I Always Carried Every Joke Too Far

chapter 1

My name is Ivan Barnes. I was born a people-pleaser, always going above and beyond to meet others' demands.

The nanny wouldn't let me eat ice cream, saying hot water was better for my health, so I brought her boiling water to drink.

My cousin said he deserved a share of my property, so that evening at the family dinner, I actually pulled him aside and asked my parents to adopt him as their son.

Over time, no one dared to act out in front of me.

As long as I'm around, everyone speaks with caution.

The year I graduated from college, my parents arranged a fiance for me, Rylee Lynch.

She has a deeply bonded foster brother named Finley Lynch.

That day on the yacht, Finley raised his glass and smiled at me, "Ivan, Rylee is your benefactor from a past life. The butterfly birthmark below her chest is the proof."

"You must repay her with a lifetime of gratitude!"

The deck burst into laughter instantly. Rylee's friends covered their mouths, giggling, and egged me on to swear to be a good husband.

I put down my glass and said to the gentle and elegant woman sitting beside me, "Take off your dress, let me see your proof."

Everyone on the yacht looked at each other in disbelief. They all thought they had misheard.

Finley awkwardly scratched his head and said, "Ivan, what are you talking about?"

"I'm just joking, why take it seriously? You're embarrassing Rylee."

I snapped my fingers, and the surveillance footage appeared on the big screen, while the music from the speakers stopped.

The screen lit up, the speakers played again, and his joke from moments ago repeated over and over.

I stared at Finley's pale face and smiled slightly. "Sorry, I'm the kind of person who always believes what I hear."

"If I tear Rylee's dress and find no birthmark, it means what you said isn't about past-life romance but an affair between you two. I'll post the video online and make sure you both become famous."

The crowd around was stunned.

Rylee lost her composure, her face turning pale as she stomped on my foot.

Taking advantage of my pain and loosening grip, she jumped away and grabbed a friend's jacket to wrap around her shoulders.

She glared at me with fury. "Ivan, you're insane!"

"Finley is my brother! We've bathed and swum together since we were kids, so of course, we've seen each other's birthmarks."

"It was just a joke, and you want to ruin our reputation?"

Oh, a joke. Many people have used that excuse before.

It seems that as soon as they use that word, all the blame falls on me, and they don't have to take any responsibility.

But I never buy it.

I lightly tapped the table, and the big screen switched to play an anonymous video received the day before yesterday.

On the screen, Finley was draped in only a silk throw, looking smug and provocative.

He deliberately aimed the camera at the sleeping woman beside him, clearly showcasing Rylee's delicate features and the kiss marks on her shoulder.

Finley chuckled lightly. "Ivan, you and Rylee are about to get married.

"But you're in her husband's position, yet you'll never win her heart.

"Want to bet? On your wedding day, she'll still be in bed with me."

The video looped, and I spread my hands to everyone. "Now, do you still think this is just a little joke?"

"Tell me, can you accept your fianc having such an ambiguous relationship with his sister?"

The woman I stared at fell silent, her eyes fixed on her toes, not daring to lift her head.

I tilted my chin at Finley. "Mr. Lynch, how would you feel if your girlfriend and her brother were lying naked in the same bed and someone filmed it to humiliate you?"

Finley was speechless, his eyes nervously darting toward Rylee.

Rylee was stunned too. It was only now she realized that while she was asleep, Finley had secretly recorded such a video to provoke me.

Finley took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and with humiliation and pity on his face, apologized to me, "Please forgive me, Ivan."

"I sent you that video because I made a bet with my friends, betting that you love Rylee and would never doubt her."

"I really didn't expect you to play it in public."

The last sentence he said was filled with grievance, tears rolling down.

A trace of heartache flashed in Rylee's eyes.

Seeing this, Finley cried, "Please don't hold me accountable! I promise to learn my lesson and stay far away from Rylee from now on!"

Before I could say a word, Rylee rushed over and hugged him.

She frowned at me, her tone displeased. "Ivan, Finley has already apologized to you. What more do you want?"

"Just let it go. Look at the mess you've caused, no one is happy today!"

"If this blows up and affects the marriage alliance between our families, can your parents handle it?"

Without waiting for my response, she pulled Finley up and walked into the cabin, holding him tightly.

The others, as if having watched a drama, dispersed one after another.

However, the looks they gave me before leaving were full of mockery, pity, and disdain.

I sat alone on the open-air deck sofa, poured a glass of champagne, and softly hummed a tune.

Rylee is certain I won't cancel the wedding.

Why cancel?

I'm looking forward to that day.