Chapter 3: The Bachelor Party Betrayal

"No," Bastian answered quickly. "After last time? I wouldn't dare have anything to do with her."

"The whole group cut her off, too."

He stared at me, waiting for my approval.

"It's just the guys. I swear, no women."

I agreed.

But after everything that had happened, I didn't trust a "bachelor party" as far as I could throw it. So I went with him.

The party was in a private room at the back of a bar.

Bastian's friends, who barely knew me, paid me little attention.

I found a seat to the side while they drank and joked among themselves, the air thick with forced revelry.

Halfway through the night, the door was pushed open.

Gina poked her head in, dressed in a tight black miniskirt.

The same group that had been ignoring me a moment ago immediately erupted.

"Gina, you look hot as hell tonight."

Gina gave a soft, knowing snort, pulled out a chair, and sat down across from Bastian. "What, you're just noticing? I've always been a woman."

The room grew even louder.

Bastian said nothing. Amid the catcalls and teasing, Gina walked over and settled herself onto his lap.

"Everyone else seems to think I look good today."

"Why won't you even look at me? What, are you shy?"

Bastian's ears turned bright red. It took him a long moment to force out a single sentence.

"You look good."

But his hands hovered in the air, making no move to push her away.

Gina looked pleased. Then, as if just remembering I was there, she stood up.

"Oh, I almost forgot Meredith was here. You're not going to go tattling to his parents again, are you?"

Before I could respond, Bastian tugged on the hem of my shirt.

"Meredith, don't make a scene."

"My friends are all here. Let me save face. Please."

I didn't want to make things uglier than they already were, so I bit my tongue.

But Gina looked at me, chin high, as if she'd already won. "You're marrying Bastian in a few days."

"I'm the closest person to him, so I should probably break you in."

She turned to the others. "Go get a basin of hot water."

The group, though clueless, laughed and scurried off to do her bidding.

Gina shoved the basin into my hands.

"Go on. Wash my best friend's feet. Help him relax."

"Bastian's family is loaded. He's the one with the money. It's only right you take care of him."

I didn't waste a single word. I lifted the basin and poured the hot water directly over her head.

"You keep throwing around the word 'best friend.' What does that even make you?"

"Wasn't the slap Mrs. Wilson gave you last time enough? Are you looking for another one?"

Gina, who clearly hadn't expected me to fight back, shrieked.

"Bastian! Look at this woman you're marrying!"

"If she dares to treat me like this now, once you're married, she'll be walking all over you!"

I slapped her again. "If you're in love with Bastian, just say it."

"You keep provoking me because you need to prove you're more important to him than I am, don't you?"

"Then let me tell *you* something. The Wilsons are the ones who want this marriage. I'm not the one desperate to marry Bastian."

I raised my hand to strike her again, but Bastian caught my wrist.

His expression was glacial.

"Enough, Meredith. Will you only be happy when you've chased all my friends away?"

He pulled a towel from a nearby chair and draped it around Gina's shoulders.

"You'll catch a cold. You wanted a foot wash? Fine. I'll wash them for you."

Gina actually laughed.

"I knew it. You still care about me."

A knot formed in my chest. I reached for Bastian's arm.

He didn't even look at me. He just brought over another basin of hot water.

He tested the temperature with his hand, then took Gina's ankle and began to wash her foot.

The whole room erupted in jeers.

"Damn, Bastian, you've got balls." "His fiancee is standing right there, and he's washing another woman's feet."

"Aren't you afraid she'll make your life hell?"

"Nobody could ever replace Gina. They grew up together."

"Gina's right."

"You've got to teach the new girl the rules early, or she'll think she can run the show."

As their voices washed over me, I took out my phone and placed a video call to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson.

"Mrs. Wilson, your son is acting up again."

"Mr. Wilson, it seems he has no intention of ever taking over your company."