While I was trying on the groom's suit, one of Grace Gilbert's best friends suddenly tagged me in the group chat:
"Elmer Fox, the invitations go out the day after tomorrow. Haven't you noticed the groom's name isn't yours?"
I stared at myself in the mirror, sharp in the tailored suit, and for a second my mind went blank.
The next second, a voice message from one of Grace's childhood friends popped up:
"I bet Grace you wouldn't figure it out until you got the invitation in your hands. She changed the groom to Henry Pruitt."
"Elmer, you're way too easygoing about this. Get Grace to change it back, or is this wedding even happening?"
I slowly peeled off the jacket, and a cold wave of nausea rolled through me.
Henry Pruitt was Grace's first love, the untouchable ideal in her circle.
But marrying me was something Grace had sworn to, out loud, in front of both families.
And even while planning our wedding, they'd turned my dignity into a wager.
"Grace, that's such a nasty move. I bet the second he finds out he'll panic and demand an explanation."
"I bet he won't even dare get angry. Whoever loses covers next month's yacht party."
A notification from someone I followed closely lit up the screen.
Henry had posted a set of photos of himself in a limited-edition groom's suit.
【Huge thanks to a certain someone who pulled strings and stayed up three nights to borrow this Dream Suit for me. A dream come true~】
Underneath, Grace had replied with a heart emoji.
Calmly, I tapped a like on the post.
Then I disbanded the wedding planning group chat and bought a ticket for the old slow train to the highlands.
No wedding, then. Going to feel the highland wind and clear my eyes out sounded good enough.
……
The cold fluorescent lights of the bridal shop washed over the mirror. I smoothed the jacket bit by bit and handed it back to the clerk.
The clerk hurried after me with her tape measure, smiling. "Mr. Fox, do you still want the shoulders taken in another half inch? Ms. Gilbert says the wedding has to be perfect."
I looked at the suit in her hands and kept my voice flat. "No need. The wedding's off. Give this suit to your next customer."
She froze, then chased me down clutching the contract. "Mr. Fox, if you cancel, the custom fee and the deposit are nonrefundable."
I pulled the card from my bag and pinned down the pen. "Deduct whatever you have to. Just don't contact Grace Gilbert again, and don't contact my parents either."
Stepping out the door, the sunlight glared white in my eyes. The wedding planner was still texting me about the color scheme for the flower wall.
I leaned against the roadside railing and canceled it all one line at a time, the venue, the catering, the makeup, the car fleet. The thirty grand in cancellation penalties drained fast.
The planning manager sounded hesitant. "Mr. Fox, does Ms. Gilbert know? Just this morning she had us swap the groom's name card to Mr. Pruitt. Said it was a joke."
I stared at the "payment successful" line on the screen and said quietly, "She likes to play games. Let her plan it herself."
My mother's call cut in, neighbors' laughter filling the background. She lowered her voice, but she couldn't hide how pleased she was.
"Elmer, Grace sent someone over with fish maw and sea cucumber. The whole street's saying how lucky you are."
"And she promised to throw the grandest wedding in the whole city. Stop being so stubborn. A woman as successful as Grace, a little playing around out there is perfectly normal. You need to be bigger about this. Just grit your teeth and it'll pass."
I asked her, "Mom, what if the groom on the invitation isn't me?"
She paused, and her voice dropped at once. "Don't talk nonsense. A woman of Grace's standing is willing to marry you, that's your good luck. Don't blow some little thing up and embarrass both families."
I let out a small laugh. "Understood. Go put those gifts away."
After I hung up, I dialed Grace. The second the call connected, Henry's innocent, crystal-clear laugh reached my ear first.
Someone was egging them on. "Grace, Elmer's checking up on you, isn't he? Better sweet-talk him quick, before you actually sweet-talk this wedding out of existence."
