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He Married My Best Friend Eight Times. I Refused to Be His Bride
Novelix
new
Completed
"My best friend, Sabrina Collins, kept deciding to marry men she'd barely gotten to know. In three years, she'd had seven weddings. And every single time, the groom had left on the wedding day. Whenever it happened, she'd come running to me for help. ""My groom ran off! I can't be left standing here alone for everyone to make fun of me!"" ""Elena, hurry and get Callum over here!"" Over the course of those seven weddings, Sabrina and my boyfriend, Callum Hayes, had tried almost every theme she'd ever dreamed of, from vintage Hollywood glamour to French country charm. Of course, I'd gotten angry. But Callum always insisted he was only helping Sabrina because I was his girlfriend. That was until Sabrina and I ended up scheduling our weddings for the same day. The officiant was about to guide Callum through the ring exchange when Sabrina called again. ""My groom ran away again!"" ""Callum, come quick!"" ""I really need you!"" Callum placed the ring in my hand. ""Elena, I need to go help Sabrina first. Wait for me."" ""She doesn't have a groom. All the guests will laugh at her."" ""Baby, I'll make it up to you."" ""We can have another wedding later."" With that, he left. By the time I arrived at Sabrina's wedding venue, struggling to carry the heavy train of my wedding dress, she and Callum had just finished kissing. Tears glistened in Callum's eyes. He looked at Sabrina, his voice trembling slightly. ""When we graduated from high school, you wrote something on your bucket list."" ""You wanted to have eight weddings with the same man, each with a different theme."" ""Now, I've finally made that dream come true."" The ring slipped from my hand and hit the floor. Only then did I realize the grooms hadn't abandoned Sabrina by coincidence. Callum had been helping her fulfill that high school dream all along. Watching them together, I finally stopped making excuses for either of them. If that was what they wanted, then they could get married. I'd leave them both behind."
Chapters (3)
第1章
My best friend, Sabrina Collins, kept deciding to marry men she'd barely gotten to know.
In three years, she'd had seven weddings.
And every single time, the groom had left on the wedding day.
Whenever it happened, she'd come running to me for help.
"My groom ran off! I can't be left standing here alone for everyone to make fun of me!"
"Elena, hurry and get Callum over here!"
Over the course of those seven weddings, Sabrina and my boyfriend, Callum Hayes, had tried almost every theme she'd ever dreamed of, from vintage Hollywood glamour to French country charm.
Of course, I'd gotten angry.
But Callum always insisted he was only helping Sabrina because I was his girlfriend.
That was until Sabrina and I ended up scheduling our weddings for the same day.
The officiant was about to guide Callum through the ring exchange when Sabrina called again.
"My groom ran away again!"
"Callum, come quick!"
"I really need you!"
Callum placed the ring in my hand.
"Elena, I need to go help Sabrina first. Wait for me."
"She doesn't have a groom. All the guests will laugh at her."
"Baby, I'll make it up to you."
"We can have another wedding later."
With that, he left.
By the time I arrived at Sabrina's wedding venue, struggling to carry the heavy train of my wedding dress, she and Callum had just finished kissing.
Tears glistened in Callum's eyes.
He looked at Sabrina, his voice trembling slightly.
"When we graduated from high school, you wrote something on your bucket list."
"You wanted to have eight weddings with the same man, each with a different theme."
"Now, I've finally made that dream come true."
The ring slipped from my hand and hit the floor.
Only then did I realize the grooms hadn't abandoned Sabrina by coincidence.
Callum had been helping her fulfill that high school dream all along.
Watching them together, I finally stopped making excuses for either of them.
If that was what they wanted, then they could get married.
I'd leave them both behind.
......
The guests broke into applause as flower petals drifted down from above.
"Wow, what a beautiful couple!"
"They look so happy together!"
The officiant kept gushing about what a beautiful couple they made.
Then Callum spotted me standing near the back entrance.
His smile turned awkward.
But he still held Sabrina's hand without letting go.
The diamond rings on their left hands sparkled under the lights.
I lowered my eyes to the two wedding bands in my hand.
I'd personally visited more than a dozen jewelry stores to choose those rings.
Our initials were engraved inside them.
After the ceremony, Sabrina and Callum changed into another set of outfits and appeared before the guests again.
This time, they'd chosen a vintage Hollywood theme.
Callum wore a perfectly tailored suit that fit his shoulders and waist as though it had been custom-made just for him.
They mingled with the guests, accepting congratulations and well-wishes.
When they reached the third table, Sabrina's uncle smiled at them.
"You two really know how to plan a wedding. Eight weddings, and every single one has had a different theme."
His wife laughed along.
"Isn't it obvious? Callum just wants to make Sabrina happy!"
Callum raised his glass and took a sip.
"As long as Sabrina likes it, that's all that matters."
Sabrina blushed.
"Callum insisted on paying for everything and personally handling so many of the arrangements."
"There was nothing I could do to stop him."
Tears rolled down my cheeks as I listened.
When it came to my wedding, Callum had never taken the initiative to help with anything, from booking the venue and choosing my dress to deciding what food would be served at the reception.
He'd always said he needed to make money and didn't have the time.
So, to keep costs down, I'd reduced my original selection of seven wedding dresses to just three.
Yet now, my fiancé had paid for all eight of Sabrina's weddings and personally handled every arrangement.
It wasn't that he lacked the time or money.
He simply hadn't wanted to make the effort for me.
Maybe he'd never wanted to marry me at all.
After leaving the venue, I received a message from Callum.
"Elena, don't get the wrong idea."
"I'm only pretending to be her groom."
"Please explain things to your parents for me first. I'll come home and spend time with you later."
That was exactly what he'd said after the first seven weddings.
Every time he finished playing groom for Sabrina, he'd come home and apologize to me.
He'd claim he didn't want to do any of it, either.
But Sabrina was my best friend, and he couldn't stand by and watch her get abandoned on her wedding day.
Back then, I'd genuinely believed he was helping Sabrina because he loved me.
My phone rang again.
This time, it was a message from Sabrina.
"Elena, thank you for helping me again today!"
"I honestly don't know what I'd do without you and Callum!"
I let out a bitter laugh.
Callum was the only one she truly wanted to thank.
After all, from the very first wedding, I hadn't been the person either of them really needed.
Sabrina sent another message.
"Once this is over, will you still help me find the man who abandoned me on the wedding day?"
"We need to make him explain himself!"
I didn't reply.
I'd believed them seven times already.
I wasn't going to let them turn me into a joke again.
I took a cab back to the Chicago apartment I shared with Callum and changed out of my wedding dress.
Then I returned to my own wedding venue.
All the guests had left.
Dad was furious, clutching his chest as he repeatedly complained that Callum and I had brought shame upon the entire family.
Mom wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and told me our relatives had said some truly hurtful things.
Just then, a notification appeared on my phone.
It was a confirmation message for the honeymoon trip I'd booked in advance.
第2章
"Elena, I've always believed Callum was a man you could trust."
"Why would he leave you standing alone at your own wedding?"
Mom looked at me, waiting for an answer.
I didn't know how to explain it to her.
Was I supposed to tell her that Callum had abandoned me to play another woman's groom?
Even I couldn't bring myself to accept what had happened.
"Your dad's blood pressure has gone up again. I need to take him to the emergency room first."
Mom supported Dad, her voice full of worry.
"Once he's feeling better, have Callum come over and explain himself in person."
I agreed.
I wanted to hear what Callum had to say, too.
Not just to my parents.
To me, as well.
The doctor examined Dad and decided to keep him overnight for observation.
I'd just finished the admission paperwork when the wedding venue manager called about the outstanding balance.
"Ms. Bennett, there's still a balance due on the wedding venue you and Mr. Hayes booked."
I opened the payment page and was about to pay when I stopped myself.
"Please contact Callum Hayes."
"He's also a signatory on the contract. He should be responsible for paying the remaining balance."
Callum had been willing to pay for all eight of Sabrina's weddings.
Surely he could afford his own wedding expenses.
On the way back to the apartment from the hospital, the venue manager called again.
This time, the caller sounded hesitant.
"Ms. Bennett, we've contacted Mr. Hayes, but he's refused to pay."
"He said his credit card was maxed out."
There was a brief pause.
"He also said he never completed the wedding today, so he shouldn't be responsible for the cost."
My hands began to tremble.
When Callum and I had first started dating, he'd constantly looked for opportunities to propose to me.
"Elena, I wish I could marry you right now."
"I want us to have a home together."
Back then, his saved posts on Instagram had been filled with wedding photos and ideas for wedding decorations.
He'd even stayed up late researching seating arrangements for the guests.
I'd teased him for being in such a hurry.
But he'd only looked at me seriously.
"I only want to marry you once in my life."
"I want everything about that day to be perfect."
I'd been genuinely touched.
I'd looked forward to that wedding for years.
That was before I introduced him to Sabrina.
Sabrina often dated men who weren't right for her.
And whenever she fell for someone, she refused to listen to anyone else's advice.
Callum used to complain to me about all the impulsive things she did.
He'd even advised me not to spend too much time with her.
"Sabrina's dated so many unreliable men. What if one of them starts harassing you?"
After saying that, he'd wrap his arms around me and rest his head against mine.
Then he'd deliberately adopt a playful, affectionate tone.
"Baby, you'd better only have eyes for me."
Back then, I'd thought it meant he cared about me.
When I reached the apartment, I ran into Callum as he was coming home.
A flower petal from the wedding was still clinging to his shoulder.
"Elena, you have no idea how exhausted I am today."
"Sabrina's relatives kept thinking we were a real married couple."
"I had to act the part, or they would've figured out something was wrong."
As he spoke, he reached for the electronic keypad lock on the door.
He entered six digits.
The lock beeped, and the indicator light turned red.
Callum's hand froze.
I glanced at the numbers he'd entered.
011398.
Sabrina's birthday.
And the code to her front door.
"Today was exhausting. I must've entered it wrong."
He typed the code again, secretly watching my face the entire time.
I fought back my tears and pretended none of it affected me.
I'd already been hurt enough that day.
Another secret between Callum and Sabrina didn't even surprise me anymore.
Once we were inside, I sat down on the couch.
Callum quickly brought me a slice of cake.
"Sabrina and I saved this for you."
"It's your favorite blueberry cake."
I recognized it the moment I looked at it.
It was the cake from their wedding.
My stomach suddenly churned.
I rushed into the bathroom and gripped the sink, trying to throw up, but nothing came out.
Callum followed me inside.
He poured me a glass of water and gently patted my back.
"Are you okay?"
Then, as if he'd suddenly remembered something, he asked, "By the way, how are your parents?"
He helped me back to the couch.
Suppressing my disgust toward him, I answered, "Dad's blood pressure spiked today, and he's still in the hospital."
"He's waiting for you to come and explain why you abandoned me at the wedding."
Callum tightened his grip on the glass.
"I might not have time over the next few days."
"Sabrina's parents are still in Chicago. I need to look after them first and make sure I know when they're leaving."
I stared at him.
My father had been so upset by Callum abandoning me at the wedding that he'd ended up in the hospital.
Yet Callum was still more concerned about Sabrina's family.
After hearing his answer, I no longer knew what else there was to say.
第3章
"Callum, have you pretended to be Sabrina's groom so many times that you actually think you're her husband now?"
I stared straight at him.
"Whenever she gets married, you're the groom."
"When her parents come to town, you're the one who looks after them."
"What about me? What about my parents?"
"What are we to you?"
My voice began to tremble.
Callum frowned.
"Isn't Sabrina your best friend?"
"Now you're jealous of her?"
"Besides, we can have another wedding."
"Sabrina is different. She's impulsive."
"If I don't help her, what if she hurts herself?"
I pulled out my phone and played the recording of the venue manager's earlier call.
"So you're willing to spend all that money on eight weddings for her, but you won't even pay the remaining balance for ours?"
"That vintage Hollywood wedding Sabrina had today must've cost at least fifty thousand dollars, right?"
"But what about our wedding?"
"I kept cutting costs because I didn't want you to have to pay too much."
"And you still won't pay the last four thousand dollars."
I looked him straight in the eyes.
"Callum, have you fallen in love with Sabrina?"
"Enough!"
Callum suddenly jumped to his feet.
"Is money all you care about?"
"Sabrina is your best friend!"
"Do you really have to hold this against her over money?"
I gave a bitter laugh.
He had no idea why I was hurting.
It had never been about the money.
It was about how, whenever he had to make a choice, Sabrina always came first.
Our wedding. My parents. The people he was willing to spend money on.
Every single time, he chose her.
Tears slid down my face.
When Callum saw me crying, his voice finally softened.
"You keep pushing me until I end up saying things that hurt you."
"I know what kind of boundaries I should have with Sabrina."
"Can't you trust me?"
I didn't answer.
But he assumed my silence meant I'd agreed.
"By the way, our honeymoon starts in three days."
"Remember to add Sabrina to the reservation."
I looked up.
"Why?"
Callum said it as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"I just helped her complete her wedding."
"If we don't take her on our honeymoon, her relatives might realize we're not really married."
"Besides, aren't you two best friends?"
"What's wrong with the three of us taking a trip together?"
After saying that, he reached over and stroked my hair.
Then he turned and went to take a shower.
Just then, I saw that Sabrina had updated her Instagram.
She'd posted a series of wedding photos.
The caption read:
"Eight weddings. One man."
"He kept every promise."
The photo in the center of the nine-picture grid showed her kissing Callum.
It was Sabrina's other Instagram account.
She didn't know I'd discovered it a long time ago.
Everyone in the comments was congratulating them.
"OMG! This wedding is gorgeous!"
"And the groom is so hot!"
"Eight weddings for the same woman?"
"I'm obsessed!"
"Sorry, ladies. He's clearly taken!"
I liked the post.
Then I opened the travel booking app and canceled every part of our honeymoon.
Not long afterward, Sabrina deleted the post.
Then she sent me a very long message.
She said nothing had ever happened between her and Callum.
She said she'd only asked Callum for help each time because she'd had no other choice.
She also said she'd repay him in installments for the money he'd spent on her weddings.
I scrolled all the way to the bottom of the message.
"Elena, I know my presence may have affected your relationship with Callum."
"I'll explain everything to my relatives, and I'll stay away from Callum. You don't need to worry."
I stared at those words and couldn't help laughing.
Sabrina and I had been friends for ten years.
She'd known Callum for less than two.
Yet now, she was telling me she'd stay away from him.
It sounded as though I were the one who shouldn't have been in their way.
I pressed my fingers against my forehead, set my phone aside, and didn't reply.
The ceiling light was so bright that it hurt my eyes.
I closed them and thought back to when I'd first met Sabrina.
We'd been in high school.
Our teacher had assigned our seats, placing us next to each other.
At first, I hadn't liked her.
She never studied and spent all her time thinking about when she might get to date the most popular boy in school.
She hadn't liked me, either.
She thought I was too quiet and didn't want to get close to anyone.
Then one day, a group of students known for bullying others cornered me outside the school gates.
Sabrina showed up with the police and helped get them away from me.
After that, we grew closer and closer.
I helped her with the math and science classes she could never seem to understand.
And whenever someone said something cruel to me, she stood up for me.
Back then, I'd genuinely believed we'd be best friends forever.
I eventually fell asleep without realizing it.
Just before drifting off, I had one last thought.
If only everything that had happened today were just a dream.
When I woke up the next morning, I picked up my phone.
The screen showed more than a hundred missed calls from Callum.
I had barely connected the call when his furious voice exploded through the speaker.
"Elena! Sabrina left because of you!"
"Are you happy now?!"