His friend, Tristan, had always cared for him.
But because of his wife, Helena's words, he doubted him, scolded him, punched him, kicked him, and finally kept his distance from him.
This time, he wouldn't let that happen.
"Why are you crying looking at me? Did you really fall in love with me?" Tristan asked again. But this time, he looked serious, unlike earlier.
Vernon chuckled.
Tristan smiled seeing that Vernon finally laughed. From the moment he woke up, his emotions were all over the place. He was worried for him.
Vernon sighed, "I need your help."
"What is it?" Tristan raised his eyebrow and looked at him in complete seriousness.
Vernon gestured for him to come near and whispered something in his ear.
Tristan's brows knitted when he heard Vernon's words, "Vernon. Have you gone mad? Why do you want to do such a thing? It would hurt Helena so much."
Unlike Vernon, Tristan did not care to lower his voice at all. So Vernon's assistant, Noah, and his other friend, Theo, in the front had heard his words very clearly.
Noah did not dare to speak but Theo frowned and turned back, "What stupidity are you both planning in the back?"
He did not wait for any of the two men to speak before he continued, "Helena had just lost her mother a couple of days ago. This is not the time to play any sort of pranks on her. Do you understand?"
Tristan nodded his head like a chick pecking for rice as he was really scared of Theo when he was serious.
Like everyone in their group of friends, Theo was a man who had fun with them every time but when compared with everyone else, he was the most serious. When he turned serious, everyone was scared of him.
"I am not pranking," Vernon looked serious.
Noah frowned and looked at him. He wanted to ask him what was happening but he did not.
When he saw how serious Vernon looked, he felt that it wasn't his place to speak at this moment.
Tristan looked at Vernon as well. He did not understand what had gotten into Vernon at all. "Are you sure about this?"
Vernon took a deep breath and nodded.
"Fine. If that's what you really want, then I will arrange it," Tristan did not ask anymore questions and took his phone out to make calls.
The air in the car turned tense instantly.
Just a few minutes ago, the car was filled with fun as they were escorting the groom towards his wedding. But now, everything has changed.
No one dared to ask Vernon any questions. This was the first time they had seen him so serious.
After a while, they reached the wedding venue. Once they were out of the car, they did not dare to have the same serious expression as they when they were inside.
They smiled politely and greeted everyone they met on the way.
No matter how much they tried to keep their expressions normal, not everyone could be easily fooled.
Vincent was one of them.
Vincent approached them with his wife, Jemma Hartland.
"Brother," Vernon smiled and greeted him. He then greeted Jemma as well, "Sister-in-law."
Jemma smiled and nodded, but Vincent did not do the same. Instead, he asked him, "What happened?"
"Huh? What do you mean by that, brother?" Vernon feigned confusion and asked.
Vincent raised an eyebrow.
Vernon fidgeted under his brother's deep gaze, scratched the back of his head, and chuckled nervously, "Ha ha, brother, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Aren't you going to tell me what is going on?" Vincent asked in his usually cold voice.
Vernon was scared and gulped his saliva. No words came out of his mouth.
Jemma grabbed Vincent's arm and gave him a look, "Don't scare him. Maybe he is just nervous about his wedding. Why are you scaring him more?"
Vernon nodded and gave his sister-in-law a look of gratitude.
Vincent looked at his wife, then at his brother, and slowly nodded.
Only after Vernon left to the room arranged for the groom, did he finally breathe.
Looking at his fleeing back, Vincent couldn't help but frown more. He looked at his wife and asked, "Do you really think he is just nervous about his marriage?"
Jemma sighed and shook her head. "He is definitely up to something. But do you think he was ready to share what he was planning? Anyway, even if he did something, aren't we here to take care of it? Just relax for now and don't frown."
Vincent thought of what his wife said deeply and nodded, "Hmm, you are right. Let's go."
***
"Please give a round of applause to welcome our beautiful bride, Helena Ford," The MC announced as Vernon was standing on the stage.
The door opened and Vernon saw the beautiful Helena standing there gracefully in her wedding gown.
Vernon took a deep breath. He was as mesmerized by her beauty as he did the first time.
He shook his head. 'No. I shouldn't fall for her beauty this time. Behind her beautiful face hid a dark soul that would usurp my entire family in the future. Don't fall for her tricks again, you idiot.' He scolded himself.
He calmed himself and patted his chest.
He opened his eyes and this time they did not have the shine he had earlier.
He turned to look at Tristan.
Tristan understood what his friend wanted and gave a nod. The arrangements were done and he doesn't have to worry.
Vernon nodded. 'No matter what, I won't get married this time. I don't want to marry.'
[I don't want to marry.]
Vernon heard a female voice, resonating his thoughts at the same time.
His eyes constricted. He knew this voice. He knew this voice more than anyone.
But what did he just hear?
He had heard that Helena doesn't want to get married?
What just happened? Why did the past change before he could even do anything?