I Let Him Watch Me Marry Someone Else

The night my family’s rival gang stormed the mafia ball, I was taken as leverage.

My boyfriend, Nolan, and my closest friend, Riven, stood only steps away. But they chose to shield my cousin, Anna, instead.

I was being saved by a secret man hours later—bruised, shaken, and already forgotten. No one asked what had been done to me. Nolan only said, “Anna was scared. She needed us more.”

Days later, Anna invited me to her birthday party. I went out of courtesy—only to watch her cast me as the villain of her story.

Nolan and Luca stood by her, protecting her again.

That night, I said yes to the marriage alliance my family had prepared years ago.

When I left the city, Nolan finally texted—angry, wounded, offended. “You’re really leaving?"

I replied with just one line. “You’re more than welcome to my wedding.”

Astra’s POV

I was ambushed by my family’s rival gang at a party. In the chaos, I saw Nolan—my boyfriend of five years—and Riven, my best friend since childhood, rushed to my cousin Anna’s side. I watched them shield her, protect her… while I was dragged away screaming.

I was locked up for hours before a secret man rescued me and brought me home.

Later, Nolan and Riven showed up, trying to apologize. But the second Anna shed a tear, they were gone again—rushing back to her side.

So while they were away, I called my father and accepted the arranged marriage I once swore I’d never agree to.

Just days after the ambush—barely healed—I received an invitation to Anna’s birthday party.

I hesitated, but then I remembered what Mother said about looking after Anna while she was in the city—so I went.

“Astra,” Anna greeted me the moment I arrived, her smile warm but eyes not. “It means so much to have you here today.”

I lifted a glass of champagne. “Happy birthday.”

She shifted closer, “I hope you don’t blame Nolan or Riven for what happened that night. You know they were just trying to protect me.”

So that’s what they called it—just protecting her. Watching me get taken while whispering, Wait for us. We’ll come back for you.

But Nolan and Riven never come for me.

Someone else did. A man whose name I still don’t even know.

I smiled, not let my emotions showing, “Isn’t it odd, though? My boyfriend. My best friend. Both ran to your side. And all three of you just… watched.”

“It wasn’t like that,” she said quickly, coughing.

To be fair, Anna had always been fragile. Her health wasn’t great, and she needed the extra attention—I understood that. But it didn’t mean I deserved to be left behind like collateral damage.

“I’m sorry, Astra,” she whispered, coughing harder now as she stepped backward, unsteady on her heels.

I saw the champagne tower behind her. It was tall, glittering—and one wrong step away from disaster.

She stumbled, and I reached for her without thinking. But Anna didn’t take