Chapter 4

Not a single missed call on my phone. Only the group chat, the one that was always dead quiet, blowing up nonstop.

The second I tapped in, it was like a bucket of ice water poured over me from head to foot.

Cordelia had posted the private video of me and Ethan straight into the chat.

"Damn, that's wild. Can't believe Zoey actually agreed to film something like this with Ethan. I can even see that mole on her body, clear as day. Legend!!"

"Man, Zoey used to have a killer body. Ethan really ate well back then!"

"God, after watching this I'm never gonna be able to look Zoey in the eye again!"

The chat kept going, message after message, and through it all Ethan and Cordelia said nothing.

Just as people started guessing whether Cordelia had finally gone too far and Ethan had actually fallen out with her—

Cordelia dropped another video.

Ethan, chasing after her, roughhousing.

"Daddy! I'll be your slave for a whole month, just hurry up and delete the video!"

The picture shook, but you could still see he wasn't the least bit angry.

Cordelia refused to delete it, and in the end Ethan gave in and spoke up in the group.

"Damn it, you've all seen my wife naked. I've got nowhere to put this anger, so anybody who breathes a single word of this outside can consider us done!"

The chat started egging them on.

Line after line of suggestive comments filled the screen, until someone suddenly said,

"You think Zoey's watching this right now?"

Only then did the rest realize I was in the group too.

"Oh crap! Wrong chat, Zoey's in this one too!"

The next second, I was kicked out.

Tears dropped onto the phone screen in fat splashes, my hands shaking so hard I could barely hold it.

That was the video from the first time Ethan and I got together, the one he'd coaxed me into filming.

He said he wanted to keep it as a memory, to treasure forever.

I agreed, and I believed in that so-called treasure.

Believed in it right up until this moment, when I felt like a clown stripped bare.

Laid out naked in front of everyone, for them to watch, laugh at, and mock.

Ethan, who hadn't answered a single call, finally called.

"Are you... at the hospital?"

"You didn't check your phone earlier?"

I gave a soft "mm."

He let out a breath.

"Babe, I was fixing the shower for Cordelia just now, didn't hear your calls. What's up, something wrong at the checkup?"

I opened my mouth. My voice came out hoarse. "Nothing's wrong."

Ethan tossed off a couple of casual reminders and hung up.

I took a deep breath.

I didn't want Ethan anymore.

Not for one more second.

I contacted a lawyer and had the divorce agreement drafted.

Then, once I'd recovered enough in the hospital to stand, I went straight to the wedding venue to cancel the booking.

But when I got there, the front desk told me the wedding, six months out, had been switched to another couple.

And the date had been moved up to tomorrow.

I opened Cordelia's feed, quick and practiced.

Sure enough, she'd posted something new.

In the photo she was in a wedding dress, Ethan down on one knee, gazing up at her.

Caption:

"Aww~ so touched! To make it up to me, my boy is actually going to grant my little wish to play wedding house!"

Ethan had replied to her, all tenderness.

"As long as you're happy. Tomorrow we'll do the whole ceremony, make a thing of it, invite everyone."

I stood there, the world spinning around me.

And suddenly I understood, clear and complete, exactly what kind of scum I'd thrown everyone and everything away to chase.

I closed my eyes.

Since it was a wedding.

How could it go without well-wishes.

I called Ethan's parents and told them the wedding had been moved up to tomorrow.

Told them to notify every relative to rush over overnight.

After that I contacted all of Ethan's bosses and coworkers, inviting them to come enjoy the free reception.

The next day, not long after Ethan left the house, I went to the venue too.

While I stopped everyone at the door, I started a livestream.

The title read—

"My husband's about to marry his girl buddy, so I brought the family and friends along to enjoy the feast."

A title like that pulled in a crowd of viewers instantly.

"What's going on here, a live cheating catch?!"

"Juicy. Think a fight's gonna break out?!"

Smiling, I lifted the camera and turned to the group of baffled people behind me.

"Today's ceremony is a little special. I've got a surprise ready for everyone."

When I led the whole crowd through the doors, the wedding had just reached the vows and the kiss.

The two at the center of the stage were kissing like they couldn't bear to part.

I took out a brass gong, struck it a few times, and raised my voice.

"Ethan! The people you forgot to invite to your wedding, I've brought them all for you!"