Beside him, Cassandra's expression grew darker by the second.
Everyone wore the same frantic, worried look. None of it seemed faked.
But in my last life I'd believed them too, and I'd ended up dead on the road.
The thought made me clench my fists.
"Kent, I never dated Cassandra Sullivan, let alone married her!"
"Pull this AI-video stunt one more time and I really am going to lose it!"
My old friend went quiet for a beat, then laughed in pure exasperation.
"AI? Albert, did a horse kick you in the head? Look closely. Does this look like AI to you?"
"Get it through your skull, this is your wedding today, not mine! Marry her or don't, I'm done caring!"
With that he fired a screenshot at me and hung up.
I sat there stunned.
In the screenshot, I'd apparently announced my own marriage to the world.
And the marriage certificate showed a photo of me and Cassandra, plain as day!
I studied it several times. No trace of Photoshop, no trace of AI.
But I'd never posted a marriage certificate, and I sure hadn't seen this announcement go up just now!
My head was a tangled mess.
Kent had been my friend since we were kids. The guy stutters the second he tries to lie.
And that tirade just now? That was no act.
My parents had even less reason to gang up with them and trick me.
If all of this was real, why did I have zero memory of ever dating Cassandra?
Why was everyone insisting today was my wedding to her?
Right then, one person popped into my mind.
My aunt was a marriage registrar. If the certificate was fake, she'd be able to confirm it!
I sent her the certificate at once.
"Aunt Phoebe Gilbert, quick question! Is this marriage certificate real?"
My aunt blew up on the spot. "You little brat, sending me a fake certificate to mess with me, you're doing this just to set me off!"
"After all the matches I've set you up with, you didn't like a single one! And now you've got the nerve to wind me up!"
Listening to her familiar grumbling, the knot in my chest loosened a little.
"So the certificate's fake?"
"Obviously!"
She shoved her computer screen right up to the camera.
"See for yourself. Which word in your spouse field says 'married'?"
"And the registrar listed here is my own name. If you were registering a marriage through me, you think I wouldn't know?"
I stared hard at the screen. Sure enough, it said single.
One of her coworkers leaned in too, teasing, "Honestly, that fake's pretty convincing!"
"Albert, your aunt's worried herself sick over your love life, so quit pulling her leg! Go find someone and come get the real thing, she'll register it for you herself!"
Listening to their familiar chatter, I let out a long breath.
Right. My aunt had doted on me since I was little. There was no way she'd skip my wedding.
The government system listed me as single, so I definitely wasn't married!
But the very next second, a group chat on my phone called "Wedding Squad Assemble" exploded.
Countless people were tagging me like crazy.
"Albert, where on earth did you go? The officiant has called for you a dozen times, why aren't you walking in yet?"
"Hurry up! If this doesn't start soon, the guests are going to riot!"
My head buzzed.
When had this group chat even appeared? Why couldn't I remember a thing about it?
Right then, a voice message dropped in.
"Albert Gilbert, are you marrying me or not?"
It was Cassandra.
The irritation in her voice was unmistakable.
My parents sent voice messages too.
"Albert, what are you doing? Marriage isn't a game, how could you vanish at a time like this?"
"Get in here now, everyone's waiting! Cassandra's circled the whole place looking for you. Whatever stunt you're pulling, don't pull it now. Hurry, or your mother and I are going to be furious!"
