Chapter 3
The gathering was held at the most famous bar in Bakersville.
When Chloe arrived arm-in-arm with Robert, the entire room erupted in gasps of surprise. Meanwhile, Enola, who walked in behind them, was completely ignored.
She didn’t mind. In fact, she welcomed the peace and quiet. Settling into a corner, she watched as Chloe basked in the attention, enjoying Robert’s meticulous care.
He was doing things, like specifically choosing juices in her favorite flavor, draping a jacket over her shoulders the moment he noticed she was cold, and even saying a casual yet generous statement like, “Since Chloe is happy, drinks are on me tonight.”
His effortless gestures sent waves of admiration through the crowd.
“Chloe, your boyfriend is incredible! I’ve seen him on TV before. He’s the CEO of Shaw Corp! I can’t believe you managed to get Mr. Shaw to come to a gathering like this!”
“I always thought Mr. Shaw was cold and untouchable when I saw him on TV. But now, I truly understand that even the most unattainable man can be soft and affectionate in front of the one he loves.”
“Of course! Chloe and Mr. Shaw have been together for years. Every single date they go on is high-profile. I just wish I could find a boyfriend like that someday.”
…
Amid the chatter, someone suddenly grew bold and called out, “Chloe, since you and Mr. Shaw are so in love, when’s the wedding? You have to invite us when the time comes!”
Chloe’s face instantly flushed red at the question. She tugged at Robert’s sleeve, and he instinctively glanced toward the corner where Enola sat. She simply kept her head down while sipping her juice, seemingly indifferent.
His gaze darkened briefly before returning to normal. Then, he smiled indulgently while looking down at Chloe. “Very soon. We’ve already started planning the wedding.”
A fresh round of congratulations broke out.
Just then, someone suggested playing a game. The group gathered around the table, pulling Enola in as well. They even encouraged her to get Robert to join.
She shook her head and explained, “Robbie never plays these kinds of games.”
Chloe turned to Robert upon hearing her words. “Just this once—for me? It’ll be more fun with everyone playing.”
The moment she finished speaking, Enola saw Robert nod in agreement. The first round ended quickly, and Robert lost.
He flipped over the punishment card, revealing the task written in bold letters for everyone to see.
“Kiss a member of the opposite sex in the room for one minute.”
Chloe’s cheeks immediately turned scarlet. Robert chuckled, showing not a trace of hesitation. Amid the playful cheers and teasing, he pulled Chloe into his arms and kissed her deeply.
If Enola had witnessed this scene in the past, it would have devastated her. However, that was a long time ago, and she had already let go of those feelings. So, instead of reacting, she simply clapped along with the rest of the crowd.
The minute passed quickly. In the second round, Enola was the one who lost. This time, the punishment was to reveal the top contact in her phone.
She unlocked her phone without hesitation, and everyone’s eyes immediately fixated on the name displayed at the top—Honey.
Someone blurted out in surprise, “Ennie, when did you get yourself a boyfriend? How come we haven’t heard anything about it?”
She smiled and explained, “It’s recent. You’re all welcome to the wedding when the time comes.”
With that, she put her phone away. As she lifted her gaze, her eyes met Robert’s. His expression was dark and unreadable, but he didn’t say a word.
It wasn’t until she left for the restroom midway through the gathering that she ran into him again. This time, they were face-to-face, and his expression was ice-cold.
“What’s the meaning of this? You know marriage isn’t something to joke about.”
Enola knew exactly what he was asking and didn’t try to hide the truth. “I’m not joking. The reason I came back—aside from visiting my parents’ graves—was to tell you that I’m getting married.
“Robbie, if you’re willing, I’d like you to be my officiant and witness my love with my husband.”
Officiant? Witness their love? The words that came out of her mouth sounded so absurd that they nearly made him laugh.
Perhaps he found what she said too ridiculous, as he simply crossed his arms and looked at her with an air of amusement instead of getting angry.
“Fine. You want to get married? Then, call your so-called husband. Let him tell me himself.”
Seeing that he wouldn’t let it go, Enola had no choice but to dial the number. The phone rang endlessly, only to be met with an automatic disconnect.
“There’s a time difference. He’s probably asleep,” she explained honestly.
Robert let out a cold chuckle. “When a lie gets exposed once, don’t keep trying to act your way through it. It only makes you look pathetic. Enola, stop using something like this as a joke.”
With that, he turned and walked away without another word.
Just as his figure disappeared around the corner of the hallway, her phone vibrated with an incoming call. Parker was calling her back.
She answered, and his voice, which was still carrying a trace of drowsiness, came through the line, “Sorry, Ennie. I was asleep and missed your call. What’s wrong?”
She sighed softly as she watched Robert’s distant silhouette fade from sight. At this point, there was no point in chasing after him to explain.
After shaking her head slightly, she replied, “It’s nothing. I didn’t mean to disturb your rest.”
Parker, who was now fully awake, chuckled gently. “Ennie, you know you can call me anytime. It’s never a disturbance.
“Oh, by the way, the wedding preparations are underway. I remember you once designed a wedding dress for yourself. Are you bringing it back this time? Do you want to wear that one for the wedding?”
Enola hesitated for a moment before softly responding, “Alright.”
…
The next morning, Robert and Chloe were nowhere to be seen when she came downstairs. She didn’t think much of it. She then left for the bridal boutique alone after a simple breakfast.
The store assistant led her through the exhibition section and carefully took down the dress displayed at the very center.
The white gown hung quietly on the mannequin. She took it and slipped into it before standing in front of the full-length mirror, momentarily lost in a daze.
She had designed this dress with love years ago, imagining herself wearing it to marry Robert. Now, as she wore it once more, the man she was marrying was someone else entirely.
“Ennie? What are you doing here?” a familiar voice sounded from behind.
