New Year, New Bride? Sorry, I'm Already Married

I've returned to the country on the night of New Year's Eve.

At the welcoming party, my girlfriend, Sabrina Monroe, suddenly produces a diamond ring and goes down on one knee.

"Although this proposal is delayed by three years, our love is never late. Will you marry me, Colin Lawrence?"

All of our friends begin cheering on us. Everyone is practically waiting for me to nod and accept Sabrina's proposal with tears in my eyes.

They've completely forgotten about the fact that I prepared a lavish marriage proposal for Sabrina on New Year's Eve three years ago. Back then, she had told me that she'd show up on time.

But that night, I was the only one present in a fancy suit. I waited the whole night for Sabrina, and yet she never showed her face.

All I received was a phone call. "Matthew has fallen ill. I'm too busy taking care of him, and I can't leave his side at all. Let's put a raincheck on the marriage, yeah?"

So, I left the country on New Year and accepted the marriage alliance my family had arranged for me.

This means I'm already married to someone else for three years.

I silently took a step back and swirled the wine in my glass. I smiled and asked, "I think you're proposing to the wrong person, Ms. Monroe. Shouldn't you be proposing to Matthew instead?"

"I had a feeling you were still jealous because of Matthew," Sabrina Monroe said, her expression twisting slightly. "It's been three years. Don't tell me that you're still angry. I already told you a million times that—"

"That you only treat Matthew as if he were your younger brother, yes? There's nothing going on between the two of you," I said calmly, finishing Sabrina's sentence for her.

I had heard the same excuse from Sabrina hundreds of times. She would tell me this every time she abandoned me, her actual boyfriend, to go to Matthew Dawson's side, the man whom she apparently only saw as her younger brother.

Sabrina was momentarily stunned by my retort. She softened her voice and said, "I admit that it's my fault for standing you up three years ago. But I did send you a message to explain the situation, didn't I?

"Matthew was very ill and needed someone to take care of him. I was worried that he would get too emotional if he found out that we were getting married. I didn't expect you to throw a tantrum and leave the country the next day without so much as a word to me. You made me wait for you for three years.

"Fortunately, you still came back for me. Marry me and stay here. We can spend the rest of our days together."

I nearly burst out laughing when I took in her self-righteous expression.

"When did I ever say that I came back for you?" I asked lightly, making sure to keep my tone distant. "I won't marry