Chapter 1

The night before the wedding, I discovered that Alex and his ex-girlfriend were more than just old friends—they were what you'd call 'friends with benefits.' No matter the distance, they always found time to reconnect. His buddy Davis confronted him, 'What are you playing at? You're about to tie the knot with Eleanor, yet you're still hooked on Morgan. If you weren't ready to move on, why end it in the first place?'

Alex lit a cigarette, his voice heavy with fatigue. 'With her, it's purely physical—we don't connect on any other level. But with Eleanor, it's a whole different story,' he sighed.

'Don't sweat it,' he reassured Davis, 'I've got everything under control. It's strictly platonic—no feelings, no overnights. It won't mess with my marriage to Eleanor.'

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With just two days until the wedding, I was swamped, running errands non-stop. Today alone, I'd made five trips. Overwhelmed, I sighed, 'I'm beat.'

'Thanks for all your hard work, babe,' Alex laughed, stepping over to massage my shoulders. 'Did you manage to pick up my package?'

'Naturally,' I replied, sifting through the pile of parcels and handing him a sizable box. 'Here you go.'

But he didn't take it. Instead, he gave me a peculiar look. Curiosity piqued, I asked, 'What did you order?'

It was odd for Alex to shop online. With a cheeky grin, he teased, 'Open it and see.'

Hesitant, I carefully unwrapped the box. Inside was a set of cat-themed attire—complete with ears, a tail, and a remote control. Flustered, I quickly dropped it. 'Why did you get this?'

He stepped closer, encircling me with his arms, and whispered provocatively in my ear, 'Just for our wedding night.'

I froze, my mind reeling. He leaned in for a kiss, 'Please?'

'Please, darling.'

It took me a moment to find my voice. 'No, I’m not comfortable with that.'

Seeing my refusal, Alex released me, visibly annoyed. I matched his stare with equal intensity. We stood there, locked in a silent standoff until he was the first to back down. 'Never mind, let’s eat.'

At dinner, he served a new creation: pork meatballs drizzled with a spiced honey glaze. Alex had a flair for culinary experiments, always eager to present his dishes as treasures, waiting for my praise.

After a thoughtful pause, I commented, 'It’s delicious, sweet and rich.'

He barely acknowledged, just a soft 'Oh.'

The meal passed in silence—a first in our relationship, which had always been marked by lively conversations over meals.

Seven years together, and everyone saw us as the ideal couple. We rarely argued, always in sync. Except once, much like today.

It was our first time together, and he called me a derogatory name. Upset, I confronted him. He dismissed it, saying all guys do that, learned from videos. He thought it was normal, accusing me of overreacting.

His words brought tears, and I ended things. Days later, he came to my school, apologizing sincerely, promising it wouldn’t happen again. Back then, we were deeply in love, with no other issues, so we quickly reconciled. And true to his word, he never repeated the mistake.

Now, as we stood on the brink of marriage, we found ourselves at odds over this issue once more.

'Finish up; I’m heading out,' Alex said suddenly, snapping me out of my thoughts.

Recovering, I asked, 'Where are you going?'

'Davis wants me to join him for a final bachelor’s drink,' he explained, hastily grabbing his jacket.

I watched him, slightly bewildered. Without thinking, I blurted, 'Will you be back tonight?'

He turned, amused, 'What do you think? Have I ever stayed out all night?'

Before leaving, he kissed my forehead, his eyes smiling, 'You silly, obedient one.'

'I’ll be back soon,' he promised as he headed out.