Chapter 1: The Prank That Changed Everything

A familiar chorus of laughter echoed down the hallway, glasses clinking and shoes squeaking on the hardwood as if the whole town wanted a peek at our big moment. The air was thick with the smell of cake, champagne, and wild excitement—until Jake barged in, dragging the party’s chaos right into our room.

The hallway was alive with shouts and the thud of someone dropping a tray. My hand was still on the doorknob when Jake barged in, reeking of whiskey and trouble. He crashed down onto the comforter, then rolled over, making himself at home like it was his own damn bed. Grinning wide, he just slung his arm around Emily’s waist like it was nothing, looking right at me, like he was waiting for me to blow. Our friends howled, phones up, egging us on. For a second, it felt like the whole world was holding its breath, waiting for me to snap.

“Emily’s getting married for the first time. As her big brother, I’ve got to help her test the bed!”

Jake winked, throwing that lopsided grin around the room—the same one that probably got him out of trouble back in middle school. His voice boomed over the laughter, and someone in the back whistled. The joke was old, but the way he hugged Emily felt raw and way too real.

I thought he was just some loudmouth who didn’t know when to quit. Only later did I learn that the night before our wedding, my wife and Jake had fought—right on our wedding bed. I was so angry I wanted a divorce. But my ex-mother-in-law refused to return the $28,000 engagement gifts, and even claimed her daughter had slept with me for three years and now wanted another $140,000 in compensation.

That night, my world flipped upside down. What started as a dumb prank turned into accusations, money, and betrayal. Suddenly, all the old traditions—engagement gifts, family pride—became weapons in a war I never saw coming. I stood in my empty apartment, receipts and text messages scattered across the coffee table, wondering if any of it had ever been real.