My Fiance Rigged the Game for His Bestie? I Changed the Groom Chapter 02
“Whenever you’re ready, Alex.”
Alexander gave me a brief, apologetic glance before taking the paper and pen Madison offered him.
He drew a diagonal Sudoku puzzle at competition–level difficulty.
He had barely finished the grid when Madison began
writing, her pen moving without hesitation.
Less than a minute later, she slid the completed puzzle back to him.
“Did I get it right?”
Before Alexander could answer, I capped my own pen
and forced down the ache rising in my chest.
“You did.”
I looked at him, unable to understand why he was doing this.
If he wanted Madison in my wedding gown, he could have simply told me.
He didn’t have to stage a contest and call the humiliation fair.
“Mr. Caldwell isn’t even pretending to be impartial.”
“Madison, at least slow down and make it believable.
You haven’t touched Sudoku in years.”
“Why does she look ready for blood? She took her loss and left five years ago. Is today Claire’s turn?”
“Claire’s the one marrying Alex. What’s she supposed to wear if Madison takes the gown?”
“This has to be a joke. Alex wouldn’t actually humiliate Claire at her own wedding.”
“No one outside this room will know it was rigged. If word gets out that an award–winning coach lost to some random-”
The speaker stopped when Madison glanced over her shoulder.
When she turned back to me, triumph gleamed in her eyes.
“A deal’s a deal. I’m wearing the gown.
“Honestly, it’s not even my taste. It’s so overdone. Who needs this many diamonds on one dress?
“I may have them removed. I’ve always preferred something simpler.”
I followed her gaze to the gown waiting behind me.
It had cost four hundred fifty thousand dollars, and
Alexander had brought it back from Paris.
It was everything I had ever wanted in a wedding dress.
And yes, I was shallow enough to love every diamond on it.
My fingers curled into my palms as I looked at Alexander.
“Why?”
Why had he helped her cheat?
He knew exactly what I meant.
“You owe her,” he said. “Losing once won’t kill you.
I’m still marrying you.”
“No one rigged the game for me five years ago, and
there was never any wager
“You’re not backing out now, are you?”
Madison cut across me, her stare openly challenging.
Alexander’s mouth tightened. “A woman who marries
into the Caldwell family keeps her word.”
The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly.
Until then, everyone had assumed this was theater.
His words made it real.
I stared at the man I had planned to marry, swallowed
every ounce of hurt and anger, and nodded.
“Fine. A deal’s a deal.”
I had lost twice in one day.
First, my wedding gown.
Then, my marriage.
A deal was a deal.
I wouldn’t be marrying Alexander Caldwell.
I would be marrying Ethan Whitmore instead.
I pulled out my phone and sent him a message.
[I lost. I’ll be there in thirty minutes. Get ready to marry me.]