Part 1My Fiancé's "Bro" Tested Our Marriage Bed

On the eve of Valentine's Day, my fiancé, who works at a classified government agency, sent me a text.

[Baby, I'm so sorry. The team got called out on an emergency mission, and my wedding leave has been canceled again.]

The moment I received this message...

I was standing less than thirty feet from the main gate of his agency.

With my own eyes, I watched his female "bro," Mia, slip inside his winter coat.

He laughed and ruffled her hair.

"Just to satisfy your sick sense of humor, I've stood Chloe up six times now."

"This is the absolute last time. Next year, no matter what, I'm marrying her."

Mia laughed and offered him a sip of the boba tea she had been drinking.

"Didn't you guys just buy a new mattress for the wedding? I'm going to help her 'test it out.'"

"No need to thank me, just consider it an early wedding gift."

Hearing this, I dug my fingernails so hard into my palms that they almost bled. I dialed Liam's parents' number.

[Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, let's get everyone together and decorate the new house tonight.]

[Yeah, I mostly just want to give Liam a huge surprise.]

Since he wanted to be shameless.

He couldn't blame me for burning everything to the ground.

* * *

[Let's keep the fact that we're all in Seattle a secret from Liam for now.]

[Okay, I'll wait for you guys downstairs at the apartment complex.]

After hanging up the phone.

I opened the app for the security cameras I had just installed yesterday.

On the screen, they were tangled together, stumbling all the way from the entryway into the master bedroom.

I saw the lucky charm I had once prayed so hard to get for him...

Now lying discarded, broken in half amidst a pile of scattered clothes.

My body went stiff, letting the freezing wind bite into me.

It didn't take long for both sets of parents and our relatives to arrive.

Before they even got close, my parents hurried over, full of anticipation.

"How is it, Chloe? Did you see Liam yet?"

"Don't worry, your grandpa just called his agency director."

"Even if the sky falls tomorrow, his team won't be calling him out on any emergency missions."

I fought back the overwhelming urge to break down.

I forced a smile for them.

"Okay."

"Chloe, didn't you say you wanted to surprise Liam?"

"What are we waiting for? Let's head up and start decorating."

Seeing the bright red balloons and streamers in my family's hands.

My nose stung, and I let the tears spill from my eyes.

I've known Liam for ten years, we've been dating for eight, and we agreed to get married six years ago.

Six years ago, exactly one month before our wedding...

He said he wanted to run for team leader, so I agreed to postpone the wedding for a year.

Three years ago, exactly one week before our wedding...

He said he had to go on a classified mission. I agreed to postpone the wedding for another year.

Until this year, when both sets of parents finally lost their patience.

Three days ago, we brought all our relatives and friends...

Arriving early in the city where his agency is located to prepare for the wedding.

But I never, ever would have guessed.

The home I spent six years carefully designing and furnishing.

Every piece of furniture, every inch of the floorboards...

Had been claimed by his female "bro," Mia, first.

The thought made my stomach churn.

I rushed to a nearby trash can and threw up for a long time.

I wanted to tell them. I wanted to tell everyone.

Just half an hour ago.

Liam personally texted me to say...

The wedding scheduled for tomorrow was being postponed for another year.

I wanted to tell my parents that Liam had betrayed me.

For six years, every time he lied about his wedding leave being canceled...

He was actually messing around with his female "bro," Mia.

But I found my throat felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't squeeze out a single word, couldn't make a single sound.

As I walked into the apartment building, I chugged a bottle of freezing cold water.

"Liam, it's time you got a taste of what it's like to be played for a fool."

As soon as everyone stepped off the elevator.

They saw a pair of women's shoes and a coat scattered in the hallway.

Seeing me awkwardly kicking the clothes toward the wall...

Liam's mother covered her nose and chuckled knowingly.

She unlocked the door with a knowing smile.

At the exact same moment, heavy, indescribable panting came from the master bedroom.

"Liam... this bed is pretty comfortable."

"When you're doing it with Chloe here in the future, are you going to think of me?"

"We should change the sofa to leather; the fabric one scratches my skin when we're on it."

Hearing this, everyone's expressions froze.

It was as if someone had cast a freezing spell on them.

No one stepped closer to see what was happening.

And no one made a sound.

I forced my legs, which felt like they weighed a thousand pounds, to move.

I picked up the lucky charm, shattered in two, from the pile of scattered lingerie and shirts.

Even though I had prepared myself mentally for this...

Actually being in the moment, I still acted as cowardly as a child who had done something wrong.