One of the guests couldn't contain himself. "You'd better pray you're clean. If you're not, every single one of us will sue you into the ground!"

I ignored him.

My eyes stayed locked on Cedric.

"You're sure?"

Cedric glanced at Kate.

"Irvin, I really am doing this for your own good."

I nodded slowly.

"Then don't regret it."

On the way to the hospital, I couldn't shake the unease coiling in my chest.

I didn't understand.

Why had Cedric always been so good to me, only to transform into a completely different person at the wedding?

Announcing to everyone that I had some filthy disease.

Demanding to get to the bottom of it.

A terrible thought flickered through my mind—

Every single one of Cedric's friends was plain-looking at best.

Could it really be true, what people said online? That some people deliberately surrounded themselves with less attractive friends just to make themselves shine brighter?

I shook my head hard.

I refused to believe it.

Our little procession swept into the hospital, and I was pushed to the front of the department office.

"Excuse me—did he pick up a report here recently?"

Cedric asked the doctor.

The doctor studied my face for a moment, then nodded.

Cedric's eyes went wide.