Overshadowed stars

Under the pressure from our families constantly urging us to marry, my childhood friend Jeremy Kirk and I forged a fake marriage certificate.

Beneath the fireworks, he was passionately embracing his idealized love.

Meanwhile, I found myself cornered by Jason Wheeler.

"Interested in swapping husbands?" he asked.

I lowered my gaze, hiding the smile in my eyes.

He took the bait!

1

"On such an important holiday like Christmas, you're not going to stand me up again, are you?"

I stared at the message that vanished into thin air, then at the dishes on the table that had already gone cold.

A sense of melancholy washed over me.

Today was actually my birthday.

Jeremy had promised confidently in the morning that he'd be back early.

Looking at the empty house, I hesitated for a few seconds before deciding to call him.

But my best friend's Arya video call came through first.

"Maria, is Jeremy not home?"

My heart tightened suddenly.

"How do you know that? Is something wrong?"

Arya on the video seemed hesitant, then turned the camera around.

"Look at that person. Is that your husband?"

In the video, fireworks lit up the night, and in the central square, a couple was embracing passionately.

The tall, handsome man was wearing the down jacket I had picked out for him.

Opposite him was a petite, sweet woman, wearing a scarf I recognized.

It was the one I bought, a festive bright red, one for each of us.

I felt a bit disoriented.

Had Jeremy's dream girl, Corynn Dixon returned?