The group chat blew up.

I told them straight.

The wedding was off, but I'd still cover every cost.

After that.

I finished my makeup and came out of the room. Today was supposed to be a happy day, and yet there wasn't a trace of a smile on my parents' faces.

My mother saw the faint red rimming my eyes.

It broke her heart.

"Sweetheart, if you don't want to marry him, don't force yourself through it."

My father rose from the couch.

"If this wedding doesn't happen."

"You're not the one who loses."

"He is—that piece of trash who can't tell what he's throwing away."

"The one who'll regret it."

"That'll be him."

Looking at my parents, so firmly on my side.

I gave a confident little smile. "Mom, Dad, don't worry. There's no way I'd ever shortchange myself."

Before long.

The relatives and friends all arrived.

My girls kept gushing over how beautiful I looked.

But they were puzzled too.

I wasn't wearing a single piece of jewelry.

Once they heard the whole story.

They erupted, cursing him up and down.

One of them even suggested, "Come on, let's storm over there right now and beat the hell out of that scumbag."

"Our girl—the prettiest, richest one of us—was marrying down for him."

"And that greedy fool couldn't even see the treasure in front of him."

"We have to beat him!"

Watching my girls grind their teeth and crack their knuckles.

I laughed and waved them down.

"Christine, don't you dare shortchange yourself."

"When it's time to hit back, you hit back."

"You keep letting things slide, and all it does is let him walk all over you."

"Exactly."

"Today he steals your jewelry to put on some other woman."

"Tomorrow he'll be in some other woman's bed."

"A man like that deserves to get beaten to death!"

When one of them actually made for the kitchen to grab a cleaver.

I hurried to say, "Don't do anything rash. I've got this handled."

A few hours later.

The commotion outside began to build.

Dick, sharp in his suit, marched in with his groomsmen and called out at the top of his voice, "Baby, I've come to take you home!"

Behind him his buddies whooped and egged him on.

Firecrackers cracked and popped without a break.

But set against all their excitement.

Our side was downright eerie.

Every face cold.

Not a flicker of joy anywhere.

Dick climbed the steps, smiling as he pulled out the gift envelopes. "Christine's lovely bridesmaids, here's a little something for you—go treat yourselves, and please, take it easy on me."

My girls reached out and took the envelopes.

Then.

They flung them right back into Dick's face.

Dick froze.

"Who wants your money?"

"Take it and get lost!"

"Our Christine isn't marrying you."

Dick stood there stunned for a few seconds.

Then his face shifted.

But he remembered why he was here—to fetch his bride.

He swallowed his anger and forced a smile. "What's the meaning of this?"

"Ha. You still don't get it?"

"You're not good enough to marry Christine."

"Take your little groom's party and get lost."

"The sight of you makes me sick."

"You've got scumbag written all over your face."

"I could throw up!"

Facing the wall of insults, Dick's fists clenched and his smile collapsed.

"I'm here to get my wife."

"Whether I leave or not isn't up to you."

"Move!"

He reached out to shove them aside.

But the woman in front of him only squared her shoulders.

"Go on. Lay one finger on me."

"I'll call the cops and have you charged with assault."

"You people—"

Dick was about to start cursing, then thought better of it. He switched tactics on the spot and raised his voice. "Baby, I'm here to marry you. Come on out."

He waited. Not a sound from inside.

Something felt wrong, deep down.

Still, he called out again, and again.

"Stop shouting."

"Christine doesn't want to see you."

"Get lost."

Just then, a woman stepped forward from behind Dick—fashionably dressed, wearing a jade necklace, matching earrings, and a bracelet.

"Dick, let me help you."

She paused.

Then she shouted, "Christine Winfield, Dick came all this way to marry you, and you're hiding inside instead of coming out? What's that about?"

"You're trampling his pride in front of everyone."

"How is a man supposed to hold his head up after this?"

Soon enough, there was movement inside the front room.

And I walked out, under the eyes of the whole crowd.

"Baby, you finally came out."

Dick looked delighted.

I gave him a cool glance, then let my eyes drift slowly to the woman who'd just been shouting—to the jade jewelry she had on.

I smiled, cold. "Dick, you brought your ex-girlfriend along to fetch your bride."

"You really can't bear to let her go, can you?"

Every head turned at once.

All eyes landed on Serena.

Dick opened his mouth to explain.

Serena pursed her lips. "Christine, you're about to marry Dick—why are you still getting jealous over nothing?"

"He spoils you every day, so when you throw your little fits, fine. But not today. It's your wedding. Stop making a scene."

"Hurry up and get yourself ready and come with him."

Dick jumped in quickly. "Right, Christine, if we miss the lucky hour it won't be good. Come with me now."

"All my relatives are waiting back at the house."

"Whatever this is, we can sort it out later."

I didn't bother with Dick's frantic pleading.

But my girls weren't about to sit still for it.

They traded a single look.

"Get her, girls—beat this home-wrecker down."

Someone shouted the word, and the whole group of them charged at Serena, faces blazing.

Dick saw it coming and yelled to stop them. "What do you think you're doing?"

Too bad—no one listened.

And then Serena's screams filled the air.