Betrayed at the Altar：He Ruined My Name, So I Exposed His Secret

My best friend has been the golden boy since kindergarten. Me? I've been Scarface for as long as I can remember.

Girls have handed me over three thousand love letters throughout my life. Every single one was meant for him.

On my wedding day, Cedric Simmons showed up looking like he'd stepped off a magazine cover.

"Brother, you're finally getting your happily ever after!" He clapped my shoulder, grinning. "I'm here to make sure this day is perfect for you!"

Then he saw my bride's facethe kind of beauty that belonged on movie posters.

His congratulations died in his throat.

He recovered with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Irvin Dickerson, did you ever pick up that syphilis test result?"

Kate Mason turned to stare at me.

I shot Cedric a desperate look, willing him to shut up.

"You must be thinking of someone else. When have I ever been tested for syphilis?"

But he was already reaching past me, snatching the folder from my jacket.

"Don't be modest, brother! Remember? We tested for syphilis and HIV together. I was right there with you!"

He held up the report. Positive results glared back at me in black and white.

Cold sweat prickled down my spine.

He didn't know. That report wasn't mine.

It was his.

I'd prepared a best man speech for Cedric Simmons.

Instead, his out-of-nowhere accusation made me the center of attentionand not in a good way.

I locked eyes with him, silently pleading.

"Cedric, you've got this wrong. I've never been tested for syphilis."

"How could I be wrong?" His voice carried across the room, loud enough for every guest to hear. "You told me yourselfsyphilis and HIV. I went with you to the clinic! You think I'd forget something like that?"

"HIV too?!"

A guest shot to his feet, knocking over his wine glass. Red spread across the white tablecloth like a stain.

"How dare you invite us here! What if the groom touched the food? The drinks?"

"Exactly!" Another voice joined in. "You lured us here without telling us? What kind of people are you?"

Panic clawed at my chest. I turned to Kate, standing beside me in her white gown.

She was supposed to defend me. She was my wife.

But her gaze had drifted past me entirelyfixed on Cedric Simmons.

This was the first time she'd seen him in person. I'd mentioned my handsome best friend before. Back then, she'd laughed and thrown her arms around me.

"In my heart, my husband is the most attractive man in the world."

Now I recognized that look in her eyes. I'd seen it a thousand times growing upon every girl who'd ever laid eyes on Cedric. That stunned, breathless fascination.

Today, his hair was perfectly styled, his tailored suit accentuating his tall frame.

Kate wasn't going to help me. I was on my own.

I gripped the microphone until my knuckles went white.

"Cedric, you're mistaken. I've never had that kind of test!"

"Come on, don't play coy with me!" He was already striding toward my car, parked just outside. "I saw it earlierthe report's right in your front seat!"

He yanked open the door and rummaged inside.

"See? Right here!"

"Give that back!"

I lunged forward, ripping the paper from his hands before anyone else could see.

The reaction was instant. Every eye in the room sharpened with suspicion.

Cedric's face twisted into exaggerated shock.

"Irvin... why are you so nervous?" His voice dropped, thick with false concern. "Don't tell me you actually have it?"

"I don't!"

"Then let us see." He spread his hands, all innocence. "If the results are normal, everyone can relax. Problem solved."

My fingers tightened around the crumpled report.

Normal?

A dozen markers. Every single one positive.

If I showed this, Cedric Simmons would be finished. His reputation, his futuregone.

I still didn't understand why he was doing this. Why humiliate me at my own wedding?

But I couldn't stop remembering.

That rainy night when I was eight years old. A pack of kids had shoved me into the gutter, circling like hyenas, chanting ugly freak and scarface while mud soaked through my clothes.

Only one person had stepped between us.

"He got that scar saving someone's life! It's not his fault! What gives you the right to treat him like this?"

Cedric Simmons. My defender. My brother.

I couldn't destroy him.

Not even now.

Everyone praised himhandsome, kind-hearted, a genuine good guy.

For the first time in my life, I had someone willing to stand by my side.

So I wanted to protect him, just like I had when I was eight.

Even though I still didn't know how he'd contracted an STD.

I figured I'd ask him privately later.

"Cedric, pleaseyou can't show that report. I'm begging you. Do it as a favor to me."

Cedric frowned.

"Give you a favor? And who's going to look out for all these innocent people?"

His voice rose with righteous indignation. "Besides, does your wife even know about your... conditions? How could you do this to her!"

Kate glanced at him, surprise flickering across her face.

A hint of admiration crept into her gaze.

"Whether I've wronged her or not, I'll get tested with her later. That's between us." I kept my voice even. "You don't need to concern yourself."

I turned to leave.

A hand shot out and clamped around my wrist. The report was snatched away.

Cedric waved it in front of my face, his expression wounded but determined.

"Irvin, I know you. You've always been good at lying."

He shook his head slowly. "Normally, I'd play along. But this? This affects everyone's health. I can't just let it slide."

My jaw tightened. "What the hell are you talking about?"

But he was already unfolding the report.

I lunged forward and ripped it from his hands.

Tore it once. Twice. Three times.

Flung the pieces into the air.

They scattered like snow.

"Are you done?" I stared him down. "You won't be satisfied until everyone knows the 'truth,' is that it? I'm warning youyou'll regret this."

"No, I won't!"

Cedric's composure cracked, fury bleeding through.

"You're my best friend, but I can't cover for you! Someone who can't keep himself clean catches a disease, and whatthe rest of us are supposed to risk exposure because of you?"

I bit down hard, forcing the rage back.

"The report's gone. Say whatever you want. It doesn't matter now."

"Who says it's gone?"

He lifted his chin, a challenge in his eyes.

"If you're really sincere about this, let's go to the hospital right now and get another copy." He swept his arm toward the crowd. "Everyone here can come along. If you're clean, we'll all breathe easy. If you're not... well, we should probably get tested too."

His voice turned grave. "After all, you've touched so many things here. What if there's cross-contamination?"

I stared at him, disbelief hollowing out my chest.

"You really want to push me into a corner with no way out?"

Cedric's gaze darted to Katejust a flicker, barely a heartbeat.

Something triumphant gleamed in his eyes.

Then his face crumpled into an expression of pained sincerity.

"Irvin, I'm not trying to corner you. I just think... if you tell us the truth now, it won't delay your treatment."

I said nothing.

He stepped closer, reaching out to pat my hand.

"I know this disease is serious. But as your best friend, I would never abandon you." His grip tightened, warm and reassuring. "I'll be right there with you through treatment. Every step of the way."

His palm pressed against the back of my hand.

A chill crawled up my spine.

I had a small cut on my hand.

And his medical report had barely shown a single normal reading.

Kate's eyes lingered on Cedric.

"Irvin, your buddy's a real man."

"Right? I noticed him the moment he walked intall, long legs, ridiculously good-looking."

"Handsome and noble."

"Meanwhile, who knows how this ugly one caught that kind of disease. Are there really women out there with a fetish for hideous men? I mean, look at that scarred-up face."

My teeth ground together.

"Cedric." My voice came out low, controlled. "You're sure you want to go to the hospital right now? Get the report? With everyone watching?"

"Absolutely!"

One of the guests couldn't contain himself. "You'd better pray you're clean. If you're not, every single one of us will sue you into the ground!"

I ignored him.

My eyes stayed locked on Cedric.

"You're sure?"

Cedric glanced at Kate.

"Irvin, I really am doing this for your own good."

I nodded slowly.

"Then don't regret it."

On the way to the hospital, I couldn't shake the unease coiling in my chest.

I didn't understand.

Why had Cedric always been so good to me, only to transform into a completely different person at the wedding?

Announcing to everyone that I had some filthy disease.

Demanding to get to the bottom of it.

A terrible thought flickered through my mind

Every single one of Cedric's friends was plain-looking at best.

Could it really be true, what people said online? That some people deliberately surrounded themselves with less attractive friends just to make themselves shine brighter?

I shook my head hard.

I refused to believe it.

Our little procession swept into the hospital, and I was pushed to the front of the department office.

"Excuse medid he pick up a report here recently?"

Cedric asked the doctor.

The doctor studied my face for a moment, then nodded.

Cedric's eyes went wide.

"Irvin, you really did...

"Why didn't you tell me? Why did you come get it alone? I told you I'd come with you!"

"What?"

Kate stared at me in disbelief.

"You came to pick up the report by yourself?"

I kept my expression flat. Said nothing.

She grabbed my arm.

"Irvin Dickerson! You are hiding something from me!"

"I'm not!"

"Then why did you come alone? What are you so afraid your friend will find out?"

"I was afraid that"

I stopped mid-sentence.

Turned to look at Cedric.

That day, we'd both gotten tested.

But only my phone number was left on file.

I'd originally planned to pick up the results with Cedric.

But then the doctor calledand told me Cedric's results were bad.

That's when I decided to collect them first. For him.

After a moment's hesitation, I kept my mouth shut.

Kate's brows drew together.

"You bastard!"

She shoved me hard.

"This is how you treat me?

"Did you fake the premarital exam too? Are you trying to kill me? If Cedric hadn't told me the truth, would I have ended up just like you?"

I opened my mouth to speakbut a familiar figure burst through the crowd.

A palm cracked across my face.

I stared at the person before me, unable to process what had just happened.

"Mom?"

"You worthless disgrace!"

My mother's eyes were red-rimmed, her finger jabbing at my chest.

"You really do have that disgusting disease! What the hell have you been doing?

"I thoughtyes, your face got scarred, but at least you were still a good kid at heart. I never imagined you'd let yourself sink this low!"

I tried to explain. "That's not it, Mom. I"

"Stay back!"

She cut me off.

"What did I always teach you? A person doesn't have to be good-looking, but they must have integrity. Did all my words go in one ear and out the other?

"Do you have any idea how hard it was to raise you? And this is how you repay merunning around doing God knows what?"

My eyes burned.

"Mom, I really didn't. That report isn't mineI picked it up for someone else!"

"Irvin, why are you still lying?"

Cedric stepped forward, gently steadying my mother's arm.

"That day, it was just the two of us getting tested. If you 'picked it up for someone else,' you're basically saying you picked it up for me, right?

"I know you don't want to accept that you have this disease. But you can't drag me down with you by spreading lies.

"Apologize to your mother. Now."

Mom wiped her tears.

"Look at Cedric. Now look at yourself! You're not as handsome as he is, and your character isn't even half as good!"

My fists clenched so tight my knuckles ached.

"Mom, the report hasn't even been printed yet. How can you already decide I'm the one with bad character?"

"Do we even need to ask?"

The guests who'd rushed over could barely contain themselves.

"Cedric's had admirers lining up his whole lifehow many has he ever said yes to?"

"A guy like him doesn't need to chase anyone. Only someone as pathetic as you would sleep around just to prove you've still got some shred of appeal."

"Tch! Honestly, I have no idea what Kate ever saw in you."

Kate wouldn't even look at me now.

"If we hadn't worked well together at the company, I never would've considered him."

My fists trembled at my sides.

A nurse's voice came from behind me.

"The reportyou wanted a reprint, right?"

Cedric snatched it before anyone else could move.

I grabbed his wrist.

Locked eyes with him.

"You sure you want to look?"

Cedric recoiled like I'd burned him, yanking his hand free.

"Irvin, you're in a special category now. Watch what you do. You've got cuts on your handsdon't go touching people. What if your blood gets on someone?"

The moment those words left his mouth, every person in the room instinctively stepped back, putting distance between themselves and me.

I lowered my gaze. Said nothing.

Just watched him.

Kate had stopped pretending there was any distance between her and Cedric. They stood closetoo closeheads bent together as they flipped open the report, tension carved into both their faces.

"Positive!!"

A shriek.

Cedric flipped frantically through the remaining pages.

His face drained of color.

He looked at me. Took two steps back.

"Irvin... over thirty markers, and seventeen came back abnormal?"

Kate held the report in shaking hands.

Her teeth clenched so hard I could see the muscle jump in her jaw.

"Syphilis. HIV. Gonorrhea. And hepatitis B. Irvin Dickerson!!"

She pointed at me, finger trembling with rage.

"What the hell have you been doing behind my back? Something this seriousand you had the nerve to hide it and trick me into marriage?!"

The guests erupted.

"He has that many diseases? Quicksomeone take me to get tested!"

My mother's eyes rolled back. She swayed, about to collapse.

Cedric and the others rushed to catch her.

They eased her into a chair. Her hand shook as she pointed at me.

"This child... I don'tI don't want him anymore!"

"Of course you don't. A wonderful woman like you shouldn't be ruined by her own son."

My mother broke into sobs.

Someone charged forward and grabbed my collar.

"You'd better pray our tests come back clean. If they don't, I'll kill you right here. If we're going down, you're coming with us!"

Another guest lunged to grab his arm.

"Are you insane?! You're touching him! What if you get infected?!"

The man's breath caught.

He shoved me away hard.

Pulled out a wet wipe and scrubbed frantically at every spot where he'd touched me.

I stumbled back a few steps. Steadied myself.

Looked at the circle of hostile eyes surrounding me.

And said, quietly:

"I'm not sick."

The report hit my chest and fell to the floor.

"You're still lying?! All those abnormal markersare you blind?!"

"There should be a law to execute people like you! You filthy disease carriers! You get your fun, and then you expect the rest of uspeople who actually keep ourselves cleanto share the risk?!"

I just looked at them. Calm.

"I said. I'm not sick."

"Irvin."

Cedric stepped forward.

"I know you didn't want us to find out. But this is your own fault."

"Your lifestyle was dirty. That's why you have all these diseases."

"You got your pleasurenow you deal with the consequences. You don't get to lie and deceive and drag innocent people down with you."

"The rest of us kept ourselves clean. We deserve a clean future."

I smiled and said nothing.

The guests, however, immediately piled on:

"Mr. Simmons is right! If you want to die, do it yourself!"

"Ugly inside and outthank God Mr. Simmons exposed you today, or who knows what tricks you would've pulled!"

"The results are in!"

One of the guests had gotten their report.

One glance, and they collapsed to the floor:

"Abnormal markers... It's over. I've been infected?"

"What the hell! Mine's flagged red too!"

"No... this can't be happening. No!"

Cedric frowned and turned to me:

"Irvin! Look what you've done!!"

I picked up one of the reports. "I told you. I'm not the one who's sick."

"Still lying through your teeth!"

A guest charged at me, fist already swinging toward my face.

I shoved the report right into his face:

"You people only look at numbersnever at the name?"

He froze.

"Wait... the name on this report is..."

"Cedric Simmons?!"