My Family Gave My Wedding to Their Favorite GirlChapter 1

At my engagement party, my brother dumps a bucket of dirty water over my head for Vanessa’s livestream prank.

“One thing I never told you,” Ethan says, grinning as muddy water runs down my face. “I’ve always thought you looked cute when you were a mess.”

Laughter breaks out around the room.

I stand frozen beneath the lights, my makeup ruined after three hours in the chair.

Before I can wipe my eyes, Mom reaches for a pair of scissors.

“One thing I never told you,” she says. “I’ve always preferred you with short hair.”

My stomach drops.

“Mom, wait—”

The scissors close beside my ear.

A thick section of hair falls over my shoulder and lands at my feet.

I’ve been growing it for nearly ten years.

My eyes burn, but Sophie is already stepping forward.

My best friend since middle school smiles at the camera Vanessa has hidden somewhere behind the curtain.

“One thing I never told you? I think you take clothes way too seriously.”

She grabs the side of the dress I designed for tonight.

“Sophie, don’t.”

The fabric tears before I can stop her.

A second rip follows.

By the time I manage to pull away, the dress hangs open at my side, leaving me scrambling to cover myself with both hands.

The room is full of people I love.

Not one of them stops laughing.

Then Adrian walks toward me.

Relief hits so fast it almost hurts.

He takes my hand and helps me upright.

For one stupid second, I think he’s finally going to end this.

Instead, he gives me a light push backward.

“One thing I never told you,” he says with a smile, “I love how easy you are to fool.”

The curtain behind me drops.

Vanessa stands there holding a camera.

“Surprise!”

She beams at the livestream.

“My latest series is called ‘Pranking the Person Everyone Finds Most Annoying.’ We took a vote.”

She turns the camera toward me.

“And Claire won by a landslide.”

The live chat moves too fast to read at first.

Then individual comments start catching my eye.

She really just stood there and took it?

No wonder they picked her.

Vanessa is too nice. At least she gave her some attention.

I look at Mom.

At Ethan.

At Sophie.

Then at Adrian.

No one looks ashamed.

Adrian takes off his jacket and drapes it around my shoulders.

“There. Better?”

My throat tightens.

Vanessa laughs. “Claire, say hi to everyone. They love you.”

I knock the camera aside.

Not hard enough to break it, but enough that Vanessa gasps as though I slapped her.

“Claire,” Adrian warns.

Sophie quickly steps between us.

“Come on. It was a joke.”

Ethan appears beside her carrying a cake.

“Exactly. Don’t ruin the rest of the night.”

I look down.

Gold lettering stretches across the strawberry frosting.

Congratulations on the new series, Vanessa. We love you.

For a second, nobody speaks.

Sophie’s smile falters.

“Oh.”

Ethan glances at her.

“Wrong cake.”

“Right. Obviously.” Sophie laughs too quickly. “That one’s for Vanessa. Yours is over there.”

She brings out another cake.

Smaller.

Plain white frosting. Barely decorated.

My name is squeezed across the top as if someone added it at the last minute.

Before I can say anything, Mom places a hand on the back of my head.

“Smile for the camera, Claire.”

Then she shoves my face into the cake.

Everyone bursts out laughing.

Vanessa nearly doubles over.

“Oh my God, Margaret! That was perfect.”

Ethan smears another handful of frosting across my cheek.

“The viewers voted for the cake smash.”

The itching starts almost immediately.

My throat follows.

I jerk upright.

“What flavor is this?”

Sophie’s face changes.

Vanessa answers first.

“Mango.”

I stare at her.

Everyone in this room knows I have a severe mango allergy.

Adrian’s smile finally disappears.

“Vanessa.”

“What?” She looks startled. “I forgot.”

My skin is already burning.

“You forgot?”

“I said I forgot.”

She turns the camera toward herself.

“Guys, relax. Claire always gets dramatic about everything.”

Adrian pulls a pill bottle from his pocket.

He waits until Vanessa ends the livestream before handing it to me.

“I told her this part was too much.”

I stare at him.

“You knew?”

“I told her not to use mango.” He presses the medication into my palm. “Take this before your face swells. You’ll worry about the wedding photos later.”

Something cold settles in my chest.

Not because Vanessa did this.

Not because Ethan laughed.

Not because Mom cut my hair or Sophie tore my dress.

Because Adrian knew enough to bring my allergy medication.

He expected something to happen.

He just came prepared to fix it afterward.

I take off my engagement ring.

Adrian frowns.

“Claire?”

I place it on the table.

“There won’t be any wedding photos.”

His face goes still.

“What are you talking about?”

“The wedding is off.”

Mom scoffs.

“Oh, for God’s sake. Don’t start.”

Vanessa lowers the camera.

“Claire, seriously? You’re calling off your wedding over a prank?”

I look at all of them.

For once, I don’t explain.

I turn and walk out.

Behind me, Mom’s voice follows me into the hall.

“Let her go. She’ll calm down when she stops being dramatic.”

Outside, my hands are shaking so badly I almost drop my phone.

I open a conversation I haven’t touched in years.

For a long moment, I stare at the last message Daniel ever sent me.

If you ever need me, call.

My fingers hover over the screen.

Then I type.

You once said you’d wait for me. Does that still stand?

The reply comes almost immediately.

Always.

【Word Count: 918】