**Church.**
Adam sat with Monica and Richard, watching Rachel with pity as she stood up front.
The last time, Rachel had been the one in the center, facing Barry, with a line of bridesmaids behind her. At the very front had been her maid of honor, Mindy.
This time, Mindy was the one in the center, dressed in a white wedding gown, facing Barry.
Rachel had forgiven both Mindy and Barry, the two who had betrayed her, and had even graciously attended their wedding. Yet now, she could only wear an unflattering red bridesmaid dress, standing far from the altar, at the very end of the bridesmaids' lineup.
And on top of that—
She had to endure the constant stares of guests, many of whom had attended both weddings.
On top of the vicious rumors spread by Barry's family—that she had lost her mind due to syphilis—she could see the guests whispering about her. It was enough to drive her insane.
She thought she had prepared for the worst.
But now, standing here, she realized there was no such thing as "the worst"—only worse.
And yet, she had to keep smiling, even though her face was starting to cramp from forcing it.
***
"I've always imagined my own wedding," Monica murmured, looking at the altar with envy. Then, she whispered to Richard, "Rachel has already stood up there twice—this time as a bridesmaid, but still, twice. And me? Not even once. No wonder my mom used to make fun of me. At least Rachel had a chance to keep Barry at the altar. I've never even had that."
"You'll get your turn," Richard reassured her.
He exchanged a look with Adam, both of them smiling wryly.
Everyone understood what Monica was really saying—she was ready to get married.
But Richard, who had just ended a decades-long marriage, didn't necessarily feel the same way. Still, as an experienced, mature man, he knew better than to say "no" in this situation.
Adam smiled knowingly.
Weddings had a powerful effect on single women.
In *How I Met Your Mother*, Barney loved attending weddings because there were always plenty of beautiful bridesmaids, and their emotions were already heightened by the romantic atmosphere.
Normally, he needed a full ten-step playbook to seal the deal, but at a wedding? He only needed three. It was the perfect opportunity.
In fact, he had even written a thick, hardcover playbook filled with wedding-specific strategies.
And of course, it didn't just include tactics for bridesmaids—there were strategies for the bride, too…
***
After the ceremony, the guests moved to the hotel for the wedding reception.
"Rachel, watch out."
Adam, noticing something off, quickly walked over and positioned himself behind her.
"Huh?" Rachel, still shaken, was lost in thought.
"Don't you feel a bit cold back there?" Adam hinted.
"What?"
Rachel froze, reached back to check, and immediately shuddered at the icy sensation on her skin—half of her butt was exposed!
"OMG!"
Her face turned bright red as she quickly adjusted her dress.
"Adam, I can't take this anymore," she whispered, covering her face in embarrassment. "Get me out of here."
"Are you sure?" Adam reminded her, "You could've chosen not to come. But since you're here, if you leave early, they'll laugh at you forever."
"What should I do?" Rachel asked, looking lost.
"Smile."
Adam encouraged her, "Barry was just a loser you were smart enough to dump in time. Mindy, on the other hand, knew Barry was trash and still chose to marry him. That makes *her* the fool. *You* are the smart and righteous one. And in the end, victory will be yours."
"Me?"
Rachel's anxiety faded slightly as Adam's words sank in. A small smile appeared on her face as she followed him to the banquet table.
But just as they sat down, someone decided to stir up trouble.
***
**Ding, ding, ding!**
"Attention, everyone! The best man is about to give a toast!"
The best man clinked his fork against his glass, drawing everyone's attention. Holding a speech in his hand, he began:
"I remember the first time Barry came back from a date with Rachel…"
The room fell silent.
Rachel's smile vanished instantly.
"What's wrong?"
The best man feigned innocence. "The band hasn't changed, so I can't use the same speech?"
The band members made a playful noise in response, backing him up.
"Thank you, thank you," the best man said smugly, glancing at Rachel. "To the happy couple! And to Rachel—"
Rachel's expression darkened. "What?" she gritted through her teeth.
"Not many women have the guts to show up here tonight," the best man said seriously. "Let alone show up with their *butt* hanging out—now *that's* rare!"
The band made another noise.
Some people chuckled, while others, who hadn't noticed before, looked around in confusion as whispers spread.
Though Adam had warned Rachel in time, a few people had still seen what happened when she walked over from the bridesmaids' area.
Adam's brows furrowed.
Was it just an accident, or had one of the bridesmaids—or even the best man—set her up? Rachel had been fine earlier. How had her dress suddenly slipped like that?
***
**Ding, ding, ding!**
As the best man sat down, smugly nodding at the guests, Adam picked up his own knife and tapped his glass.
"I'd like to add something."
"Adam, what are you doing?" Rachel whispered nervously, tugging at his arm.
"Trust me."
Adam patted her hand reassuringly and looked around the room.
"The best man made a good point—there aren't many women with Rachel's courage.
She had the guts to follow her heart and walk away from a wedding she didn't want. And as we all now see, that was the right decision, wasn't it?"
He squeezed Rachel's hand and flashed a confident smile.
"In fact, if not for her courage, today's happy couple wouldn't even be here!"
Barry and Mindy's smiles stiffened.
"And it takes even *more* courage for Rachel to forgive them and return today to wish them well."
Adam smirked. "Barry deserves some credit too. Not every guy can have his fiancée run out on him and immediately find a new woman to take on the honeymoon—without missing a beat. And not just any woman—his fiancée's *maid of honor*! Talk about impressive."
Everyone knew honeymoon flights were booked in advance, usually scheduled right after the wedding reception. There wasn't much time for a seamless switch—unless there had already been something going on before.
People started whispering among themselves.
Barry and Mindy's smiles were on the verge of collapse.
Adam then turned to the best man.
"And of course, the best man would know all about that." He paused, then added with a smirk, "By the way, best man—your girlfriend *is* one of the bridesmaids, right?"
The best man's face immediately darkened. He glanced suspiciously at his girlfriend in her red bridesmaid dress, then at Barry.
The seed of doubt had been planted.
If Barry could cheat with Mindy, what was stopping him from messing around with *his* girlfriend too?
After all, Barry was a successful dentist with a good income. And hadn't his girlfriend always envied Mindy for snagging a "golden catch"?
Silence fell over the room.
Adam leaned back, satisfied.
No one messes with *his* friend.