He Said ‘Of Course’ to Every Insult About Me, I Said ‘Of Course’ to Walking Away Chapter 01

He Said ‘Of Course’ to Every Insult About Me, I Said ‘Of Course’ to Walking Away Chapter 01

At the bachelor party before the wedding, a group of us played the “Of Course” game. Whatever the other person says, you have to answer ‘of course’.

When it was Ethan Shaw’s turn, his best friend stepped right up.

“You said you didn’t want to get married so soon because you’re still hung up on Naomi, right?”

“Of course.”

“Marrying Natalie—was that just settling?”

“Of course.”

Ethan answered without hesitation.

The atmosphere around us turned icy.

Naomi Hayes stepped in with a laugh to smooth things over.

“Come on, everyone knows Ethan gets way too competitive with these games—he hates losing.”

“God, you’re brutal. Inside jokes are fine when it’s just us, but here? You’re making Natalie look bad.”

My best friend Jenna Parker couldn’t take it anymore. She stood up and asked,

“Ethan, is Natalie the woman you love most?”

He froze for a second. His buddies egged him on to drink instead.

I watched Ethan down the glass in one gulp.

The thread I’d been clinging to finally snapped.

When my turn came, I glanced at my childhood friend Liam Vance.

He caught on immediately.

“Call off the wedding. Will you come with me?”

“Of course.”

***

The crowd that had been jeering went silent for a few seconds, then laughed even louder.

“Ethan, your fiancée’s really pissed. Aren’t you gonna go sweet-talk her?”

Ethan gave a rueful smile and reached out to pat my head, but I dodged him.

The amusement on his face faded.

“We’re getting married tomorrow. Don’t be difficult. Jack and the guys were just joking. You know how we are around each other.”

Naomi hurried over and punched Ethan’s arm.

“You better apologize right now. Don’t you know a girl needs to feel like she’s the priority, not an afterthought?”

Jack Cole laughed from the side. “You’re the only woman in our studio. Where’s Ethan supposed to learn that?”

They started goofing around like no one else was there.

I linked my arm through Liam’s and said flatly,

“I wasn’t joking.”

Ethan’s expression finally darkened. He tried to grab me, but Liam blocked him.

“Mr. Shaw, you’re a businessman. You know the importance of keeping your word.”

Ethan actually chuckled at that.

“Fine. Since Mr. Sterling is Natalie’s ‘big brother’ and all, he’s got every right to lecture me.”

“I’ve been a crappy host tonight. Sorry you all had to see that. Hope you’ll still show up for the wedding tomorrow.”

In a few words, he painted me as a jealous, irrational woman who made a scene, and he defined Liam’s relationship with me—as just a brother.

I almost laughed at my own naivety.

I’d been so swept up in his thoughtfulness that I forgot he was a businessman.

From our college studio days to now, Ethan wasn’t the boy I once knew anymore.

Guests trickled out. Only Naomi and Jack lingered nearby.

Ethan draped a shawl over my shoulders with practiced ease, his voice tinged with exasperation.

“It’s chilly. Catch up with Liam. Naomi and the guys have been drinking, so I’ll drive them home.”

“They’re my business partners. I can’t afford bad blood. Don’t pull a stunt like this again, okay? Be good.”

He headed straight for them without waiting for a reply.

Naomi looped her arm tightly through his and climbed into the passenger seat.

I said nothing. I just took off the shawl.

Liam silently draped his jacket over me. “Natalie, your parents sent me.”

I forced a bitter laugh, my eyes stinging. “Liam, you must think I’m a joke.”

Before I got together with Ethan, I knew he had two “best buds.”

I hesitated at first.

He was the one who pulled me in, saying he wanted me to be part of his circle.

So I threw myself into getting along with them, full of hope.

And what did I get in return?

On a camping trip, the lunch I’d carefully prepared was mocked.

Naomi gave an exaggerated smile and said it was “fine.” Jack pinched his nose and fed my sandwich to the dog.

Ethan pulled out a cake he’d bought and looked at me with a fake apologetic face.

“They never cook at home—they’re just not used to that kind of food. And honestly, after that long drive? Homemade stuff isn’t exactly safe to eat.”

But the spicy snacks Naomi made got passed around until they were gone.

Or in the group chat when we were planning a trip.

One second they were chatting excitedly, and the second I said something, the chat went dead silent.

In a group of four, I was the only one no one replied to.

When I confronted Ethan, he just said I was being too sensitive.

Then they’d move on to the next topic like nothing happened.

And the beach I wanted to visit never once became our destination.

Seeing the scar from when Ethan saved me, I kept telling myself to wait a little longer.

All I got was them voicing their regrets during a stupid game.

We were getting married tomorrow, and today they humiliated me in front of everyone.

Liam straightened my collar, his voice gentle. “Why would I think you’re a joke? Your parents and I—we’ve all been worried sick about you.”

My nose stung. I couldn’t hold back the tears.

I’d left home to follow Ethan to New York and support his career.

My parents were so furious they cut me off.

But when they learned I was getting married, they softened.

From San Francisco to New York—over 2,500 miles.

Mom’s health is fragile, so she asked Liam, who just got back from abroad, to be here for me.

Ethan thought I couldn’t live without him.

What he didn’t know was that tomorrow was the deadline for my overseas market project.

I’d planned to discuss it with him afterward. I never expected one game would turn me into a joke in everyone’s eyes.

Six years, and with them I still felt like an outsider.

If that’s how it is, why should I force myself to stay?