I crashed the wrong wedding, snagged three envelopes of cash during the games, and ended up brawling with the groomsmen. One of the groomsmen was incredibly handsome, and I definitely hit him the hardest. But after the reception, that same groomsman blocked my exit. "Are you on the bride's side or the groom's side?" he asked. I thought about it for a second. "The bride's side. I’m the step-niece of her brother-in-law's great-uncle." The groomsman laughed. "Then you should be on the groom's side. But unfortunately for you, I’m the bride’s brother-in-law, and I definitely don't have a great-uncle." 1 This weekend, my mom forced me to attend the wedding of some distant relative. She was too busy with her weekly bridge game to go herself. I told her to just Venmo the wedding gift money, but she looked at me with wide, innocent eyes. "They’re too old-school for Venmo, sweetie. They don't even have the app." I tried to refuse again, but she used her ultimate mom-logic: "We already committed the money! If you don't go and at least eat the food, we're losing out!" Thinking about it, she wasn't wrong. Plus, I didn't have lunch plans anyway, so I headed over early. Because I got there so early, I actually ended up tagging along with the bridal party for the "door games"—a tradition where the bridesmaids block the door and the groomsmen have to bribe or fight their way in to get the bride. At the hotel where the wedding party was getting ready, I was waiting around bored when a group of enthusiastic older aunts grabbed me, dragged me downstairs, and shoved me into a car to join the chaotic bridal procession. Among the groomsmen, there was this one guy who stood out. He had strong, dark eyebrows and striking eyes. He was easily six-foot-two and incredibly noticeable. I followed that handsome face all the way up the stairs and into the bridal suite. The bridesmaids were blocking the bedroom door, demanding red envelopes full of cash. The groomsmen were simultaneously shoving money under the door and throwing their shoulders against the wood. The groom’s side had two guys who were built like linebackers. They hit the door with a combined charge, completely misjudging their own strength. The door literally flew off its hinges. The bridesmaids screamed and scattered. Luckily, no one was hurt. But the girls were definitely not happy. The planned, organized games were thrown out the window, and they immediately grabbed their inflatable squeaky hammers and started swinging. I was just standing on the sidelines watching the chaos when, suddenly— The handsome groomsman reached out a long arm, grabbed my shoulder, and yanked me directly in front of him. Before I could even process what was happening, an inflatable hammer smacked me square on the head. It didn't hurt, but being used as a human shield was highly insulting. In that instant, I switched sides and fully joined the bridal defense squad. I grabbed a dropped inflatable hammer off the floor and started wailing on the groomsmen. Naturally, my primary target was the handsome jerk who used me as a meat shield. 2 Maybe my performance was just too stellar, but I successfully integrated into the bride's squad. For the rest of the morning's events, I enthusiastically participated alongside the bridesmaids, tormenting the group of guys. And of course. My main focus remained tormenting the best-looking guy in the room. When he was forced to push his face through a sheet of plastic wrap held up in a frame, I perfectly timed my phone camera to capture the exact moment his face was hilariously squished and distorted. Finally, during the scramble, I managed to snag three red envelopes full of cash. Maybe it's just easy for young people to bond, but by the time the door games were over, I was basically best friends with the bridesmaids, running around helping them with last-minute details. Then, we headed to the actual wedding venue. Because there were so many people in the wedding party, only the Maid of Honor and Best Man rode in the lead car. The rest of us were dispersed among the following vehicles in the motorcade. I deliberately lingered in the back, picking the car with the fewest people to hop into. However... I ended up in the passenger seat, and the driver was none other than the groomsman from earlier. The 6'2", dark-eyebrowed, strikingly handsome guy. ...Is this guy a professional freelancer or something? A groomsman and a chauffeur? Obviously, the handsome guy remembered me too. Our eyes met. He smirked. "Did you have fun hitting me earlier?" 3 I offered an awkward, sheepish smile. "Just playing the part, you know? Sticking to the script." Thankfully, the motorcade started moving right then. He pulled his gaze back and put the car in drive. We were the very last car in the line, and we didn't pick up any other passengers before the lead car pulled out. The ride was silent. The handsome guy was giving off a very aloof vibe. Aside from asking me if the AC temperature was okay, he didn't make a peep. But halfway through the drive, his phone, resting on the center console, started ringing. I subconsciously glanced over. The screen flashed with three bold words: "The Ex". He glanced at it, and saw that I saw it. "Can you answer that for me?" He kept one hand casually on the steering wheel, his voice flat. "Do me a favor. Tell her you're my girlfriend." "What's in it for me?" "I'll give you two more red envelopes later." I immediately answered the phone and softened my voice to a sweet purr. "Hello? Who is this?" The line was silent for two seconds before a screeching roar blasted through the speaker: "Who the hell are you?! Tell Liam to get his ass on the phone right now!" Good lord. Her scream made my ear ring for a solid five seconds. "I'm so sorry, Liam is asleep right now." I smiled, intentionally making my voice sound husky and breathless. "He was just so incredible earlier, he's a little exhausted right now. Whatever it is, you can tell him tomorrow." With that, I hung up the phone. But right before I hit the red button, I added one last sentence: "Actually, don't bother calling tomorrow either. I won't let him answer." The handsome guy—Liam—turned his head to look at me. He was smirking, his tone deeply suggestive: "How exactly was I 'incredible' earlier?" 4 ...This guy. Asking questions he already knows the answer to. I just helped him block his crazy ex, and he turns around and flirts with me? No good deed goes unpunished. I ignored him. While he was stopped at a red light, I flipped the phone in my hand and tossed it back onto the console— A perfect, flawless toss. It landed directly on his lap. Right in the danger zone. Liam let out a muffled groan, his thighs instantly snapping shut, his face turning pale. "Are you going to pay for it if you broke it..." I leaned against the window, smiling brightly, and pointed ahead. "Light's green. Drive." Liam grumbled under his breath and hit the gas. We pulled up to the reception venue and got out of the car together. Liam didn't forget he was still a groomsman. He adjusted his suit jacket, preparing to head inside. "Hey." I couldn't help myself, calling out to stop him. Liam paused and turned to look at me. "That bridesmaid with the long, straight black hair. Is she your girlfriend?" I clasped my hands behind my back, twisting my fingers together. Earlier, I had noticed that when we were all aggressively hammering Liam, that specific bridesmaid had quietly stepped in to shield him. Even though it was chaotic, I still caught the tender look in her eyes. Plus, she was easily the most beautiful bridesmaid in the group. Liam froze for a second, then his lips curved up. "No. Just a friend." He finished speaking and raised an eyebrow. "Come on. Let's go get some food." 5 Inside the hotel ballroom. I found a quiet corner and sat at a relatively empty table, waiting for the reception to officially start. Before sitting down, I had stopped by the welcome table to drop off the wedding gift money. Since the familial connection was so incredibly distant, my mom had instructed me to just leave $200. The rest of the events unfolded like any standard American wedding. The bride walked down the aisle on her father's arm. The father handed her over to another man and gave a speech. The emotional tone and heartfelt words had people in the audience wiping away tears. The only part of the ceremony that caught my attention was when the groomsmen and bridesmaids walked down the aisle in pairs. That beautiful bridesmaid with the long black hair clearly wanted to walk with Liam. But when it was their turn, Liam subtly shifted his weight, pushing the buddy standing behind him forward. Under the gaze of all the guests, the bridesmaid had no choice but to press her lips together and walk down the aisle with the guy who had been shoved forward. A moment later, on the dais, Liam's gaze swept over the crowd and landed lightly on me. Then, the corner of his mouth ticked upward into a smirk. In that moment, sitting at the very back table in the corner, looking at that smiling face on the stage... My heart did a quiet, unexpected flutter. 6 The ceremony ended, and the reception dinner began. Since I didn't know a single person at my table, I just kept my head down and focused on the food. I have to admit, the catering at this hotel was fantastic. As I gnawed on a short rib, I silently thought to myself: When I get married, I'm booking this place. That way, after the ceremony, I can eat an amazing meal. Fully stuffed and satisfied, I let out a small burp, grabbed a napkin to elegantly wipe my mouth, and decided that since I paid my $200 and didn't know anyone, it was time to bounce. However— The moment I stood up, someone blocked my path. It was him. Liam. He had one hand resting on the back of my chair, a smirk on his lips. His relaxed, confident posture made it seem like he had been waiting for me for a while. "Full?" I subconsciously wiped the corner of my mouth again. "Yeah." Thinking about it, I tried to salvage my image. "I actually have a very small appetite usually." Liam's smile widened. "Yeah. I can tell." He didn't say anything else, just stood there smiling, looking at me. His gaze was making my heart race. I tried to sidestep him to leave, but he blocked me again. Liam leaned down slightly. "I still haven't figured it out yet. Are you here for the bride, or for the groom?" I thought about it for a second. "The bride's side. I’m the step-niece of her brother-in-law's great-uncle." Liam laughed. "Then you should be on the groom's side. But unfortunately for you, I’m the bride’s brother-in-law, and I definitely don't have a great-uncle." I froze. No... great-uncle? I didn't make that relationship up. My mom drilled it into me this morning. In case anyone asked at the wedding, I had basically memorized it like a script. Our eyes met. Liam's gaze was sincere; he didn't look like he was lying at all. Panic set in. I quickly pulled out my phone and dialed my mom. To confirm the relationship, I asked, and my mom replied in a serious tone: "Chloe, the groom's last name is Davis. You didn't go to the wrong venue, did you? ... Gin Rummy! I win!" Ignoring the triumphant roar at the end of her sentence, I slowly turned my head to look at Liam. "What's the groom's last name?" Liam raised an eyebrow. "The groom is my older brother. So his last name is also Sterling." ...I'm dead. Before my mom could start yelling at me over the phone, I hung up, snapped back to reality, and sprinted toward the doors. Behind me, Liam called out in confusion, "Where are you going?!" Where am I going? I'm going to get my two hundred dollars back, obviously! 7 However... I failed. The welcome table refused to give the money back, and I was too embarrassed to make a scene since it was my own stupid mistake. But I was incredibly depressed. Two weddings, same hotel. The only difference was that one was in Ballroom A, and the other was in Ballroom B. I stood by the lobby doors and texted my mom: "You didn't give a gift to that distant relative, did you?" My mom replied almost instantly: "Do you want me to cut off your allowance for next month?" ...I bowed my head to the reality of needing to survive. I ran over to Ballroom B, dropped another $200 in their card box, and walked out feeling completely defeated. I was supposed to use my mom's "company dime" to score a free meal, and instead, I was out two hundred bucks. As I walked out of the banquet hall, Liam's figure appeared in my line of sight again. He was highly amused. "What, did you crash the wrong wedding?" I refused to admit defeat. "The party over there was too boring. I came over here on purpose to see the action." Liam chuckled, pulled something out of his jacket pocket, and tossed it toward me. I scrambled to catch it. It was two red envelopes. He raised an eyebrow. "The red envelopes I promised you. Keep them." These kinds of envelopes usually only had a few bucks in them anyway, so I didn't refuse and stuffed them into my purse. I let out a heavy sigh, preparing to leave this place of heartbreak. But my path was blocked by Liam again. He pulled out his phone and held it in front of me. "Let's exchange numbers. You started helping me, you might as well finish it. I might need your help dealing with my ex again." "What's in it for me?" Liam smiled. "More envelopes?" "Deal!" I quickly added his number. Honestly, the money wasn't the main draw. Mostly, I just wanted an excuse to keep talking to a hot guy. After saving my number, Liam put his phone away. "Come on. I'll drive you home." However, I followed Liam toward the hotel exit, and just as we were about to walk through the doors, he slammed on the brakes. I almost crashed into his back. I looked up to see Liam lowering his voice. "Girl, I got a situation." ?? I was completely confused. Then, I saw Liam nod slightly toward the front, and I followed his gaze. Standing a few yards ahead was a girl, arms crossed over her chest, looking very slender. Liam gently grabbed my hand. His palm was warm. "That's my ex. The real one. She's fierce." 8 The hand Liam was holding trembled slightly. What the hell is this? I just collected two measly envelopes, and the client is already demanding service? And... This guy is holding my hand, pretending we're some passionately in love couple, and he didn't even bother to tell me how "fierce" this ex of his is? I swallowed hard, silently studying the girl in front of us. Tsk. She has twig arms and legs. She can't possibly cause that much trouble, right? I was wrong. Liam was right. His ex... was terrifyingly fierce. The slender girl marched straight up to us, her sharp gaze sweeping over our joined hands. Her opening line was a nuke: "Liam Sterling, I haven't agreed to a breakup yet. This is cheating! You better believe I'm going to ruin you!" "You're a three-minute-man, and you have the nerve to cheat?!" Hold up. That is a lot of information. I instantly looked at Liam, my eyes full of questions. He looked back at me, his face and neck completely red with anger. He didn't say a single word, but his eyes clearly screamed: "I AM NOT!" As Liam frowned and stated they had been broken up for six months, and that he now had a new girlfriend, the girl didn't say another word. She just raised her hand and swung a massive slap directly at my face! Me: ?? I didn't even say anything! If you're going to slap someone, slap Liam! With ninja-like reflexes, I grabbed Liam's arm and yanked him forcefully in front of me. SMACK! The crisp sound of a slap echoed loudly. 9 That aim. That power... I swallowed hard, finally believing what Liam had said earlier. This was a life-or-death situation. How could I possibly fight someone who just throws hands like that? So, I did the only thing I could. I secretly pinched my own thigh hard, and my eyes instantly welled up with tears. Since she was playing the violent psycho, I had to play the innocent victim. With tears in my eyes, I turned and grabbed the arms of a few older ladies who had stopped to watch the drama. "Ma'am, look at them. They broke up six months ago, but she constantly stalks my boyfriend. And today she just runs up and hits him..." My leg was throbbing from the pinch, and tears streamed down my face. "Ma'am, who bullies people like this? Look what she did to my boyfriend..." I pointed at the bright red handprint swelling on Liam's cheek. Sure enough, the nosy, good-hearted older women were instantly outraged and began scolding Liam's ex. You do not mess with American grandmas. When it comes to public shaming and street-level debate, they absolutely obliterated Liam's feral ex-girlfriend. The women were loud, and their scolding quickly drew a crowd of onlookers. And then— I used the chaos to grab Liam and run. Are you kidding me? Did you think I was going to stand there and wait to get slapped again?
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