The Wedding Bet: You Changed The Venue I Changed The Groom Chapter 03
Just Another Bride
As soon as I get into the taxi, a message pops up on my phone.
Serena sends me a video.
In a dimly lit VIP booth, a group of people sit in a circle, playing a game where they pass an ice cube from mouth to mouth.
When it is Serena’s turn, the ice cube is only the size of a fingernail.
Holding the tiny sliver of ice between her lips, she leans toward Julian.
He smiles, doesn’t pull away, and catches the ice between his lips.
The ice cube instantly melts between their lips. The entire room erupts into cheers and whistles.
“Serena is the only one who can pull this off! Look at Julian’s eyes! Who else gets this kind of treatment?”
The guy shouting is one of Julian’s childhood friends.
“Exactly! Those two are made for each other!”
This time, it’s Julian’s cousin.
When she was cheated on by her ex, I dropped all my work to go with her to confront him at his office.
Back then, she hugged me, crying, saying I was the only sister-in-law she would ever accept.
“Honestly, Julian, Aria is just some nobody with no family or connections. She really doesn’t deserve you. Are you seriously planning to marry her?”
The room falls dead silent. Everyone looks at Julian.
And so do I.
He lazily twirls a cigarette between his fingers before answering.
“It’s just marriage. Does it really matter who I marry?”
The video abruptly ends there.
But his words keep echoing in my head.
Julian and I met at a programming competition. I beat him and took first place.
From then on, he pursued me relentlessly.
At first, I didn’t believe a rich, privileged guy like Julian would actually like someone like me.
Until one time, I was cornered by some local thugs near campus.
To save me, Julian ended up with two broken ribs.
I asked him, “Is it worth it? We’re just dating. Wouldn’t it be the same with anyone else?”
He smiled and said:
“It’s different. I only love you, and I only want to spend my life with you. It could never be the same with anyone else.”
That promise meant everything to me, and I held onto it for ten years.
But ten years later, he says it doesn’t matter who he marries.
I calmly save the video.
The next second, Serena’s obvious attempt to test me pops up.
“Aria, I sent you the wrong video just now. You didn’t watch it, did you?”
“What did you send?”
The chat box shows “typing…” over and over. By the time I get out of the taxi, a reply finally comes.
“Nothing. Julian is drunk. I won’t bring him home tonight, so we won’t disturb your sleep.”
I stare at it for a long time, then reply, “Whatever.”
Then, I open the transfer offer from my company for a position in Ireland.
I click “Accept.”
I received this offer six months ago. After working abroad for three years, I will be promoted to Technical Director.
But Julian didn’t want me to take it.
He hugged my waist, saying he couldn’t bear the thought of me moving so far away, and promised to take care of me for the rest of my life.
Although I didn’t need him to support me, I was moved by his affection.
Originally, having the wedding in Ireland was partly so I could visit the company’s office there and see what I was giving up.
Now, there are no regrets left.