our loved ones to
hurt us.
Which makes it that much easier for them to
stab you where it hurts.
Г
Chad and Ashley, the “happy couple,” were
glowing under the praise.
Chad had his arm possessively around
Ashley’s waist. He even leaned down to kiss
her forehead every so often.
It was like a slow–motion replay in my head,
every detail crystal clear.
The bitterness and rage inside me crashed
over me like a tidal wave, and I wanted to
bolt.
But all I heard were the relatives‘ well wishes:
“Ashley is so lucky, she found such a
handsome, wealthy man! May they live happily
ever after!”
く
“The fiancé and Ashley are perfect together. I
think they’ve been together since college. I’ve
seen pictures of them, they’re so in love!”
Those words rooted me to the spot, unable to
move.
I remembered Chad had a girlfriend in college
named Ashley.
His classmates joked with me about how
passionate they were back then, how
unforgettable.
Guess it was so unforgettable that they were
still hooking up.
And I, his girlfriend, was the fool.
Chad and Ashley greeted the relatives one by
one until they finally got to where I was.
Chad’s eyes widened in surprise and guilt, but
he quickly hid it, keeping up the happy act.
He pretended not to know me and went to
greet someone else, but then he grabbed my
mom’s hand.
“Thanks, ma’am. Be sure to eat and drink well
later.”
My mom didn’t know he was my boyfriend,
and she responded with genuine well wishes
and envy.
“You’re such a good kid, that condo is so
nice! Ashley is sure to be happy with you.”
Chad didn’t know my mom, either, and he
flaunted his generosity as if he were
impressing his future in–laws.
“I bought this place outright for my future
wife. I don’t want her worrying about
mortgage payments down the road.”
“Oh my, aren’t you two just adorable, calling
each other ‘husband‘ and ‘wife‘ already!”
My mom teased, nudging me again, as if
saying, “See? This is what you should have!”
But Mom, it’s your daughter who put the
down payment on that condo!
The “happy couple” finished meeting
everyone and headed to the restaurant for
dinner.
I was just about to make an excuse and leave.
But Chad secretly grabbed me, dragging me
into a corner.
