My Fiancé Played a Couple-Swap Game, I’m Done Being The Outsider Chapter 04

My Fiancé Played a Couple-Swap Game, I’m Done Being The Outsider Chapter 04

I stood by the bed, my fingers slowly turning cold.

This was a group chat without me.

I scrolled up.

The earliest message was from three months ago.

Lilith sent a screenshot of the “Couple Swap Game.”

Lyra always says she can fit in with us.

Let’s see how many rounds she can last.

Leander replied fast: Give her all blank cards.

Ronan said: Make Dorian and Lilith’s cards the same.

Start with hand-holding, then hugging—then kissing. Enough to keep it interesting.

I kept scrolling.

Dorian didn’t reply at first.

Then he sent: Don’t take it too far.

I stared at those words.

For a second, something foolish sparked in my chest.

At least he tried to stop it.

Then he added: Lyra’s sensitive.

We still need her to plan the wedding. Don’t actually drive her away.

Ronan sent a laughing emoji.

Relax. She’s not going anywhere.

Dorian said: True.

One words. Like a slap.

He knew.

He knew from the start—that my cards were all blank, that everyone was waiting to see me break.

He’d just been worried they’d go too far and mess up the wedding planning.

I scrolled further—to the trip planning.

I’d sent them the full itinerary. No one replied in our group.

But in the Five Friends chat, it was chaos.

Lyra’s diving idea is so boring.

Lilith hates water. Let’s do a yacht party instead.

Dorian said: Don’t tell her.

We’ll change it when we get there. She won’t say no.

They even talked about rooms.

Put Dorian and Lilith in the family suite.

What about Lyra?

Sofa bed lol.

What if she refuses?

Dorian replied:

I’ll handle it. She’ll agree.

I stood there, suddenly struggling to breathe.

I used to think I was just slow to fit in.

So I tried harder.

Remembered every detail. Laughed at every joke. Took care of everything.

Now I saw clearly—I was never meant to fit.

They’d stood inside the door, holding hands, watching me try to get in.

A new message appeared.

Leander:

Where’s Lyra?

Ronan:

Probably crying in her room. Should we go another round?

Lilith sent a voice message.

“Maybe stop? Lyra actually looks upset.”

Dorian replied: “Let her cool off. Do we have to babysit her every time she gets moody?”

I listened to his voice and felt the last warmth drain from my chest.

Then a new video appeared.

Ronan had filmed it.

The terrace. Just Dorian and Lilith.

She was drunk, leaning on his shoulder.

“Dorian,” she asked, “if I hadn’t said no back then—would you still be with Lyra?”

The wind was loud.

He didn’t answer for a long time.

Then, quietly: “No.”

Lilith laughed—but tears were falling. “Do you regret it now?”

He didn’t answer.

But he reached over and wiped her tears away.

The video ended.

The chat went quiet for a few seconds.

Ronan: Told you two were meant to be.

Leander: Lyra was always the one who didn’t belong.

She took your spot for years. Time to give it back.

My ears rang.

In their eyes—the one who’d loved him for seven years, who was about to marry him—

was the third wheel.

I turned off the tablet.

Put the charger back.

No confrontation. No run to the terrace.

I already had my answer.

I went back to my room and changed my flight to the last one that night.

Two hours left. Enough to leave.

If this trip never had room for me—

then the rest of my life didn’t need room for them either.