The Groom Swap

On the eve of our wedding, I found a secret digital diary my girlfriend had written for her first love.

I was about to confront her when my phone buzzed. It was her.

Wyatt, I'm going to be late coming home from the reunion tonight, she said, her voice casual.

A second later, a notification popped up on my feed from her obsession, Jasper.

The caption read, "A candlelit dinner just for the two of us."

In the photo, Selena was draped across Jasper's lap, lost in a passionate kiss.

I didn't cry. I just smiled and called the wedding planner to change the groom's name to Jasper's.

On our wedding day, while Selena was frantically looking for me, I was already on a plane to London to start my PhD.

1.

I read every single word of the ten-thousand-word love letter Selena wrote to Jasper.

Every line was dripping with a raw, unfiltered devotion she had never shown me.

I always knew she was a talented writer, but I didn't know she could be this poetic.

It was beautiful enough to make my eyes sting and my heart feel like it was being shredded by a dull blade.

Everything she mentioned in that letter was a memory we had never shared.

When we first started dating, I bought tickets for the High Roller Ferris wheel.

I wanted to kiss her at the very top and promise to love her forever.

But when she realized where we were, she didn't smile.

She tore the tickets to shreds and slapped me across the face, calling me childish and pathetic.

I was devastated back then, but I actually spent months reflecting on whether I was too immature for her.

Now, I finally see the truth. It wasn't about maturity.

The Ferris wheel was their special place, a memory reserved only for Jasper. I wasn't worthy of stepping into it.

Jasper's Instagram was still blowing up with updates.

He posted photos of their gourmet courses and the expensive gifts Selena had handpicked for him.

Every post was a public declaration of how much she adored him.

In the comments, our mutual friends were busy wishing them a lifetime of happiness.

Selena's best friend, who usually looked at me like I was gum on her shoe, was cheering the loudest.

She commented about how Selena was finally free from her misery and back with her soulmate.

I let out a hollow laugh.

If Jasper was her soulmate, then what was I?

Was I just the intruder who had been occupying his rightful place for three years?

Maybe I was. Selena had gone all out to plan a romantic candlelit dinner for him.

Meanwhile, she told me she was skipping dinner because she was on a strict diet for the wedding.

I clenched my fists until my knuckles turned white. My chest felt like it was being crushed by an invisible hand.

When I saw Selena reply with a simple "Thank you" followed by a heart emoji, I made my decision.

Our wedding was only two weeks away.

The venue was booked, and the catering was paid for.

Since I wouldn't be using any of it, I figured I'd just let them have it.

The wedding would go on, but the groom would be someone else.

I called the wedding coordinator and told them to swap my name for Jasper's on everything.

After hanging up, I immediately called my old college mentor.

"Professor Whitman, I've decided to take that spot in the London program."

Professor Whitman paused, his voice bursting with relief.

"Wyatt! You've finally come to your senses! That's the spirit!"

"You have too much talent to waste on things that don't matter," he added.

Professor Whitman had always been my biggest supporter.

He had begged me to apply for the Ivy Leagues or prestigious European schools because of my grades.

But I had turned him down every time. I wanted to stay here and work a high-paying job just to take care of Selena and her expensive habits.

But a month ago, when he mentioned that I could use my exam scores to fast-track a career move or a PhD, I had hesitated.

Now, I had my acceptance letter in hand. I was going to London.

I remembered when I first told Selena I got a massive raise at work.

She had just sneered at me. "Only an extra three thousand a month? That barely covers one of my dinners. You're such a loser, Wyatt."

Her lack of love was always glaringly obvious. I just chose to be blind because I loved her.

In this moment, I finally decided to let go.

I booked my one-way ticket for the morning of the wedding. Then, I called Selena to end it.

Before I could say a word, Jasper's voice came through the line.

"Is this Wyatt? You can talk to me. Selena's wasted, and she's already crashed in my bed."

His voice was smooth, cold, and utterly calm.

He spoke about my girlfriend spending the night at his place as if he were discussing the weather.

He had all of Selena's love, so of course he felt untouchable.

When I didn't respond, he sent a photo of Selena curled up in his arms, fast asleep.

"Oops, sorry Wyatt. My finger slipped and hit the camera button," he texted back mockingly.

I let out a sharp, cold chuckle.

"No worries," I replied. "Since she's asleep, I won't disturb your night."

2.

I sat on the sofa all night, staring at the stars through the window.

I couldn't sleep even if I wanted to.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Selena's flushed face as she lay in Jasper's bed.

I tried not to care, but letting go of three years of devotion doesn't happen in a heartbeat.

As the sun began to peek over the horizon, I put on my coat and walked out the door.

Near the flower beds downstairs, I ran right into the two of them.

Jasper saw me first. He raised a provocative eyebrow and pulled Selena closer.

He turned a quick peck into a deep, performative kiss right in front of me.

My hands balled into fists. I had to fight the urge to break his jaw.

I turned to walk away, my heart pounding in my ears.

"Wyatt! Get back here!" Selena barked.

I stopped but didn't turn around. She stumbled toward me, smelling like cheap tequila and expensive perfume.

"What the hell did you say to Jasper last night?" she demanded.

I looked at her, confused. "What are you talking about?"

Her face darkened instantly. She reached out and slapped me hard across the cheek.

"Stop playing dumb! Jasper couldn't sleep all night after your call. He insisted on driving me home before dawn."

"I just spent one night at a friend's house. Do you have to be such a dramatic prick?" she spat.

I ran my tongue over my aching cheek and looked at Jasper, who was smirking.

"Mr. Sterling, aren't you going to explain the situation to her?" I asked calmly.

Jasper's smug expression faltered for a second. He hadn't expected me to be so composed.

He cleared his throat and walked over to Selena, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Selena, honey, you've got it wrong. Wyatt didn't really say anything mean."

"I just felt like we should be careful. I didn't want people spreading rumors about us being alone together," he lied smoothly.

"Who would dare spread rumors!" Selena's voice rose, her eyes boring into mine.

The threat was loud and clear.

I didn't argue. She grabbed Jasper's hand, her voice dripping with disdain for me.

"We grew up together. What's wrong with a little get-together after so long?"

"So what if we stayed in the same room? If Jasper wanted me, I would've been his years ago. Some people just don't know their place."

Jasper couldn't hide his triumphant grin as she spoke.

"Enough!"

My heart was already in pieces. I had reached my limit.

I used to think that even if she wasn't passionate, she still loved me in her own way. I thought marrying her would be the highlight of my life.

Now I realized it was all a pathetic fantasy. I was the only one in this relationship.

Without another word, Selena hopped back into Jasper's car.

The exhaust fumes hit my face as the engine roared and they sped away.

I watched them until they disappeared from sight, then I got into my own car.

I spent the morning driving aimlessly, trying to settle my mind.

Once I felt numb enough, I headed to the office.

I had two weeks left. I needed to wrap up my projects and hand everything over.

I organized all my files and sat down with my colleague to explain the trickier parts of the transition.

When I noticed him spacing out, I tapped his desk. "Did you catch that? I can go over it again."

Jared looked at me, his expression a mix of pity and confusion.

"You're such a good guy, Wyatt. I don't get why Selena doesn't see that."

"Is it true? Are you really moving to London because of her? Tell me the truthDare you ever coming back?"

I froze for a second, then gave him a casual smile. "Maybe not."

Jared had known Selena since they were kids. Her parents had actually wanted them to get married once.

But they had zero chemistry, so it never happened.

Since he found out I was her boyfriend, he'd dropped hints about Jasper. He'd asked me how much I really knew about their 'friendship.'

Back then, I told him they were just childhood friends. He had gone silent for a long time before telling me not to love her too much.

When I asked why, he just joked that she was too pretty and would break my heart.

I remembered my response vividly. I had been so arrogant.

"Selena and I are great. That won't happen. Just make sure you're ready for the wedding!"

Looking back, those words were a joke. I was the punchline.

3.

News of my move to London spread through our old college group chat like wildfire.

Everyone was blowing up my phone with congratulations and jokes about not forgetting the 'little people' when I got famous.

I played along, keeping things light and friendly.

The class president suggested we have one last big blowout dinner tonight before I left.

I agreed and set the time and place.

After work, I headed straight to the restaurant.

But my old used car broke down on the highway. By the time I made it to the private dining room, everyone was already there.

And there were two uninvited guests.

One of our old classmates explained, "I ran into Selena and her friend in the lobby. Since you were hosting, I told them to join us."

I just nodded and took a breath.

Selena and Jasper were sitting side by side, whispering and laughing. When she saw me walk in, she rolled her eyes.

"Finally, the man of the hour!" someone joked. "You're late, Wyatt. That's three shots as a penalty!"

I forced a smile. "Sorry, guys. Car trouble. I'll take the shots."

Selena's voice cut through the room like ice.

"You're still driving that piece of junk? It's embarrassing, Wyatt. Do you really have to brag about your car breaking down? You're making us look bad."

I knew she hated that car.

But she never stopped to think why I drove it. I made a six-figure salary.

The only reason I drove a beater was because every spare cent I had went to her designer bags and her lifestyle.

The room went dead silent. Everyone looked at me awkwardly.

The class president jumped in to break the tension. "Sit down, Wyatt. We're starving. Let's order."

As the food arrived, the conversation started to flow again.

Everyone knew Selena was my fianc.

But no one knew who Jasper was.

After a few rounds of drinks, the class president leaned in, his voice loud with liquid courage.

"Wyatt, I gotta ask. Isn't that your girl? Why is she practically sitting in that other guy's lap? Did I miss a breakup announcement?"

I kept a calm smile on my face and glanced at the two of them.

"They're childhood friends," I said simply. "They've always been close."

I didn't want to air my dirty laundry in front of everyone.

I was just glad I hadn't sent out the formal wedding invitations yet. I had been waiting for the 'perfect' custom paper to arrive.

If I had, the embarrassment would have been unbearable.

"Jasper, try the shrimp," Selena said, peeling one and holding it to his lips.

Jasper leaned in, taking it from her fingers while making sure to lick them provocatively.

"You remembered it's my favorite," Jasper whispered, loud enough for me to hear.

Selena looked at him with a gaze so tender it made my stomach turn. "I remember everything about you. I always will."

The class president's eyes went wide. I just raised my glass and downed the rest of my drink.

Selena had a pile of shrimp shells on her plate.

She spent the next ten minutes peeling the entire platter and lining them up perfectly on Jasper's plate.

I tried to look away, but it was like watching a car crash.

I realized then that Jasper was the one who loved shrimp.

Selena remembered his favorite food, but she always forgot that I was deathly allergic to shellfish.

She was willing to peel shrimp for him, but she wouldn't even pour me a glass of water when I was sick with the flu.

The evidence of her lack of love was everywhere. I had just been too stupid to see it.

When the main courses were finished, the waiter brought out two complimentary fruit platters.

Selena reached for a piece of watermelon for Jasper, but then she saw the strawberries touching it.

She slammed her fork down, shattering the plate.

"Wyatt, did you do this on purpose? You know Jasper is deathly allergic to strawberries!"

The room went into a total freeze. No one breathed.

I sat there, perfectly still. I looked at her, and for the first time, I didn't feel any love. Just exhaustion.

It was funny, really.

Since I walked in, she had only spoken to me once, and it was to insult me.

This was her second time speaking to me all nightDand it was to scream at me for her obsession's sake.

I stood up and looked Jasper dead in the eye.

"My apologies, Mr. Sterling. I didn't realize I needed psychic powers to manage your allergies."

4.

Because of Selena's outburst, the party ended on a sour note.

The class president stayed behind to walk me out. He gave me a supportive pat on the shoulder and wished me luck in London.

Selena caught the tail end of the conversation. She marched over and grabbed my arm.

"London? What the hell are you talking about, Wyatt? Why didn't I know about this? Who gave you permission to leave?"

It was a barrage of questions.

I actually laughed. She hadn't heard a single word the group had been saying for the last two hours about my future.

I shook her hand off. "Why does it matter to you where I go?"

"You piece ofD"

She grit her teeth, her face red with rage. "What is with this attitude? Do you want to break up? Is that it?"

Jasper stepped up behind her, his voice mocking.

"Selena, don't be too hard on him. Wyatt probably didn't mean to talk back. He's going to start crying and begging you to stay any second now."

Selena smirked. "You know what? I am done. We're breaking up. The wedding is off! I'm not dealing with this shit anymore!"

I looked at them both, stunned for a second, then I let out a long, relieved breath.

I should have known.

She probably told Jasper every pathetic thing I'd ever done for her as a joke.

I had loved her so much it was sickening. I had humored every whim and tolerated every insult.

Whenever she threatened to leave, I would hold her and cry until she got annoyed and stayed.

But now? I didn't care.

I used her own cold tone against her. "Fine. I agree. Let's break up."

Selena froze. "Are you serious? I'll give you one chance to get on your knees and apologize."

"I'm serious," I said.

She narrowed her eyes, studying me. "Fine. But don't you dare come crawling back tomorrow crying for forgiveness. I won't take you back."

I didn't even bother answering. I just turned and walked out.

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