She was a dazzlingly beautiful bride. The pure white dress made her fair skin even more radiant, and her understated makeup and hair complemented her pure appearance, enough to capture one’s gaze.

In the bridal waiting room, the photographer capturing the image of the woman sitting on the spacious sofa forgot his duty and stared at her blankly. What kind of man would marry such a woman? As he was vaguely thinking, he came to his senses and asked.

“Bride, is the groom not here yet?”

Da Eun, who had been forcing a smile for the photo, slightly parted her lips.

“Ah, I’ll call him again.”

Da Eun took out the phone she had placed under her dress. Her bright and cheerful face was clearly filled with anxiety.

For the wedding that should be perfect, despite checking and confirming multiple times, an unexpected variable had occurred. Her husband-to-be, Young Hoon, who had even gotten his makeup done with her, said he had left something behind and rushed to the company, and now couldn’t be reached.

When she called for the third time, Young Hoon answered.

“Young Hoon, where are you?”

—Huff, huff, I’m almost there! I’ll, I’ll be there soon.

Young Hoon, seemingly running, answered with labored breath. After hanging up, Da Eun let out a sigh of relief. Still, she couldn’t completely relax.

She was worried about her mother greeting guests alone with her uncomfortable leg, and whether her immature younger brother would handle receiving the congratulatory money well. Above all, there was no contact from Ju Ri, who was supposed to give her the bouquet.

She had an ominous feeling that something bad was about to happen.

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The car was filled with hot and humid air.

The man and woman were entangled, frantically exploring each other’s lips. They were desperate to satisfy their lust.

The thrill of possibly being caught heightened their excitement. After a breathless moment passed, the woman stroked his shoulder.

“Young Hoon, hurry and get dressed. We’ll be late for the wedding.”

“Was it good?”

“Of course it’s always good with you, darling.”

Young Hoon exhaled a long, hot breath, seemingly satisfied with Ju Ri’s flirtatious words.

“I want to stay with you a little longer.”

“What about our poor Da Eun? She’d never dream that her fiancé and her friend are doing this even on her wedding day.”

Today was Young Hoon’s wedding day. And the bride was Ju Ri’s friend, Da Eun. Ju Ri embraced Young Hoon’s damp back with open arms.

“She must never know.”

Young Hoon, who had muttered this unconsciously, glanced at Ju Ri’s reaction. Her expression hardened for a moment, but then she smiled brightly and peeled him off her body.

“We’ll really be late.”

As if there was no choice, Young Hoon put on his clothes and opened the car door, then kissed Ju Ri’s forehead.

“I’ll go for now.”

“Shall I drive you to the venue?”

“No, I’ll take a taxi. See you in Jeju Island.”

“Okay.”

Ju Ri also straightened her white dress and neatly combed and tied up her disheveled hair.

Saying they’d meet in Jeju Island, their honeymoon destination, meant he was determined to go through with the wedding.

In the end, I’ll have to step in.

Rather, it’s for the best. At the wedding, the happiest moment, I’ll be able to shatter that happiness.

[I think I should tell the truth for my friend’s sake. Sorry, Young Hoon.]

After sending a message to Young Hoon, Ju Ri picked up the bouquet she had carefully placed on the back seat.

It was a bouquet she had personally prepared for today’s protagonist, the devoted and pitiable Da Eun.

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Da Eun was anxiously looking at her phone. Other guests had already taken pictures and left the waiting room, but her best friend and husband-to-be were still not here.

Just then, the sound of exceptionally loud high heels echoed, and Da Eun snapped out of her thoughts. It was Ju Ri, her closest friend from school days. As Ju Ri entered with her glamorous and sophisticated appearance, the bridal waiting room seemed to brighten even more.

The photographer and assistant gaped in astonishment. With her hair tied up in a bun, wearing a snow-white dress, and holding a bouquet in one hand, Ju Ri looked more like a bride than Da Eun.

“Sorry I’m late. Here.”

Ju Ri, who had promised to make the bouquet herself, appeared belatedly and handed it to Da Eun. Da Eun, who had been holding artificial flowers for the photos, received the bouquet and looked up at Ju Ri.

Because of Ju Ri, who seemed to have intentionally worn white, Da Eun found it difficult to smile easily. She knew Ju Ri was sometimes insensitive and put her in awkward situations, but she didn’t expect this today of all days.

“You’ve been preparing for a long time, haven’t you?”

At Ju Ri’s sudden words, Da Eun tilted her head.

“What?”

“The wedding, I mean.”

“…Well, yes.”

From getting Young Hoon’s parents’ permission to the meeting of families, the wedding hall, studio, and preparing household appliances and furniture, she had worked hard. Young Hoon had only given her a plain ring without any decorations, while Da Eun took charge of all the wedding preparations.

“I’ve been preparing for a long time too.”

Ju Ri muttered softly.

Ju Ri and Da Eun had a very long history. Despite her unfortunate family background, Da Eun was a girl who maintained a warm smile with her unblemished pretty face and gentle attitude. Ju Ri wondered if she could maintain that innocent face today, as if she knew nothing, as if she alone was the good person.

“Ju Ri, is something wrong?”

Ju Ri smiled brightly at Da Eun, who was looking up at her with a suspicious expression. Just as Da Eun always did.

“I’m pregnant.”

Blinking in surprise at Ju Ri’s words, Da Eun tilted her head slightly.

“Does that man you said you were seeing know?”

“Yes, he knows. We’re planning to get married.”

“That’s good…”

“I think it would work out if only you weren’t here.”

“What?”

“I said, I think we could get married if only you would disappear.”

Ju Ri handed over an ultrasound image from her bag. Da Eun stared at the picture blankly.

“It’s my child, Young Hoon’s and mine.”

As Young Hoon’s name left Ju Ri’s lips, Da Eun’s beautiful face began to distort.

“Yang Ju Ri. I don’t understand what you’re saying. Explain properly.”

Da Eun glared at Ju Ri as she spoke. Her eyes began to redden, and her lips trembled. Seemingly satisfied with Da Eun’s angry expression, which she had never seen before, Ju Ri chuckled before speaking.

“Your husband-to-be has been fooling around with me.”

Da Eun shook her head in disbelief. Ju Ri took out her phone and showed her the pictures. In the photos, Young Hoon and Ju Ri were smiling side by side, wearing shower robes.

Swiping to the side, a video played. Young Hoon showered Ju Ri with kisses as she giggled, asking where he was touching. Da Eun turned her head away as if averting her eyes from the two falling onto the bed. The assistant who was helping arrange Da Eun’s dress awkwardly cleared her throat and stepped back.

“You’re joking, right? This can’t be. How could you do this to me…”

Ju Ri was Da Eun’s best friend. From high school to college, and even working at the same company, they could comfortably share their innermost thoughts. Although Ju Ri sometimes acted insensitively, Da Eun believed she had a good heart. She was a friend who sincerely congratulated her on happy occasions and got angry on her behalf when something upsetting happened.

The same was true for Young Hoon. Unlike her ex-boyfriends who had coldly abandoned Da Eun saying they found someone else, he only had eyes for Da Eun and cherished her.

For these two to betray Da Eun and have an affair was unbelievable to her. No, she didn’t want to believe it.

“Look properly.”

Ju Ri thrust her phone in front of Da Eun’s face as she desperately tried to look away. The two people entangled and panting as they kissed were indeed Ju Ri and Young Hoon.

Da Eun felt like she was going to be sick and covered her mouth.

“On your second anniversary, remember when Young Hoon suddenly went on a business trip? This video is from when he went to Busan with me.”

Da Eun bit her lip hard. That day, Ju Ri had called her, asking if she was enjoying her second anniversary. It was the first time Da Eun had lied to Ju Ri. Not wanting her to worry, she said she was having a great time with Young Hoon.

“And these are our wedding photos from our 100th day together.”

Da Eun was dumbfounded. Young Hoon had taken wedding photos with Ju Ri at the same studio where he had taken them with Da Eun.

Da Eun recalled the day of their wedding photoshoot. Young Hoon had been uncooperative, claiming he was tired from work, and didn’t even smile properly in front of the camera. But next to Ju Ri, he was smiling so happily.

“You two really…”

Just then, Young Hoon entered the bridal waiting room. He looked urgent.

“Da Eun!”

Da Eun glared at Young Hoon with her lips tightly shut. Seeing her face desperately holding back tears, Young Hoon stammered, seemingly flustered.

“Uh, Da Eun. That, that is…”

Young Hoon couldn’t complete a proper sentence and hesitated. All the while, he kept glancing at Ju Ri. He seemed worried that Ju Ri might say something she shouldn’t. Watching Young Hoon’s behavior, Da Eun became certain. That Ju Ri’s words were true.

Ju Ri, apparently not satisfied with just that, lowered her voice and whispered in Da Eun’s ear.

“Senior Chang Bum and Seon Ho, I did that to them too.”

Chang Bum, Seon Ho.

As she repeated these names in her mind, Da Eun’s eyes widened.

Those two were Da Eun’s ex-boyfriends. Chang Bum and Seon Ho had unilaterally broken up with Da Eun, saying they had found someone else.

Her tightly closed lips trembled.

“Do you want to know how I seduced them?”

“Stop it, Yang Ju Ri.”

“I slept with them.”

Ju Ri cackled, saying they fell for her after just one night together.

“…Why are you doing this to me?”

“Young Hoon was worried about what to do with the wedding he had already set up. I’m telling you before the wedding out of consideration for our friendship.”

Ju Ri said this and then laughed out loud.

“So why…”

“Why am I telling you today of all days, you mean?”

Ju Ri patted Da Eun’s pale cheek, her lips full of smiles.

“That’s right, you said we were friends… That you wanted me to be happy!”

“That’s right. I wanted you to be happy. I wanted to tell you at your happiest moment. Because that way, you’d be more miserable.”

Ju Ri smiled as if she were happy. It was eerie enough to give one goosebumps. Ju Ri’s expression hardened for a moment as she whispered softly.

“I told you, didn’t I? That I had been preparing for a long time.”