Chapter 3The Game Was Rigged

But the next day, I still went to City Hall.

I just wanted to see if Charlotte would really show up.

At 9:15 a.m., I saw her car pull up across the street.

The moment she opened the car door, I finally let out a breath. I even straightened my cuffs without thinking.

Honestly, if she had just said, "George, I'm here," I might have been able to let last night go.

But then her phone rang, and she answered it.

I didn't know what Connor said, but her expression changed immediately.

She got right back into the car.

The sound of the door closing was soft, but it still hurt more than I could describe.

Ten minutes later, Connor made a post on Facebook. "I told her I didn't want to be alone, and she really came back."

The photo showed Charlotte holding his hand while he was hooked up to an IV.

At 9:40 a.m., Lyra rushed to City Hall.

She looked exhausted when she got out of the car, as if she hadn't slept all night. "Stop waiting. Charlotte isn't coming today."

I looked at her. "I saw her."

Lyra froze for a second before speaking, "Connor's allergy flared up again last night. He can't handle any emotional stress right now."

I asked, "So I'm the only one who's supposed to handle it?"

She frowned. "George, why do you always talk like that?"

She walked over, speaking as if she were trying to comfort me, "You're the one who's going to marry Charlotte. You'll be her husband, and you'll become part of the Kilbourns. Connor only has a few friends like us."

I put my documents away and turned to leave.

Lyra grabbed my arm. "Where are you going?"

"The wedding planner's office."

She let out a sigh of relief. "You're going to confirm the schedule?"

I answered with a casual "Yeah," and she finally relaxed. "That's better. Don't make things more complicated. Otherwise, you'll only embarrass yourself in the end."

The wedding planner looked uncomfortable as she slid the welcome display designs toward me.

The photo on the screen had been taken at Connor's birthday party last year.

Charlotte stood in the middle, while Connor and I stood on either side of her.

Dressed in a white suit, Connor was holding Charlotte's arm. He looked more like the groom than I did.

I stood beside them, holding the knife to cut his birthday cake.

Even the welcome message had been changed.

"Thank you for celebrating our ten years together."

But why our ten years?

Wasn't it supposed to be Charlotte and me? Or did that somehow include Connor too?

I kept reading through the plans and realized everything had been changed.

The wedding vows even included a section thanking Connor.

I looked at the planner. "Who approved all this?"

She answered carefully, "Ms. Kilbourn did."

When Lyra noticed my expression darken, she quickly interrupted. "It's only the welcome area, not the main ceremony. Connor has never really had a family. He just wants to feel like he's part of it."

I looked at her. "This is my wedding. Why does he need to feel included?"

Lyra lowered her voice. "George, don't be so mean."

Just then, Charlotte called.

The moment I answered, she asked, "Did you see the wedding plans?"

"I did."

"Connor cried all night. He said he felt like an outsider, so I asked them to add a few more photos."

After hearing that, I asked, "Do you really think that's appropriate?"

She answered impatiently, "What's inappropriate about it? He's the best man, and he's our friend. You're marrying me tomorrow, not a few pictures."

I kept scrolling until I reached the accessories page. Then I stopped.

A note read. "Silver cuff links to be worn by Mr. Winfield during the pre-wedding video shoot."

Those silver cuff links had belonged to my dad.

Before he passed away, he told me he hoped I would wear them on my wedding day.

I asked, "Why did you let Connor wear the cuff links my dad left me?"

Charlotte fell silent for a moment before trying to explain. "He was only trying them on..."

I cut her off. "My dad left those to me."

"I know."

I laughed in disbelief. "Then why did you let him wear them?"

Just then, I heard Connor choke back a sob beside her. "Charlotte, forget it. I won't wear them. George probably hates the idea anyway..."

Charlotte immediately said gently, "Don't say that."

But when she spoke to me again, her voice turned cold. "George, Connor was only helping you test them for the video. Why are you being so harsh?"

I answered without hesitation, "Give them back."

Charlotte didn't respond.

Then Lyra suddenly spoke, "George, if your father were still alive, he wouldn't argue with a little kid over something like this."

I whipped my head toward her.

The meeting room fell completely silent.

Even after seeing the look in my eyes, Lyra kept talking, "Am I wrong? He would want you to be more generous. If he knew you were making such a scene over a pair of cuff links, he wouldn't be happy either."

Slap!

I slapped her across the face.

Charlotte's cold voice came through the phone. "George, how dare you!?"

Lyra turned her face away in disbelief. "George, you've changed!"

I picked up my bag and walked out.

But I could still hear Charlotte yelling through the phone. "If you leave now, don't expect me to come home tonight!"

I stopped for a second before replying casually, "Whatever."