No One But Me Can Claim Victory In Our Bet

It was my bachelor party.

But suddenly, out of nowhere, my closest friend, Logan, decided he wanted to place a massive bet with my fianc, Maya.

I am going to guess how many candies you are holding in your hand.

If I guess right, you have to do whatever I say. No questions asked.

If I guess wrong, I will drink every single drop of alcohol left on this table.

"My guess is five."

Maya opened her right hand. Three candies.

Logan laughed, tilting his head back, ready to chug his drink.

But then, everything changed.

"You win."

Maya reached into her pocket and pulled out her left hand.

"The other two are right here."

Logan looked at her, a wide smile spreading across his face.

But I could see the faint glint of tears in his eyes.

He pulled out a folded slip of paper he had prepared beforehand and smoothed it out on the table.

"Well, I apologize for this, but I did not actually expect to guess right on the first try."

"Your wedding is officially postponed for three years."

The entire room went dead silent in shock.

But Maya just smiled.

"We have been making bets with each other since college. None of us have ever backed down from a wager."

"A bet is a bet. I accept."

This was not the first time Maya had used me as a chip in one of her games.

I looked up at the wall clock. It was just past midnight.

My phone vibrated in my pocket.

"Happy Birthday."

"You always said if we were both twenty seven and single, you would marry me. Does that still count?"

I typed my reply without hesitating.

"A bet is a bet."

After a brief, suffocating silence, the living room completely erupted.

"Are you insane? You cannot bet on something like this!"

"A wedding is not a game!"

"Do you know how exhausted Liam is? He handwrote five hundred invitations! We have already notified all our relatives. How can you just cancel it on a whim?"

A few of our friends crowded around them, their voices overlapping in panic.

Growing more frantic, they all turned their attention to Logan.

"Logan, come on, you are Liam's best man! Say something! Tell her it was just a joke!"

Logan was sitting in the corner, gently swirling the red wine in his glass.

He completely avoided everyone's eyes.

"I am not joking."

"You guys know me. I never make a bet as a joke."

"It is bad luck."

The moment the words "bad luck" left his mouth, the air in the room completely solidified.

Everyone suddenly realized the gravity of the situation.

This wedding was actually over.

The reason was simple.

Except for me, who worked at an art gallery, everyone else in Maya's circle was in the high stakes business of importing and trading unpolished diamonds and raw gemstones.

Every single month, they flew out to international borders to bid on raw stones.

In fact, the seed money for their entire startup came from a massive, incredibly risky gem auction they won back in college.

'Never back down from a bet' was the ironclad rule they lived their entire lives by.

Nobody dared to say another word.

I lowered my eyes and poured myself a glass of bourbon.

"Maya, what is your call on this?"

Maya looked at me, her eyes glazed with a hint of intoxication.

She reached out, habitually pinching my cheek just like she always did when she wanted to appease me.

"Liam, we can always just hold the ceremony in three years. We have the rest of our lives together."

"But breaking a promise and bringing bad luck down on the entire business just for a wedding date? It is just not worth it."

"You understand, right?"

It was the exact answer I had anticipated.

I kept my head down, forcing myself to swallow the bitter, burning sensation in my throat.

When I finally looked back up, I had already pasted a perfect smile back onto my face.

"I do not understand it, but I agree to it."

Maya let out a visible sigh of relief, smiling at me with genuine affection.

"The fact that you are still keeping your cool means you aren't too mad."

The temperature in the room plummeted. For a long moment, nobody spoke.

Just then, the front door clicked open.

Chloe was standing in the doorway. I had not even noticed her slip out earlier.

She was pushing a massive, three tier cake into the room.

The candles were already lit, and written across the icing were the words: 'Happy 27th Birthday, Liam.'

"Happy Birthday!"

Maya looked entirely startled for a second, before snapping out of her daze and being the first to start clapping.

And just like that, my bachelor party bizarrely morphed into a birthday party.

After a few more rounds of drinks.

The private karaoke room was deafening, filled with the sound of dice hitting the tables and people screaming into microphones.

I stood up and walked over to Maya.

I reached straight into her jacket pocket and pulled out a handful of the wedding favors she had been carrying.

"Why?"

Maya gave me a small, guilty smile.

"I knew I could not hide it from you."

She wrapped her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly, her voice raspy from the alcohol.

"If Logan lost, he would have had to drink all that liquor, and his liver cannot take it anymore. If you were in my shoes, you would have done the exact same thing."

I turned my head, looking at her dead in the eye.

I desperately wanted to ask her if she had known what his bet was going to be beforehand.

Had she prepared for this?

But the words died in my throat. I realized asking would be entirely pointless.

I pulled away from her and walked over to Logan.

"Why?"

Logan looked up at me.

Through the haze of the alcohol, I saw an unapologetic, burning intensity in his eyes.

"Because I am in love with Maya."

"But do not expect an apology from me. I have stepped aside and tolerated you for seven years."

It was the answer I expected, delivered with an arrogance I did not.

This was the guy who had been my best friend since freshman year of college.

I threw my head back and downed the rest of my bourbon.

Everything happening right in front of me felt like some absurd, melodramatic soap opera.

I set the glass down and reached for the bottle to pour another.

A pair of hands firmly pressed down on mine.

Chloe had quietly stepped up right behind me.

She leaned in, her warm breath brushing against my ear.

"Did you get the confirmation you needed?"

"So, the wedding is in three days?"

I tilted my head slightly, looking at Chloe.

"I said a bet is a bet, but my birthday party literally just started. Are you that confident I have already lost?"

Chloe flashed a wicked, knowing smile.

"It does not matter. I have been waiting for seven years. One more day will not kill me."

I stood up, turned to face Logan, and raised my voice over the music.

"Logan, I want to make a bet with you too."

The music in the room seemed to freeze for a fraction of a second.

Everyone stared at me in total shock.

The two guys I was closest with immediately caught on and started hyping it up.

"Hell yeah! Maya lost the wedding date, but Liam can just win it right back!"

"Exactly! I already rented a killer suit for this wedding. Canceling it now is a total waste. Let's get another bet going!"

But Maya's expression instantly darkened.

"Liam, stop acting like a child."

"I already agreed to the terms. The wedding is in three years, and that is final."

Right on cue, Logan covered his mouth, letting out a dramatic, sickening gag.

Maya immediately rushed over to support him, snapping her head back to glare at me.

"He is clearly way too drunk. Leave him alone. If you are that desperate to gamble, pick someone else."

I watched Maya instinctively shield Logan, and the very last shred of hope in my chest finally withered and died.

"Sure."

I picked up the leather dice cup from the table and shook it hard.

"Then I will bet against you. High or low?"

I locked eyes with Maya. I felt like a desperate man putting his last dollar on the table.

The truth was, the dice cup was completely empty.

I was only asking to test her.

If she was willing to play the game with me, if she was willing to give me one fair chance to fight for us...

I was ready to wager every ounce of luck I had left in my life to cancel my promise to Chloe.

I would wait the three years for her.

Because when it comes to love, aren't we all just desperate gamblers?

But Maya's expression grew even colder.

She stared at me, her eyes filled with nothing but disappointment and absolute disgust.

"So you lose once, and now you are going to harass people until you win? Liam, do you have absolutely zero dignity left?"

I understood immediately.

A bottomless, bitter wave crashed over me.

"You are so terrified that you will not even play a simple game with me?"

"Are you really that afraid I am going to force you to marry me?"

The last remaining warmth in my heart turned to ice, piece by piece.

Right in front of her face, I slowly lifted the leather cup.

It was completely empty.

Everyone stared at the empty cup in stunned silence.

After a few agonizing seconds, someone whispered from the back of the room.

"A blind bet... that is an automatic loss."

I forced a smile onto my face and looked at Maya.

"I never even intended to beat you. Why were you treating me like I was the enemy?"

Maya choked on her words.

She stared at the empty cup, finally realizing what she had just done.

She reached her hand out, desperately trying to grab my arm.

"I... I just did not want you to lose..."

But you already made me lose. I lost everything.

I dodged her hand.

Maya's hand froze in midair, but then she forced a laugh.

"I know how much you wanted this wedding. But it is just three years, right? Do you really have that little faith in our relationship?"

"You aren't worried you are going to change your mind in three years, are you? Because I wouldn't change my mind even if it took ten."

I let out a harsh, involuntary laugh.

In just a few sentences, she had perfectly twisted the narrative to make it sound like I was the one who was not committed enough.

Seeing the atmosphere spiraling out of control, someone finally stood up to break the tension.

"Alright, alright, it is past 3 AM. Let's just call it a night, guys."

Everyone practically sprinted for the door, looking completely relieved.

Maya helped Logan to his feet and turned to me.

"I am going to drop him off at his place first, then I will take you home. It is on the way."

I smiled faintly.

"No thanks. I am getting a ride with Chloe."

Maya opened her mouth to argue.

But Chloe had already stepped into the elevator, holding the doors open, and called out to me.

"Liam, let's go."

I walked quickly into the elevator and left with her.

The next morning, I woke up to a brutal hangover and my phone ringing off the hook.

"Liam, what the hell are we supposed to tell the venue?"

"Liam, your uncle just called me. Is this wedding actually happening or not?"

"You idiot, why did you suddenly cancel the wedding? Get over here right now and explain yourself!"

My head was splitting open.

I sat frozen on the edge of the bed for a long time before I finally accepted that last night was not a nightmare.

The wedding I had been dreaming about for seven years was actually gone, entirely destroyed by a stupid guessing game.

I rubbed my temples and opened my messages.

99+ unread notifications.

I tapped on a voice memo from Logan.

"Liam... what was said last night is final. Deal with it."

Right below that was a text from Chloe.

"I left some sliced apples on the counter for your hangover. Do not forget what you promised. A bet is a bet."

But Maya's chat history was completely blank.

Someone had posted a group photo on Instagram last night with the caption, "Happy Birthday, to a night we will never forget!"

It had a warm, vintage filter. Everyone was smiling.

I was standing in front of the birthday cake, the candlelight illuminating my face. I looked like I was actually happy.

Someone commented below the photo, "When is the wedding getting rescheduled?"

The guy who posted the picture replied, "Haha, classified information!"

I took a deep breath and dialed Maya's number.

"Liam?"

In the background, I could clearly hear Logan's voice.

"Maya, my head is killing me..."

Before I could say a word, Maya started speaking rapidly.

"Hey, can you handle telling your parents about the delay? Oh, and take care of canceling the venue too. I will cover whatever the penalty fee is."

"I am completely tied up right now. Logan threw up a few times and his stomach is still wrecked. I am taking him to urgent care for an IV."

Not a single word of apology.

She just naturally assumed that I would do exactly what I had done for the past seven years.

Unconditionally support her and clean up the mess she left behind.

"Fine."

I gave a quiet response and hung up the phone.

I pulled an empty cardboard box from the closet and started packing away everything that had to do with Maya.

The scrapbook she stayed up all night making for our anniversary in college.

It still held the dried rose petals she gave me junior year.

When I brushed against them, they crumbled into red dust.

The first pair of matching coffee mugs we ever made at a pottery class.

The bottom still had her messy handwriting carving out 'M & L'.

The glaze had completely faded.

And then there was the custom emerald ring.

Senior year, our friend group pooled our money to hit a gemstone auction.

She fought against everyone's advice, insisting on buying this ugly, black, heavy rock that nobody else wanted.

I emptied my entire savings account and gave her the cash to buy it.

The moment they cut the stone open, she practically tackled me to the ground, kissing me in pure excitement.

"Liam, I am going to use this emerald to make the most incredible ring just for you."

"Jewelry is about eternity, and you are my most priceless treasure."

Seven years. Over two thousand, five hundred days.

I honestly thought we had already won the game.

I never imagined she would casually throw our entire future onto a betting table.

I tossed every single item into the cardboard box.

I dragged it all the way down to the lobby.

The building's cleaning lady gasped when she saw it.

"Young man, are you sure you are throwing this away? Some of this is really nice stuff!"

I gave her a calm, peaceful smile.

"I am sure."

"I do not need any of this anymore. If you want it, it is all yours."

The woman thanked me profusely and took the box.

I pulled the custom engagement ring off my finger and dropped it right on top of the pile.

"Oh, by the way, you can have this too."

The woman froze, staring at me in absolute disbelief.

I hailed a cab and headed straight for the wedding venue.

When the event manager saw me walk in alone, he looked confused.

"Mr. Miller, are you here by yourself?"

I nodded.

"Yeah... my fianc is busy contacting all the relatives to let them know about the date change."

The manager's face lit up in understanding, and he nodded eagerly.

"Oh, so it is just a date change! I was worried you were canceling altogether. What date are we moving it to? I will get the paperwork ready right now."

"The day after tomorrow. Thank you."

When I walked out of the hotel lobby, the midday sun was blinding.

I looked up at the endless blue sky.

I felt a massive, suffocating weight finally lift off my chest.

This seven year fever dream.

I was finally awake.

When I got home that evening, Maya was already sitting on my sofa, waiting for me.

I stopped in my tracks.

"What are you doing here?"

Maya's brow was deeply furrowed, and her voice was tight with barely suppressed rage.

"The venue called me. They said you did not cancel the wedding, you just pushed it back by two days?"

So that was why she was here.

I looked down and slowly took off my shoes.

"Yeah. But I already wired the deposit money back to your account."

She clamped her jaw shut, looking like she was trying desperately to keep her temper in check.

But finally, she snapped.

"You really cannot wait three more years?"

"Liam, is your entire existence just revolving around marrying me? Are you terrified no one else is going to want you?"

She stood up and closed the distance between us.

"We are in the gem business. Logan and the guys take luck incredibly seriously."

"Our company has been running perfectly. If we hit a bad streak now, everyone is going to blame us for backing out of a bet."

"I have sheltered you from reality for way too long. Do you think building this company was easy? Why can't you just be mature about this?"

She practically spat the words out before storming toward the front door.

"I am not answering any more calls from that venue. You cancel the wedding yourself. Because if you do not, you are going to be the idiot standing at the altar with no bride."

"I am flying to Denver tomorrow with Logan and the team for a major auction. I will be gone for a week. Use that time to calm down and get your head straight."

The door slammed shut behind her.

I stood in the entryway, listening to her footsteps fade down the hallway.

I walked over to the electronic lock.

I deleted our anniversary date from the keypad and reset the password to my own birthday.

The next morning, Maya actually called me.

"Liam, I am at the airport. I have about an hour before I need to clear security. Do you want to come... see me off?"

In the past, every single time she left the city, I was there to drop her off and pick her up. It did not matter if there was a blizzard outside.

"I can't. I have plans today."

There was a noticeable pause on the line before her tone softened just a fraction.

"I was a little emotional last night, so do not take what I said too seriously. I promise, the second you turn thirty, I am going to throw you the most incredible wedding."

"And what happens if Logan decides he wants to place another bet that day?"

The line went completely dead.

When she finally spoke, her voice was laced with deep irritation.

"Liam, you are still fixating on that."

"I am not fixating on it. I am just saying, if a stupid party game is more important to you than a vow, you should never make a vow in the first place."

Another heavy, suffocating silence.

I called her name quietly.

"Maya."

"What?"

In the background, I could hear the massive roar of jet engines spooling up on the tarmac.

I smiled faintly and spoke softly into the receiver.

"I just wanted to thank you for the last seven years."

Over the deafening noise of the engines, she sounded confused.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing," I replied calmly. "Maya, have a safe flight."

"Okay." She hesitated, as if sensing something was fundamentally wrong, and tried to offer some reassurance.

"Liam, do not worry, I will never..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Logan's whiny voice cut through the background noise.

"Maya, come on, they are printing the boarding passes!"

I pressed the end call button.

I opened my phone, scrolled to the group chat with Maya's entire family, and tapped 'Delete and Leave Group'.

My phone rang again immediately. It was Chloe.

"I am downstairs," her voice was low and steady.

"The wedding is tomorrow. Get down here so we can go fit your tuxedo."

"I am on my way."

I grabbed my jacket and walked out the door, feeling lighter than I had in years.

That evening, in a luxury hotel suite in Denver.

One of Maya's partners, Kevin, was sprawled out on the lobby sofa scrolling through his phone. Suddenly, he sat bolt upright.

"Holy shit!"

He shoved his phone directly in Maya's face.

"Maya! Liam just posted on Instagram! He is getting married tomorrow!"

Maya rubbed her temples, looking completely exhausted.

"Let him."

"I am not flying back. Let's see how exactly he plans to get married without me."

Kevin started stammering, beads of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

"The bride is... the bride is..."

"Look, just read it yourself."

He did not have the nerve to say it out loud, so he practically shoved the phone into her hands.

Maya's eyes casually swept across the screen, and then completely froze.

Her pupils shrank to pinpricks.

She shot up from the sofa, completely ignoring Logan shouting her name in confusion from across the lobby.

She bolted out the glass doors of the hotel like an absolute maniac.