Only that one time.

And it was still because of Naomi.

Now, looking at Alex's open, straightforward face, I only found it funny. I pulled out the WeChat live updates Naomi had sent me and put them in front of him.

"Stella, Alex and I have both been waiting for you for half an hour. The food is already cold."

Naomi took a photo of the dishes.

"I'm hungry."

"I'm eating first."

In the live-update photos, there was Alex's teasing voice, laughing as he said, "I've never seen someone like you, like a starving ghost reincarnated."

A very ordinary sentence. But it made me hear indulgence—an indulgent feeling I'd never carefully noticed before. Even after Naomi finished eating and took a selfie, I could still hear Alex say,

"You little glutton, you didn't wipe the corner of your mouth clean."

Naomi said, "Baby, there's so much good food, and I ate it all, so it's not wasted."

"Your Alex looks like an injured puppy—come pick him up."

In the messages Naomi kept sending, I could hear so many fragmented bits of Alex's voice—Alex laughing at her for being like a little pig, and Alex saying she was very cute.

And even Naomi questioning, "Between me and Stella, who's cuter?"

And Alex said, "My god, why are you getting jealous of my wife."

"Of course you're cuter."

My heart ached until it was about to shatter, yet I watched Alex's expression go blank for a moment. Then, furious and flustered, he pointed at me and said,

"Stella."

"Naomi is your best friend, your family you've had for twelve years. How can you think about me and her with such filthy thoughts!"

I looked at Alex being righteous and stern, and I still felt hurt. My chest felt like it was stuffed full of damp cotton, about to suffocate me.

"Alex."

"I didn't say anything."

Tears fell. I met Alex's stunned face.

"What are you confessing without being asked?"

I shoved him away hard and shut the door. Ignoring him shouting my name, pounding on the door hard and yelling,

"Stella!"

"I've never wronged you!"

"We're about to get married!"

"You can't treat me like this!"

Listening to his voice, I only felt like even the heavy air was mixed with dense needles, seeping in everywhere and stabbing into my nerves. It hurt so much I was about to break down, yet I saw Naomi send me a WeChat message asking me,

"Stella, are you sick!"

"You suspect me and your husband?"

"Explain yourself right now! I'm not taking the blame for this!"

Looking at Naomi's messages, I still felt it was mocking.

Naomi and I had been together for twelve years, from meeting in high school until now, never separated. I treated her as family, as my closest friend, yet I'd never thought that such a melodramatic plot would also get applied to us.

I collapsed into a sitting position in the living room, looking at the house that had already been dyed with celebratory cheer, and I still couldn't control the tears surging down.

Until a friend called me and said,

"Stella."

"I got what you wanted."

My friend asked me worriedly, "Are you ready?"

I only listened to her speak, opened that file, and watched Naomi lying in Alex's arms, crying until she choked.

"Alex, this is our third baby."

"Will I not be able to get pregnant in the future?"

Alex coaxed her.

"No."

"If that day comes, I will definitely take responsibility for you."

I watched him kiss Naomi's lips and tell her,

"I'll stay with you."

I watched the video, and my stomach churned violently. Before I could react, I had already vomited all over the floor.

When my friend rushed over, she just held me tight.

"Don't cry."

"Stella, this is a blessing in disguise. As long as you're not married yet, as long as you haven't signed the certificate—it's a blessing." She gripped my shoulders. "I'll expose those two right now for what they really are!"

She was ready to burn it all down, but I stopped her.

"The wedding still has to happen."

"You still want to marry that scumbag?"

"No." I looked at her, my tears finally spent. "Someone who betrays trust doesn't get to walk away clean."

"I won't let them walk away clean."

"I want them ruined. Disgraced."

I stayed at her place for a week. A full week.

Alex's messages came every day. Naomi went from demanding answers to sweet-talking me. I didn't know how much of it was real anymore.

It didn't matter.

I told Alex the wedding would proceed as planned. He was thrilled, wanted to see me immediately. I refused.

"Alex. In my family, the bride and groom don't see each other before the ceremony."

My parents backed me up. "That's how it's done."

So Alex sent flowers daily, texted constantly—every half hour, reporting his location to prove his devotion. "Babe, with a wife as beautiful as you, how could I ever look at anyone else?"

He thought it was over. He even joked about it.

"Someone like Naomi? She can't compare to you. What does she even have?"

I saved every message. Then I asked my friend, "Is everything ready?"

"Ready. Just waiting for the wedding."

The day arrived.

To show how much he cherished me, Alex hired photographers to capture everything. Even random coworkers got invited to toast the happy couple.

The venue was packed, buzzing with celebration.

I watched Alex, beaming, tell the event manager, "Let's begin."

The highlight reel he'd prepared played on the massive screen—us holding hands walking into the chapel, the moment before he kissed me.

Then the footage cut.

An Audi, rocking rhythmically.

Naomi's breathy voice filled the banquet hall. "Alex... let's have a baby."

Alex was on top of her, face flushed. "Just got rid of one and you want another? Naomi, admit it—you're shameless."

"Shameless?" She laughed, hitting his chest playfully. "So what if I am? You still can't resist. Still sneaking around behind Stella's back to fuck me whenever you get the chance."

"Alex. Which one of us is really shameless?"

The moans kept going.

The room exploded.

"ALEX MASON!"

Before he could react, someone charged the stage and slammed a fist into his face.

"You fucking animal!" My cousin's eyes were wild, arm cocked for another blow. "Is this how you treat my sister?!"

Alex finally snapped back to reality, face white as a sheet. "It's not what you think—"

I was already on stage. I picked up the microphone, aimed it at him, and smiled.

"Alex Mason."

"I carefully prepared this wedding gift."

"Are you satisfied?"