I Let My Cheating Fiancé Marry My Best Friend

Sid Sanchez hated seeing me in white.

Even for the wedding gown, he'd chosen a gaudy bright red.

And the white gown I'd fallen in love with, he gave to my best friend to wear as her bridesmaid's dress.

My eyes rimmed red, I begged him, This is our wedding. Just this oncecan't I?

Sid stayed cool and unmoved, stroking my hair.

"Be good. White's bad luck. The most it can be is a bridesmaid's dress. The red one looks just fine on you."

Lena Fox stood beside us, clapping and smiling. "Sid has such great taste. That red gown makes you look so elegant and regal."

But that red gown didn't suit me at all.

Then I caught Sid and Lena nestled together by the sea, watching the sunset.

Lena tilted her face up and asked, "Next month is your wedding to Penelope Henson, after all. Is it really appropriate for me to show up at the ceremony in a white gown?"

Sid wrapped her tenderly in his arms.

"Lena, just to see you walk in wearing a wedding gown, I've been laying the groundwork for two years. Acting like I hated Penelope in whiteby now she believes it completely."

"Since I have to marry her in this life anyway,"

"then letting you show up in the gownit'll be like you get to marry me, just once. That's not too much to ask."

When he finished, the two of them kissed like they couldn't bear to part.

I forced the tears back down and dialed the wedding planner.

"Hello. The bride needs to be changed."

The voice on the other end was a little shocked. "Miss Henson, are you sure there's no mistake?"

"The wedding's only a week away. You're certain you want every detail switched from your information to Lena Fox's?"

I looked at the two of them, still kissing deeply in the dying light over the sea, and my smile turned bitter to the bone.

"Yes. Switch all of it."

These past two years, whether I wore a white dress or a white blouse,

Sid would frown the moment he saw it.

He'd even act nauseated, like he might be sick.

"Penelope, take it off. White really doesn't look good on you."

Even my white pajamas got crowned with the label of bad luck by Sid.

So under his negative reactions, over and over,

I purged most of the white clothes from my closet and replaced them with soft pastels.

And Sid was finally satisfied. "Penelope, these soft colors suit you best."

"Be good. Don't wear white anymore."

Since Sid had been laying the groundwork two years in advance, all so that on the wedding day Lena could wear the white gown and openly marry him just once

then I'd simply grant the wish.

White or red, I didn't want the gown anymore.

Sid, whom I'd loved for five years, I didn't want him anymore either.

"Sid, what excuse did you use to slip away and watch the sunset with me today?"

Lena giggled in his arms.

"Penelope is my best friend, after all. You really shouldn't keep coming to see me behind her back. It's not right."

Sid lowered his head with a doting smile.

"Not right? Haven't I already come to you behind her back plenty of times?"

"Last night in my sleep I almost called out your name, and I didn't even notice myself doing it. That's how much I miss you. Lena, you're my cure, plain and simple."

"If I don't come see you, I'm afraid I'll really start mistaking Penelope for you"

Watching this, the pain cut at my heart like a knife.

I didn't want to keep digging into exactly when Sid had gotten together with Lena.

Maybe it was two years ago, the time Lena knocked on my door soaked from head to toe.

There'd been something clearly off in Sid's eyes.

Or maybe it was three years ago, the time a pipe burst at Lena's place and Sid, hearing of it, ran over without a second thought to fix it.

All I knew was that he didn't come home all night.

Early the next morning, Sid's voice was full of apology. "My car broke down last night, so I just made do and crashed somewhere out there."

But later, when I went over to my best friend's place, I happened to catch a few photos that the smart display had grabbed at random.

The timestamp was that very night.

Lena was curled up barefoot on the couch, binge-watching a show.

And the man cooking soup in the kitchen looked exactly like Sid.

Ten years of friendship, and Lena had always been single, never once close with any man.

She was forever telling me, in so many words, that she couldn't stand men.

Yet behind my back, she'd been sneaking around with my boyfriend for years.

I was about to step forward when, right then, my phone suddenly buzzed.

A message from Sid.

"Working late at the office, won't be back until nine tonight."

"Be good, eat dinner without me, don't wait up."

I looked up at Sid. He was carrying Lena's clogs in one hand, the other arm around her waist, the two of them heading toward the seaside bed-and-breakfast.

It was only six in the evening.

What they planned to do over the next three hours needed no spelling out.

But I didn't want to dig into it anymore.

I calmly typed back, "Sure, I've got something to take care of myself anyway."

Right after, another message from Sid popped up.

"Don't wear yourself out, baby."

"When I get back, I'll bring you your favorite mango cake."

Looking at those two words, mango cake, I couldn't help a bitter smile.

Five years.

He still didn't remember I was allergic to mango.

The one who loved mango cake was Lena.

Or maybe he'd just told so many lies.

Since this marriage wasn't going to happen, there was no point decorating the wedding home either.

I turned and flagged down a cab at the curb, and went to the apartment.

On the way I saw someone selling strawberry cake, so I stopped and bought one, eating it as I strolled unhurriedly toward the new place.

Mm. So good.

The sweet scent spread from the tip of my tongue, and even though it was sweet, my nose stung before I could stop it.

Strawberry cake, because Lena didn't like this flavor.

Every time she smelled it, she'd pinch her nose, even going so far, dramatically, as to run to the bathroom like she might be sick.

After that, Sid never bought me strawberry cake again.

He always patted my head and said, "Strawberry, blueberry, mango, it's just a different flavor, they're all pretty much the same."

"Be good. Lena's your best friend. If the smell makes her sick, we should be considerate of her."

So one line about being considerate of her.

And strawberry cake never appeared in our home again.

By the time I was nearly at the new place, the strawberry cake in my hand was nearly gone. I tossed the box away and pushed the door open.

Only to hear a faint rustling coming from inside.

My guard went up at once. I thought a thief had gotten in.

But the next second, to my surprise, Sid and Lena came walking in from the balcony, looking somewhat flustered.

"Penelope?"

Sid's eyes flickered with guilt the moment he saw me.

"Weren't you busy? What are you doing here at this hour?"

"I happened to be free, thought I'd come check on the apartment."

I pretended not to see the lipstick mark on his collar.

"Didn't you say you'd be working late till nine?"

Sid's face went slightly pale.

"Penelope, you've really got to admit your boyfriend loves you. I'd barely gotten off work when Sid called me over to help set up your new place."

"We wanted to surprise you. Didn't think you'd catch us in the act!"

Her clothes a little disheveled, Lena came over anyway and looped her arm warmly through mine.

"But it's just as well. Take a look and see what else needs decorating."

Lena patted her chest, beaming.

"Trust me, sis. I've got it all set up perfectly for you."

I glanced around. The whole bridal apartment was beautifully done.

If I were still the woman who'd been so set on marrying Sid,

I'd have been over the moon.

But now all I felt was a faint regret, knowing that in a few hours every bit of it would be reduced to rubble and trash.

"It's nice."

I turned to look at the two of them. "You've both worked hard. Go home and rest."

"I'll take care of the rest."

Lena looked a little reluctant, still wanting to stay and help, but seeing how calm my face was, she had no choice but to pick up her bag. "I'll get going, then."

"My phone's almost dead, though, so it's hard to call a cab. Mind if I borrow your boyfriend to give me a ride?"

Back when Sid was short on budget, he'd bought the bridal apartment out in the suburbs, a bit far from downtown.

Before I could even say anything, Sid was already taking her bag for her.

"Penelope, it's dark out, and this area isn't safe. I'll go drop Lena off first."

"I'll come back for you after."

It wasn't a question. It was a notification.

Without waiting for my answer, they left, one after the other.

And once they were gone, I pulled up the security feed for the apartment.

I'd had the cameras installed during the renovation.

To keep an eye on the workers and stop them from slacking off.

After the work was finished, they'd served no further purpose.

But on some strange impulse I opened the footage, and sure enough, I saw the scene that shattered my heart.

At half past, the moment the door opened, Lena's voice came through.

"What a dump of a rental. It got high ratings because it's right by the beach, but who knew the bed would be that hard? Worst stay ever."

Then came Sid's voice, warm with a smile.

"That's my clever Lena, thinking to come to the bridal apartment. It's out of the way. Penelope would never come over here."

On the feed, Sid loosened his tie with one hand while pinning Lena against the wall.

"Two and a half hours until nine. A moment of a spring night is worth its weight in gold"

But Lena laughed and pulled him toward the balcony.

"It's just gone dark out there. Want to try the balcony?"

The two of them shoved the balcony door open.

Kissing, stumbling backward.

I closed my eyes for a moment and exited the feed.

I already knew what was happening. Why torture myself by watching on, only to shame myself?

I watched the workers haul out all the new soft furnishings they'd just arranged in the apartment.

Only once it had all been thrown out as garbage did I let out a breath.

The workers looked dismayed. "Miss Henson, these all look freshly installed. Weren't they meant for the wedding? Why throw them out?"

"Because they're dirty."

Besides, I was the one who'd paid the down payment on this place. Since the bride had been swapped out for someone else,

it had no business being tied to me anymore.

The worker hesitated, wanting to say more, but I took out my wallet and gave them a little something for their trouble.

"Thanks for your hard work. Take the sofa and the bed too. They're yours, free of charge."

Through the cameras I'd seen that Sid had brought Lena to the apartment in secret, more than once.

The bed and the sofa were dirty too.

Even if they hadn't used them, just looking at them turned my stomach.

By past nine that night, Sid still showed no sign of coming to pick me up.

This was the suburbs, and cabs were hard to come by. Every other time we'd come to the apartment, Sid had always driven me there and back himself.

I was about to message and ask him when Lena's post popped up on my social media feed.

"Watching the night view, watching the ocean~ It really does feel different when someone's here with you."

Below it was a single photo of the sea, and in the bottom right corner you could just make out a man's hand caught in the frame.

I opened the dating app and pulled up Sid's location.

Sure enough, the two of them were still together.

My mind went back six months, to the night my appendix flared up. The pain was unbearable, and I begged Sid to take me to the hospital.

But every message I sent vanished into nothing, and he wouldn't pick up the phone.

I called Lena too. She was just as unreachable.

It wasn't until a neighbor heard me crying for help that I got hauled into an ambulance.

Only after I came out of the operating room did I see the post Lena had put up five hours earlier.

One mention of wanting to see the aurora, and he flew me to the Arctic overnight.

The next day, Sid finally strolled in, fruit basket in hand.

I'm so sorry, Penelope. There was an emergency project last night, a sudden business trip, and I had to hand in my phone. I never saw your messages

Over and over he apologized, eyes red, and for a moment my heart softened. But later I saw the photo of the two of them in the Arctic in his album, and once again I understood.

It was just another lie.

I walked almost a mile and a half near the wedding apartment before I finally caught a cab back to my rental to pack.

I showered and went to bed alone.

Sid never came back the whole night. He didn't message me until the next morning.

After I dropped Lena off last night, I was going to come get you at the apartment, but the company called me in for overtime out of nowhere.

That damn client insisted on changing the proposal again. Over and over, never-ending.

On the video call, Sid raked a hand through his hair, agitated.

He looked like a man genuinely worn down by his work.

But I just watched, calm.

Marveling, inside, at how flawless his acting was.

It's fine. You're busy with work. I understand.

Sid seemed to breathe easier, and coaxed me with a soft little laugh.

I'm not doing overtime tonight, no matter what. The second I'm off, I'm coming back to be with you. Oh, right, isn't there a movie you've been wanting to see? Let me take you

That movie.

I'd brought it up to Sid five times.

And every single time he'd brushed me off, saying he was too busy with work.

Until I saw in his album that he'd watched it three times with Lena.

And I wasn't waiting on him anymore.

No need. I've already seen it.

Sid sounded a little let down. He fussed over me with a few more reminders before he finally hung up.

Not long after, my father called again, a sob in his voice.

Sweetheart, your dad really doesn't have much time left. Could I beg youto come abroad and see me, just once?

Back then, I failed to protect your mother.

It was my fault

Listening to that aging voice on the other end, I couldn't keep the ache from rising in my chest.

My father had an affair when he was young. It blew up into a divorce, and my mother, distraught, ran out and died in a car accident. He'd regretted it ever since.

He'd fled abroad, to the place where they first met, chasing the past in vain, again and again.

For years I'd hated him for getting my mother killed.

I held firm, refusing to forgive him.

But now, with him dying, with everything we'd been as father and daughter, I couldn't bring myself to be that cruel.

All right. I've booked a flight three days out. I'll come see you.

Since I was done with this wedding anyway.

Taking the chance to travel abroad for a while wasn't a bad thing.

I quit my job. The day I handed in my resignation, my boss tried again and again to keep me.

Penelope, I think very highly of your work. I didn't expect you to be so set on leaving. All I can do is wish you the best.

If you ever regret it and want to come back, our door is always open to you.

My coworkers came one after another with farewell gifts, telling me how sorry they were to see me go.

Someone asked,

Penelope, aren't you getting married next week? Why are you suddenly going abroad?

I looked down and smiled a little.

I want a change of scenery.

As for the wedding, I'm not the bride anymore.

My coworkers exchanged glances, sympathy in their eyes, and asked nothing more.

After walking out of the office, I took a cab straight to the bridal shop.

They saw the crimson wedding gown in my hands.

A few onlookers nearby snickered under their breath.

What century is this? Who still wears something this dated? Aren't you embarrassed to be seen in a color like that?

The cut, the color, all of it's so tacky. I have no idea what this bride was thinking.

Another clerk beside her cut in.

You don't know the half of it. Her husband's the one who insisted on it.

Don't you remember, a couple of days ago her husband brought her best friend in to try on gowns? Anyone who didn't know better would've thought those two were the ones getting married.

Maybe there really is something going on between them

Shh, keep your voice down.

Even the clerk beside me watched me with a complicated look.

I ignored it and walked straight up to the counter. Hi, can I return this gown?

Miss Henson, but this gown is final sale, no returns or exchanges. If you don't want it, I'm afraid we can't refund the cost

The clerk looked uncomfortable.

That's fine.

I smiled politely. Consider it a little something for your trouble.

Under everyone's startled stares, I walked out of the bridal shop.

At eight that evening, Sid came home, and sure enough he was carrying half a mango cake.

I ran into a little kid and gave her some. Penelope, you've always loved kids, so you won't mind, right?

I looked at him, quietly wondering: was it really a kid, or was it Lena?

For as long as I could remember, Lena had loved snatching snacks from me.

She always had to take two bites of my cake before she'd hand it over, satisfied.

She always had to tuck a few packs of my snacks into her arms before they tasted any good to her.

At first, it bothered me enough to make me frown.

Lena, I clearly bought two cakes. Why do you insist on biting mine?

Cake only tastes good when it's somebody else's.

Lena leaned on my shoulder, giggling.

We're best friends. You wouldn't mind, would you?

I could only sigh, helpless, and over time I got used to it.

Now, looking at the mango cake on the table with a few bites taken out of it.

Even an idiot could see there was no little kid.

It was nothing more than Lena's leftovers.

Why are you packing?

Sid noticed the suitcase in the bedroom. Got another business trip coming up?

It's nothing, I dropped my head. Some things I don't wear anymore. Just clearing them out.

Sid's phone rang. He cupped it guiltily and pointed toward the balcony.

Penelope, it's work. Let me take this.

He hadn't put it on speaker, but I still heard Lena's voice.

Sid, come take a look. There's a little problem with my gown

Penelope, something urgent came up at the company. I have to head out for a bit.

After hanging up, Sid grabbed his coat and hurried out the door, tossing one last line before he left.

Don't forget to eat the cake on the table.

The moment the door shut, I picked up the cake and dropped it in the trash.

Once Sid left, he was gone another two days.

In those two days I successfully sold the wedding home, bought my plane ticket, and erased every trace that I'd ever existed in the rental.

As I walked into the airport with my suitcase, a message came in from Sid.

Penelope, tonight's my bachelor night. The guys insist on celebrating with me, so I won't be back early.

"I'll come collect the bride first thing tomorrow morning..."

Sid knew my mother had died young and that my father had cut all contact and lived overseas, so he'd always treated my rental as my "family home."

That was how it had always been arranged before. But now, I replied to him calmly.

"There's no need to come for the bride. Just go straight to the banquet hall tomorrow."

Sid let out a heavy breath of relief. "Penny, I knew you were the most considerate. I'll see you at the wedding tomorrow!"

Right before the call ended, I faintly heard people egging him on, telling him to give Lena a kiss.

See me tomorrow?

Sid, we are never going to see each other again.

I took a deep breath, gripped my boarding pass, and walked into the airport.