My girlfriend always avoided meeting my parents. However, she then played the role of the perfect bride-to-be for her ex-boyfriend, meeting his relatives. And where does she meet them? In the very house I bought as our future home. What she didn’t expect was that I was actually a distant cousin of her ex-boyfriend. She pretended not to know me, clinging sweetly to her ex, saying to everyone, “This house was bought by my husband, paid in full.” All the guests praised how in love the two of them were. Afraid that I might expose her, my girlfriend came over to warn me. “I’m just helping a friend deal with his parents pressuring him to get married. If you mess this up, we’re done.” I offered her my sincere congratulations. “Since my cousin and I seem to have the same taste in both houses and women, I thought he might like the wedding decorations I’ve bought in bulk. I’ll just give them to you.” That finally made her panic. … [What a coincidence my distant cousin and I have. Our wedding homes are in the same neighborhood, with the exact same floor and apartment number. I must have mixed up the buildings.] I secretly texted my girlfriend, Chloe Garcia, venting about this bizarre situation. Just as I hit send, my distant cousin Brady Shaw emerged from the bedroom, hand in hand with his bride-to-be. The crowd cheered, and the bride shyly covered her face. But I stood there, stunned. Until my mother nudged me with her elbow, and said to me, “Look at your cousin, about to get married. And then look at yourself, always talking about bringing your nonexistent girlfriend home. When are you going to introduce us to someone real?” Mom, you’ve already met her. Standing next to another man, looking bashful—that’s my girlfriend Chloe. But I didn’t say a word. I feared my mom might have a heart attack on the spot. When I entered the neighborhood earlier, I found it amusing that my distant cousin and I were so fated to pick homes in the same area. But as I walked further, it got weirder. The same building, the same floor, and then I realized it was even the same apartment. I had the keys safely stored away at home. There was no way they could’ve been exposed. So I assumed I must’ve confused the buildings. But the moment Chloe stepped out, I knew the truth. This sort of thing could only be done by someone close to me. Because we didn’t guard ourselves against those we love. And that made it easier for her to stab me right where it hurt most. Chloe and Brady were the shining stars in the eyes of the guests now, basking in the spotlight. Brady’s arm was wrapped around Chloe’s waist, and she, as if dissatisfied with the closeness, pulled his arm even tighter. The scene played out before me in slow motion, every detail crystal clear. A mix of bitterness and anger surged within me, overwhelming me like a tidal wave. I wanted to leave. But all I could hear were the guests blessing them. “Brady is so lucky to have found such a beautiful wife. They must live a long and happy life together.” “The bride and Brady are such a perfect match. I heard they’ve been together since college. I even saw their pictures once; they were so in love!” Those words rooted me to the spot. I remembered then that Chloe had a college boyfriend with the last name Shaw. Her friends had teased me about how passionate and unforgettable their love had been. Unforgettable enough to linger until now, it seemed. And here I was, the fool in this twisted play. Chloe and Brady made their way through the guests, greeting each one until they finally reached where I stood. When she saw me, Chloe’s eyes flashed with surprise and guilt, but she quickly masked it, maintaining that bright, bridal smile. It was as if she was really a bride-to-be. She pretended not to know me, turning to speak with others, but she grasped my mom’s hand with a sugary smile. “Thank you, Miss. Please make sure you enjoy yourself today.” My mom, unaware that Chloe was my girlfriend, blessed her with genuine warmth and admiration as a distant relative. “You’re a lucky girl, marrying Brady. He’s such a successful young man, and this wedding home is just wonderful,” said my mom. Chloe, not recognizing my mom, mistook her for one of Brady’s relatives and boasted. “This house was bought by my husband as a gift for me, all paid in full.” “Oh my, how sweet! You’re already calling him your husband,” my mom teased. She gave me a nudge as if to say, “See how it’s done? They’ve already bought a house.” But Mom, the one who bought this house in full was your son.
The soon-to-be bride had finished meeting everyone and was ready to head to the restaurant for the next part of the day. I intended to use an excuse to leave early. But Chloe unexpectedly pulled me aside, leading me into a quiet corner. The warm smile she’d worn earlier vanished, replaced by a scowl as she glared at me as if I were her enemy. “I know what you’re up to. I’m just helping a friend deal with his parents pressuring him to get married. He doesn’t want them to worry—he’s just trying to be a good son. I’m doing a good deed here. If you mess this up, we’re done.” Even though she was the one doing something wrong, she could so easily use the threat of breaking up as if our relationship was just a card she could play whenever she liked. I stared at her in disbelief. “But this is our future home. You’re my girlfriend, Chloe.” Chloe shrugged, indifferent. “I told you, it’s just helping out a friend. He’s under so much pressure from his parents, he can hardly breathe. Besides, I don’t mind, so why should you? If it bothers you that much, we can sell the apartment and buy another one later. I’m not even satisfied with the current décor anyway.” The house she now claimed to be unsatisfied with was the same one she had once proudly shown off, boasting about it as if it were hers. I wondered what Chloe found unsatisfying—was it the house or our relationship? A wave of bitterness churned in my stomach like a strong, black coffee, making me feel nauseous. But she didn’t notice my turmoil. Instead, she glanced down at her phone, smiling secretively at whatever message she received. Then she looked up, threw one last impatient remark at me, and hurried off. “I’m leaving now. Don’t bother coming if you’re going to cause trouble.” I stood there, a bitter smile forming on my lips. How could I leave? If I did, how would I witness your happiness? By the time I arrived at the hotel, they had already started eating. Chloe was seated at a separate table, chatting with some older women. She had always claimed to hate dealing with relatives, yet now she seemed perfectly at ease. I guess that complaint had been meant just for me. Brady, meanwhile, was sitting with a group of younger guests. He’d obviously had a few drinks, his face flushed red as he boasted to those around him. I found an empty seat and sat down, just in time to hear Brady said, “This girl, back in college, she just wouldn’t leave me alone—no matter how hard I tried to shake her off. “I had no choice but to take her in, reluctantly, of course. “And now she insists on getting married. Women are such a hassle.” One of the guys played along. “She must have something special to keep you hooked. Otherwise, why would you stay with her all this time?” Brady smirked and raised his eyebrows at the guy. “You know what I mean, right? It’s all about what happens in bed. She’s so good at it, I just can’t get enough. That’s her real talent.” Brady let out a lewd laugh, giving a thumbs-up. The other men at the table exchanged knowing glances and started laughing, all while sneaking looks in Chloe’s direction. Chloe, noticing the lively atmosphere at our table, waved at us with a cheerful smile. She had no idea that she was the subject of their crude jokes. So this was the girl I’d held dear, the one I’d treasured. I took a deep breath, slowly unclenching the fingers I’d dug into my thigh to keep from reacting. From the moment we started dating, Chloe had never let me touch her. She said she wanted to be sure I was “the one,” and anything intimate would have to wait until after marriage. The things I couldn’t obtain were something others had already tried countless times. I stood up and raised my glass, and suddenly, everyone’s attention was on me. Chloe’s expression immediately darkened. She stared at me, a warning in her eyes. I avoided her gaze and called out loudly to everyone. “Since all the guests are here, I just want to say a few words. “Today is the first time my cousin and I have met, but we really hit it off, almost like old friends. We have so much in common. So, I’ve decided to give him some wedding decorations that I think he’ll appreciate. Wishing them a lifetime of happiness!” The room erupted in applause and congratulations. I added one more thing. “Don’t worry, they’re not second-hand. I haven’t used them.” Chloe’s pupils contracted as she stood up, her expression shifting from anger to fear. She took a step forward as if to come over and explain things to me. But just then, one of the older ladies raised her glass to Chloe, and she hesitated, plastering on a smile as she returned the toast and then sat back down. I shook my head, mocking myself. Then, I turned and walked away alone.
Today was supposed to be a special day for Chloe and me—the day she would finally meet my parents. We had been dating for three years, but every time the day to meet the parents arrived, Chloe always found a way to avoid it. She’d claim she was too nervous, too busy with work, or not feeling well. Once, she even said that the horoscope warned against meeting parents that day. Three months ago, we were the closest we’d ever been to making it happen. My parents dressed in their best clothes and arrived at the restaurant we’d reserved. But Chloe never showed up. My calls went straight to voicemail, and then she sent a brief message: [My friend was in a car accident.] As absurd as that excuse was, I knew she was just avoiding it again. Chloe had once told me that her parents’ divorce left her terrified of marriage. I had only felt sympathy and held her, promising I would wait until she was ready. So, once again, I made excuses for her absence. “I must have told her the wrong time. She had a meeting she couldn’t miss. Next time, I promise.” But my parents no longer believed me. They were convinced I’d invented a girlfriend just to meet their expectation. “Even CEOs of big companies can find ten or twenty minutes to have dinner. What kind of job does your girlfriend have?” I had no answer for that. After three months of cajoling, Chloe finally agreed to meet them again a few days ago. Worried she might change her mind, I scheduled it for this weekend. But yesterday, she told me a friend needed her help with something important. Our meeting was canceled yet again. My mother had given me a knowing look as if she’d expected it all along. “I knew this would happen. You have no plans tomorrow, right? Come with me to a family gathering. There’s a cousin of yours who’s a year younger than you and is about to get married. Maybe you’ll learn what a real bride looks like.” She got her wish, though not in the way either of us imagined. Chloe, who had begged off meeting my parents to help a friend, was now standing beside another man, playing the part of his fiancée in my very own apartment. It turned out that Chloe had no problem meeting someone else’s entire family under the pretense of marriage. I, on the other hand, had been patiently waiting for a woman who was apparently saving her love for someone else. My parents enviously watched other people’s happiness and worried about me. … When we got home, I sat on the couch, unable to shake the day’s events from my mind. I picked up a photo of Chloe and me during happier times, though now our smiles felt hollow. I was deep in thought when I heard the sound of a key turning in the lock. It was late—well past midnight. For a moment, I thought Chloe had come back. But it was Brady who walked through the door, holding a key to my apartment. I wasn’t even surprised. If she’d given him the keys to our wedding apartment, why wouldn’t she have given him the keys to this one? He smiled at me. “I didn’t know you were here, Dominic.” Even though this was my apartment, Brady acted as if I were the intruder. Before I could respond, he scooped up a seemingly drunk Chloe in his arms and carried her inside without a second thought. “Move aside,” he said casually as if he were the one who belonged here. I looked at Chloe, who was barely conscious, and bit back my anger. Brady made himself at home, bringing a blanket from my bedroom to cover Chloe and heading into the kitchen. He was familiar with this house. It seemed he had been here countless times before. The tightness in my chest grew unbearable. Maybe he had been here many times while I was away. I watched as Brady gently gave Chloe some water, a far cry from the man I’d seen earlier at the family gathering, where he casually flaunted her like a prize. Chloe’s awareness slowly returned. And she immediately thanked him, her eyes only on him, not even noticing I was there. “Thank you, Brady.” “I should be the one saying that. You’re okay, so I’ll head out now.” Chloe insisted on walking him to the door, even though she was still unsteady on her feet. Their parting was an elaborate affair, full of unnecessary embraces. It looked like they were in some kind of romantic drama. I stood there, coldly watching their charade. Just as Brady was about to leave, he turned back. “Oh god, I was thinking about apologizing to my cousin. How could I forget it? I’m sorry for borrowing your wedding apartment and girlfriend. You’re not mad, are you?” His words were meant to sound apologetic, but his tone was anything but. There was a clear challenge in his eyes. Before I could say a word, Chloe jumped in to answer for me. “Dominic wouldn’t be upset. You were just trying to keep your parents happy. It was all for them.” Brady chuckled. “Honestly, Chloe, you looked so stunning today. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were still single.” His words were nonsensical, but Chloe blushed all the same, clearly pleased. Brady’s eyes roamed boldly over her, his gaze full of suggestion. And I just stood there, watching them flirt as if I didn’t exist. My gaze gradually turned cold. Finally, Brady seemed ready to leave. But I called after him. “Wait a minute! “Since you’re leaving, take your fiancée with you and get the hell out of my house!” Chloe stared at me in disbelief. “Dominic, what are you saying?”
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