Chapter 2

Ethan's latest surprise box arrived.

As soon as Natalie brought the package inside, she FaceTimed Ethan.

When he picked up, Ethan smiled.

"Did you get the box?"

"The usual rule, then. Natalie gets to choose first."

Natalie sat down next to me on the couch, holding the box. She casually tossed out a few numbers.

"I'll go with 1, 4, 5, 9, and 11."

They were the exact same numbers I had seen on her phone the night before.

I bit my lower lip, my nose stinging with unshed tears.

No wonder.

Every single time we opened these boxes, Ethan insisted on Natalie choosing first.

He was terrified that if I chose first, I would accidentally take the surprises he had bought for her.

With her numbers selected, Natalie eagerly tore open the boxes.

Number 1 was a Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet.

Number 4 was a Bvlgari necklace.

Number 5 was a custom gold bangle.

Number 9 was a pair of Cartier earrings.

And number 11 was a classic Tiffany & Co. solitaire engagement ring.

I froze, staring at the ring. My heart felt like it was being squeezed.

When we were eighteen, Ethan had confessed his feelings to me using a metal tab he had pulled off a soda can.

Back then, looking at me with pure guilt and devotion, he had promised, "One day, Riley, I'm going to buy you the most expensive diamond ring in the world."

I had laughed and said, "Then I want you to propose to me with a classic Tiffany ring."

"Deal. I promise," he had replied.

I had waited ten years for that ring.

And now, Ethan had packaged it as a "surprise" for my sister to unbox.

I lowered my eyes.

I reached out, grabbed the remaining boxes, and opened them one by one.

With every box I opened, my heart grew colder.

Until they were all empty.

I looked at the pile of cheap mall-kiosk keychains in front of me and let out a self-deprecating laugh.

What was I even hoping for?

Hoping that Ethan would actually have a surprise for me?

Seeing my pile of plastic junk, Natalie let out a soft giggle.

"Riley, how is your luck always this bad?"

"It's been three years, and you always get these silly keychains."

I didn't answer her.

Instead, I looked directly at Ethan on the FaceTime screen.

"Ethan, didn't you promise you would buy me a Tiffany ring one day?"

The screen went quiet for a second before Ethan let out a helpless laugh.

"Riley, I did buy it. But you're the one with bad luck. Natalie was the one who drew it. You can't really blame me for that, can you?"

I went completely silent, staring coldly at his face on the screen.

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Natalie quickly took off the ring and held it out to me.

"Riley, here, take the ring. Please don't fight with Ethan. He just didn't expect your luck to be this bad."

"Why are you giving it to her?"

Ethan's voice through the speaker sounded impatient now.

"Riley, we agreed on the rules from day one. Whoever draws the item keeps it. You're seriously going to snatch Natalie's ring just because you had bad luck?"

"Stop being so spoiled just because Natalie always lets you have your way."

I let out a quiet scoff.

If I hadn't seen their Snapchat messages, I really would have believed this was all just bad luck.

But the reality was right in front of me.

It wasn't bad luck. It was just Ethan giving all of his love to Natalie.

I looked down at the ring Natalie was holding out.

Ultimately, I didn't reach for it.

"Forget it. I don't want it."

I stood up and walked away.

It was never meant for me anyway. Taking it now would be meaningless.

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