He'd done it on purpose. At my wedding to my ex, Morris had projected their bedroom photos for everyone to see, then eloped with my fiancée right in front of the guests, leaving me as the laughingstock of the entire reception.
My mother collapsed from the shock.
To get her the treatment she needed, I transferred her from hospital to hospital until we ended up in Havenport, where I met Sylvia, a neurosurgery specialist. Over the course of my mother's treatment, Sylvia and I gradually fell in love.
I understood the threat buried in Betty's words. The Fox family had a reputation to uphold. If I ruined this wedding and embarrassed them today, my mother would be thrown out of their hospital.
"Mom!"
Sylvia cut Betty off, her tone measured but firm.
"Simon is my husband, and his mother is my mother-in-law. Taking care of her is my responsibility."
She turned to me, her voice soft and pleading.
"Honey, at the very least, for the sake of everything I've done for your mother, can we please not make a scene at our wedding?"
I dug my nails into my palms and let a wounded expression surface.
"Sylvia, do you really not know that stylist? Because he just whispered to me that you deliberately had him stamp my face to humiliate me on your behalf. That's why I got upset."
The moment the words left my mouth, the guests who had been looking at me with disapproval shifted to expressions of sympathy.
A muscle in Sylvia's cheek twitched. Then she smoothed it over with a reassuring smile.
"He was talking nonsense. He's just jealous that you married such a wonderful wife."
When I said nothing, she relented with a sigh.
"I'll file a complaint against him right now, okay?"
Only then did I let myself smile.
"Then swear on it."
"If you really do have something going on with him, if you've betrayed me, then we're getting a divorce."
Sylvia cooed and soothed me, raising her hand to swear.
The guests laughed warmly.
"You're overthinking it. Sylvia only has eyes for you."
Outside the door, Morris's face flashed past, twisted with venom at his failed scheme.
I didn't spare him a glance.
The wedding ended.
I was heading back to my room to change out of my suit when someone pressed a cloth over my nose and mouth.
I held my breath, closed my eyes, and played along.
Just like last time.
Morris and Sylvia stumbled down the hallway tangled in each other, shoving open the door to the room next door. They fell onto the bed, unable to hold back the sounds that followed.
I snapped my eyes open, slipped downstairs, and found the Fox parents chatting with guests.
This time, I didn't do what I'd done in my previous life. I didn't tell them Morris had drugged me and tried to climb into my bed.
Instead, I put on a worried expression.
"Mom, Dad, I think Sylvia had too much to drink. She doesn't look well."
Fergus and Betty, ever doting on their daughter, rallied immediately. Curious relatives trailed behind them, and the whole group followed me upstairs in a procession.
The moment we reached the door of the guest room, the muffled sounds from inside were unmistakable.
Every face in the crowd went rigid.
The Fox parents scrambled to cover it up, but I pushed the door wide open.
"Sylvia, are you feeling okay?"
The door swung back. Two entangled figures on the bed shot apart, frantically clawing at the sheets.
Through the crowd, Morris flashed me a triumphant grin.
In an instant, the hallway erupted.
"Oh my God, that man. Isn't that the stylist from this morning?"
"So Simon was telling the truth. Jesus..."
Fergus's face turned beet red. He bellowed in humiliation.
"Sylvia! Look at what you've done!"
Betty charged into the room and dragged Morris off the bed.
"This is all your fault! You must have drugged my daughter!"
She whipped around to Sylvia. "That's what happened, isn't it, sweetheart? We're calling the police! We'll have this animal thrown in prison!"
The moment those words left her mouth, the smugness drained from Morris's face.
