He Turned Our Wedding Into a Bet So I Married Another Man Chapter 02

He Turned Our Wedding Into a Bet So I Married Another Man Chapter 02

Chase let out a relieved breath and chuckled.

“Still making jokes? I guess you’re not that upset after all.”

The silence that followed was suffocating.

Just then, the living room door opened. Grant Sterling was already standing there—no one had even noticed him slip out.

He wheeled in a three-tier cake, candles lit, with [Happy 27th Birthday, Quinn] written across it.

“Happy birthday!”

Chase blinked, then broke into applause like he’d just remembered.

Just like that, the engagement party became my birthday party.

After a few rounds of drinks, the room filled with the rattle of dice cups and off-key karaoke.

I got up and walked over to Chase, reaching into his suit pocket to pull out a handful of wedding candies.

“You had way more than five pieces of candy. So why?”

Chase smirked. “Knew I couldn’t fool you.”

He pulled me into his arms, voice husky from the whiskey.

“If Lena lost, she’d have to drink all that booze. Her liver’s not great. You’d have done the same thing.”

I turned my head and stared at him.

I wanted to ask if he’d known about the bet all along—if it had been staged. But I swallowed the words. What was the point?

I pulled away and went to find Lena.

“Why?”

She met my gaze. Alcohol burned in her eyes, reckless, unrestrained.

“Because I love Chase.”

“But I won’t apologize. I’ve spent seven years keeping my mouth shut. I’m done.”

Just what I’d expected, from both of them. And exactly the kind of attitude I’d expected.

This was my best friend from college.

I threw my head back and took a long gulp of wine.

Everything suddenly felt so melodramatic, so absurd.

I set down the glass and reached for the bottle.

A hand closed firmly over mine.

Grant had appeared behind me, leaning down so his warm breath brushed my ear.

“Done with your questions?”

“Then how about we get married in three days?”

I tipped my head back and looked at him.

“I said a bet’s a bet. But my birthday just started, what makes you so sure I’ve already lost?”

Grant smiled, calm and sure of himself.

“Doesn’t matter. I’ve waited seven years. One more day is nothing.”

I turned to Lena and raised my voice. “Lena, I want to make a bet with you too.”

The music faltered as the room went quiet.

Everyone froze.

The two friends I was closest to recovered first, jumping in immediately.

“Yeah! Chase lost the wedding, Quinn can win it back!”

“Exactly! I looked great in that tux, hate to waste it. Bet again, come on!”

But Chase’s expression darkened.

“Quinn, don’t be ridiculous.”

“I already said I’d honor the bet. That’s three years. End of story.”

Lena chose that moment to press a hand to her forehead and sway. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

Chase immediately steadied her and shot me a cold look.

“She’s had too much. Don’t push her. If you’re that desperate to gamble, find someone else.”

I watched him shield her, and whatever hope I had left crumbled.

“Fine.” I grabbed a dice cup and gave it a hard shake.

“Then I’ll make a bet with you. Big or small?”