My Fiancé's 'Girl' Gave Me a Buzzcut. I Gave Her a Subpoena for Their Wedding. novel Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I spent the whole night filling out paperwork and getting my shit together.

So focused I didn't even notice when Cade came home.

Not till he was standing right in front of me. I glanced up for a second, then went back to typing.

Cade's face went cold instantly: "VERA!"

Before, I'd always jump up the second he walked in.

But this time I just kept working.

He thought I was being cold on purpose. His face went dark.

I didn't stop typing. Just said casually: "Oh. You home."

Cade froze.

He'd never been treated this cold by me before. Anger flashed across his face.

I don't even get why he was so pissed.

Was it 'cause I didn't ask where he'd been and start a fight like usual?

"Vera, can you fucking stop? It's just hair. Why are you still making this a thing?"

Before, getting yelled at for no reason, I would've yelled right back.

But now? I just smiled.

"You're wrong. I'm not pissed—just swamped."

That stopped him cold.

He pressed his lips together, then—weirdly—started explaining: "I was late 'cause I took Harper home. She got totally wasted. I wasn't about to ditch her at night. Don't start thinking I'm cheating or whatever."

I frowned and looked at him.

"I'm really not mad. You don't gotta explain."

Cade stiffened. "You're... really not mad?"

I laughed: "You guys literally grew up together. Obviously you're gonna help her."

For a second, confusion actually crossed Cade's face.

I didn't care. Just walked past him toward the study.

The second I got to the door, Cade's angry voice exploded behind me.

"Vera! What the hell are you doing?!"

"I was being SO reasonable, and you're STILL acting like this!"

I stared at him, completely baffled.

"What did I even do?"

I literally just wanted to grab a file from the study.

But Cade looked like I'd personally attacked him.

"Vera, I thought you finally grew up. Guess not!"

"You're staying put till you figure this out. And forget about the wedding until you realize you're wrong!"

There wasn't gonna be a wedding anyway.

Lost count of how many times we tried planning one.

Never happened once.

First time, night before the wedding, Harper burned her hand. Cade canceled everything to take care of her.

Second time, Harper "accidentally" fed me cake with mango in it even though she knew I was allergic. I passed out and the whole thing fell apart.

Third time, Harper "accidentally" shredded my wedding dress with scissors. Another delay.

...

Eventually I went completely numb.

So this time when Cade brought up the wedding, I didn't book a venue. Didn't tell anyone.

Turns out I was right not to.

Cade sneered at me but didn't leave.

Few minutes later, he slammed the door and stormed out.

I knew exactly why he was mad.

For once he'd thrown me a bone. And I didn't take it.

I smiled to myself.

After organizing my documents, I got ready to email them to my mentor.

Accidentally my finger slipped—ended up on Harper's Instagram.

Just posted. Minutes ago.

In the video, Harper was sitting on Cade's lap, both of them drinking from the same glass looking intimate as hell.

Just a little closer and her lips would've been on his.

Caption said: [shared a drink = he's mine now]

Cade had liked it.

All their mutual friends were commenting congrats and heart emojis.

I stared at it like I was watching strangers. Weirdly calm.

Tapped the screen and left a genuine comment:

[omg so cute!!! when's the wedding?? save me a seat lol]