The Groom Took My Girl

Before my best friend Joel's wedding, I gave him a box of intimate toys as a gift.

He laughed and asked me, Aren't you worried the bride won't be able to handle it tonight?

My girlfriend Kelly stood nearby, forcing an awkward smile.

After Joel left, Kelly confessed to me:

Actually, the one marrying him today is me.

Seeing my stunned expression, she quickly explained with a smile, "Don't worry, it's just a fake marriage. I'll explain everything after the ceremony."

Later, I stood in the groomsman's position, watching the two people I loved most exchange rings.

I'm letting you go, but there's no longer a place for either of you in my world.

I'd imagined countless endings for Kelly and me, but never this one.

After she completed the wedding ceremony, with kiss marks still visible on her collarbone, kneeling at my feet begging for forgiveness

I suddenly remembered that year.

The stubborn way she half-knelt to confess her feelings to me, refusing to get up until I agreed.

Ten years. I spent ten years helping her overcome autism.

In the end, she kicked me out of her life in the cruelest way possible.

The door pushed open. Joel walked in.

He said nothing, but I could read the victorious gleam in his eyes.

"When did this start?" I asked.

"Joel's fiance ran away, so I'm just going through the motions with him. He'd already sent out all the invitations, and his parents came all the way to Los Angeles. They couldn't handle the shock..."

So I guess my parents and I deserve to bear it instead.

"Wallace, we're best friends. Just help me out this once... Kelly and I aren't really together."

Joel clutched at my pant leg, eyes reddening as he pleaded in a low voice, playing the role of the humble subordinate to perfection.

I ignored his words and scrolled through his social media on my own.

[Thank you Miss Kelly for joining me...]

The attached photo showed two silhouettes embracing while bungee jumpingtaken during the days I was recovering from my car accident, when she claimed to be on a business trip.

Scrolling further down, I found photos of candles and red wine, along with two hands clasped together.

Kelly hadn't even bothered to remove my engagement ring first.

My finger kept swiping.

Countless posts pieced together a Kelly I didn't recognize.

Bubble tea, trendy restaurants, chocolate dessertswith me, she'd always frowned and said, "I don't like those things."

But behind my back, she'd tried them all with Joel.

She who was always obsessively clean and protective of her hands had even put on an apron and cooked for Joel herself.

I stared at the food in those photos, feeling sick inside.

Two years ago, when I had a terrible flu and couldn't get out of bed, I'd asked her to cook for me. She'd said:

"Wallace, I'm a doctor. My hands can't go in the kitchen. Just order takeout."

Over these ten years, I'd grown accustomed to her obsessive care for her hands, her cold indifference.

I'd huddled under the covers, listening to her talk on the phone in the study, her tone gentle and careful.

At the time I thought the fever had made me delirious. Looking back now, I was such a fool.

The shock had long faded, leaving only the hollow numbness of exposed truth.

I held those social media posts up to Joel's face.

"You also said we were best friends. Is this how you repay me?"

Before he could answer, I turned my head to stare at the woman before me.

"Since you two are together now, I'll step aside."

Ignoring Kelly's shouts, I left first.

My phone kept buzzing nonstop, blending with the sound of rain outside the taxi.

Like a hammer, shattering all the strength I'd struggled to maintain.

Years ago, Kelly's grandmother Sommerville had given my family a large sum of money, saving us from bankruptcy.

I'd known from a very young age that I needed to repay Kelly.

So during those years when she rejected me, I always put on a smile and stayed close to her: "I won't leave. I promised Sommerville I'd always be with you."

But now, I couldn't continue anymore.

[Wallace, I've already explained. What more do you want?]

[Stop being mad, okay? You've always wanted to get marriedlet's go get our marriage license tomorrow.]

The sourness hit faster than any other emotion, instantly moistening my eyes.

Actually, Kelly's autism had completely healed in the later years.

She could see patients, perform surgeries, bury her hot breath in my neck in the middle of the night, and prepare gifts for me.

Feeling like I'd finally gotten some response, I'd kept pestering her about marriage.

[Let's wait a bit longer. My family are medical professionalsI want to become Chief of Cardiac Surgery like my father.]

[I'm up for promotion to Chief Physician this year. I'm swampedwhere would I find time for a wedding? Let's talk about it next year.]

She'd even shaken my shoulders with a tone of disappointment:

"Joel is your good friend. He's single-mindedly focused on advanced studies and research, wanting to make achievements in medicine. Why are you only thinking about marriage?"

At the time, I hadn't thought it strange that these two people who'd never gotten along suddenly appreciated each other.

I'd even stupidly told her:

"Joel comes from a difficult background. Take care of him for me."

She hadn't responded then, but privately she'd taken care of him in every possible way.

In just two years, Joel not only got promoted quickly but also bought property in Los Angeles's expensive commercial district.

I'd even brought a bottle of wine and dragged Kelly over to congratulate him.

So stupid. Really stupid!

I scrubbed at my face desperately.

Trying to wipe away the tears on my face along with the memories of all those years.

Then I sent Sommerville a text message.

"I've repaid your family's debt. I'm breaking up with Kelly."

When I got home, Kelly was already sitting on the sofa with a diamond ring beside her.

Our eyes met, and she stood up with a light sigh: "Wallace, Joel is at a critical point in his career evaluation. Let's get our license right awayI even prepared the ring... Stop making a fuss."

Not "marry me," but "stop making a fuss."

Even the ring in her palm was a custom design that had appeared in Joel's photos. All I got was an afterthought.

I looked at her, at that face I'd traced a thousand times over, the face I'd kept in my heart since I was eighteen.

I smiled softly: "I'm not making a fuss. I won't interfere with his career evaluation either. And I don't want to get a marriage license with you. Please leave."

Kelly heard the first two sentences and automatically ignored the last two.

She came forward and wrapped her arms around my waist, resting her chin on my back.

Her voice carried a hint of laughter and certainty.

"Get some sleep. Tomorrow morning, post something on social media to explain things for Joel."

I paused slightly: "Explain what?"

Her arms didn't loosen, but her brow furrowed as if deep in thought.

"Just say that Joel and I were lovers all along, and you were the third party who came between us. That way it won't affect his reputation..."

My heart trembled. I stared at her in shock.

Those red lips had kissed me countless times and whispered heart-wrenching sweet nothings to me in the dead of night.

But now, every word she spoke was a knife stabbing into my chest.

I held back my tears and pushed her away.

"What about my reputation? Don't you care about that?"

She paused, as if unaccustomed to my rejection or only just now thinking of this point. Then she laughed.

"Joel's different from you. He came from the bottom, he's an orphanit wasn't easy for him to get where he is today. You're his friendyou should consider his position more."

Should? Why should I?

When he couldn't pay his tuition and was turned away by security, I was the one who covered the balance.

Senior year, when thugs from off-campus kept harassing him, I was the one who provided people and resources, protecting him at every turn.

I'd often bring him home, telling everyone "This is my brother."

After graduation, when no hospital would hire him due to his weak foundation, I was the one who begged Kelly to make an exception and hire him.

Joel had red-rimmed eyes that day, hugging me and crying his heart out: "Wallace, you've been so good to me. I'll spend my whole life repaying you."

But I never expected his repayment would be sleeping with my woman.

I exhaled the stale air from my chest, raised my head, and looked the woman straight in the eye.

"Kelly! I don't owe you, and I don't owe Joel. Not exposing you two is already my limit. You want me to admit I'm the third party? Impossible!"

After speaking, I turned to leave, but was frozen in place by one sentence.

"Think about those photos. Do you want them to see the light of day?"

I froze for a moment before turning back.

Looking at Kelly's cold, indifferent face.

Suddenly I remembered her at nineteen, holding my marked body, crying until her whole body shook.

Back then, her autism was severe.

I chased after her three meals a day to feed her food and medicine.

Annoyed, she'd slip away and hide.

I chased her to a street corner and was dragged into an alley.

My mouth and nose were covered, my vulnerable parts violated. I couldn't see light or count how many people there were.

When she found me, she'd completely lost it.

Stubbornly apologizing, saying she'd take care of everything.

Later, she gripped my hand, stared into my eyes and swore that those people had been dealt with, those photos destroyed, and that her entire life from then on would be mine.

But now, for Joel's sake, she was threatening me with my own trauma.

Seeing my dazed expression, Kelly suppressed the reluctance in her eyes.

She coaxed softly, as if making a promise:

"Just post one statement on social media, and leave the rest to me. We'll get our license, get married, have childrenI'll still be your wife..."

"And if I refuse?"

"Think about your parents. Your father has a bad heart..."

Though she didn't finish the sentence, it said everything.

That night, we both fell silent.

She knew I'd compromise, just like she knew that every time we fought, I'd always be the one to come crawling back.

The next day when I turned on my phone, the screen was full of headlines screaming that Joel was a knowing third party, two-timing both of us.

Before I could react, Kelly kicked the door open.

"Wallace, Joel is your friend! How could you bear to slander him? To ruin his reputation!"

Her eyes were bloodshot. Without letting me explain a single word, she dragged me to the city hospital.

Getting out of the car, my knee hit the door. I cried out in pain.

She didn't pause for even a moment.

Watching her urgent, retreating figure, I suddenly wanted to laugh.

The hand that gripped mine was so tight, so warm, yet I felt like I was falling into an abyss.

The lobby had already been set up as a press conference venue.

Joel sat on the platform without speaking, shoulders hunched, eyes slightly red.

Kelly felt terrible for him. She shoved me toward the reporters and rushed over to him.

Countless microphones thrust toward me.

[Mr. Wallace, Dr. Joel says you were molested by a pedophile in your youth, which twisted your psychology. Is that why you stormed out yesterday?]

[We heard you've been obsessively pursuing Dr. Kelly, knowing full well she and Dr. Joel were in love, yet still trying to seduce her, attempting to become the knowing third party?]

[You and Dr. Joel are friends as close as brothers. To steal his woman like thisdo you have no shame at all, Mr. Wallace?]

My blood felt like it had caught fire, burning all the way to my head.

I stared at Kelly in shock.

She'd promised never to leak a word about that incident. Why did Joel know?

Before I could figure it out, the friend who'd said he'd repay me properly suddenly smiled at me.

The next second, the large screen behind us suddenly lit up.

It showed my pale teenage face and my body covered in bruises.

The venue exploded. My ears filled with discussion and the clicking of camera shutters.

[Wallace has been completely ruined by those people. Relying on his family background to keep harassing Dr. Kellyhow disgusting.]

[If he hadn't smashed that wine bottle yesterday and ruined the wedding, Dr. Joel, who'd been in an underground relationship, probably wouldn't have exposed this.]

My throat felt like it was burning. I struggled but couldn't speak a word.

Couldn't speak the truth. Couldn't say that the one in an underground relationship was actually me.

Kelly appeared beside me at some point, speaking lightly:

"Things have come to this. Just apologize."

"Since your reputation is already ruined, at least protect Joel. I keep my promises."

I paused for a long moment before forcing out a voice:

"He deliberately leaked my photos and destroyed my reputation, and you still want me to apologize?"

Kelly shook her head disapprovingly:

"Joel was just protecting himself. What did he do wrong?"

"Besides, these things are all true. It's not like he made them up. If you want to blame someone, blame your own bad luck."

Anger, humiliation, and an indescribable hatred churned in my chest.

I could barely stand. Just as I was about to argue back, a cold voice stopped me.

"Wallace, is what they're saying true? Have you been coming between Dr. Joel and Kelly all this time?"

Before finishing the sentence, Dad clutched his chest. Like someone had pulled out his bones, his expression twisted in pain as he collapsed.

Mom screamed: "Benjamin!"

I couldn't care about anything else. I rushed over, but before I could get close, a slap left me dazed.

My mom pointed at me with a trembling finger: "This is all your fault! If not for you, how would your father have an attack!"

After cursing at me, she turned and desperately grabbed Kelly's pant leg:

"Kelly! Kelly! Please, save Benjamin!"

Kelly didn't move or speak. She just stared at me quietly.

Joel deliberately added: "Forget it, Kelly. I won't hold Wallace's foolish actions against him. Just save Benjamin."

Kelly looked at him, her tone gentle: "No. Wallace must publicly apologize and admit he's the third party, or else your reputation and future will be ruined. I can't bear that."

She couldn't bear to see his reputation tarnished but was willing to personally push me into hell.

"Wallace, what are you waiting for? Wait any longer and your father will be gone."

Mom seemed suddenly awakened by those words.

She grabbed my hair, trying to force me to apologize.

"Say it! Are you really going to watch your father die?"

Looking at Dad's pale, bluish face, I knew I couldn't delay any longer.

I swallowed the metallic taste in my throat and forced out the words through gritted teeth:

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have destroyed someone else's relationship."

As soon as I spoke, someone loudly objected.

"You caused Dr. Joel to be cyberbullied, and you think one 'sorry' is enough? If you're sincere, get on your knees and slap yourself!"

The surrounding people echoed in agreement. Kelly said nothing, as if giving permission.

Mom was beside herself with anxiety. Seeing me motionless, she kicked me and slapped me hard twice.

"Get on your knees! Hit yourself! Your father's life depends on you!"

She hit me while wiping away tears, her voice shaking terribly.

I looked at her, then at my father foaming at the mouth.

Slowly I closed my eyes, raised my hand, and slapped myself again and again.

My face and heart were numb. I felt no pain.

Only ice-cold liquid fell at my feet, dripping.

The next second, a dragon-headed cane suddenly fell from mid-air, hitting Kelly square on the head.

A cold, authoritative voice suddenly rang out:

"Kelly! Get out of this hospital with your lover! Get out of this family!"

"From today on, Wallace is my grandson and the heir to my estate!"