Chapter 3

3: 3

I got back to the wedding suite to find the door shut.

The second I opened it, streamers rained down and covered my head and face.

Luke stepped slowly out from behind the door in a navy suit, his eyes soft.

My mother watched me, hopeful.

My best friend stood there holding a bouquet for me, smiling.

For that one moment, I actually thought this was a surprise they'd planned for me.

Then Luke saw it was me, and the softness drained out of his face all at once, replaced by nothing but irritation.

He knotted his brows and yanked me inside.

"I already told you this was to give Rosalie some closure. Are you really this shameless, so desperate to get married you came rushing back?"

My mother dropped her head and pretended not to see. My best friend looked at the fallen streamers with pity.

"That's Rosalie's favorite color. What was the point of her barging in and ruining everything, wasting all of this."

Then a soft, thin voice came from behind me, thick with tears.

"Fern, are you angry with me? Should I just die?"

She was still in the wedding dress, still wearing the flower crown, her eyes red as she looked at me, timid.

Luke had woven that crown by hand.

Before the wedding, I'd once caught him weaving a flower crown in secret, pricking his fingers over and over.

My heart had gone sweet then, and I'd spent so long quietly looking forward to it.

I let out a bitter laugh.

So it turned out even something that cheap and worthless wasn't mine either.

I dug out the suitcase I'd packed long ago, the one I'd prepared for our honeymoon with Luke.

As it happened, all my documents were inside.

Rosalie's eyes reddened, and she pointed at the suitcase.

"Fern, are you trying to make everyone think I'm the one who drove you away?"

My father watched her with an aching heart, rushed over, and slapped me hard across the face.

"You just had to wreck this?"

My head snapped to the side, the taste of blood spreading through my mouth.

My best friend pulled him back, but he kept jabbing his finger at my face, still cursing.

"Fern, she may be a sponsored student, but she's not one bit beneath you."

"You've spent this family's money your whole life. What did all that schooling teach you, except how to be jealous of people?"

"She is a hundred times more obedient and sensible than you."

And my fiancé, Luke, just stood there watching quietly. He shielded Rosalie and eyed me warily.

"Fern, you're the one being unreasonable today."

"No wonder your dad's furious. Apologize to Rosalie, now."

Rosalie shook her head and dropped to her knees in front of me, kowtowing and crying as she spoke.

"Fern, I know you came for your wedding dress. I'm not worthy of wearing it."

She clawed the ring off her finger, letting her knuckle bleed.

Then, with trembling fingertips, she reached for the zipper of the dress.

Luke couldn't stand to watch any longer. He pulled her into his arms, his voice pained.

"Don't punish yourself. It isn't your fault."

My best friend sighed and gave me a helpless look. "You wrecked something that was going perfectly. I really give up on you."

"Are you satisfied now?"

I looked at these family members and friends who had become strangers.

And suddenly I laughed.

My voice came out hoarse. "No, I'm not."

My mother planted herself in front of Rosalie like a hen guarding her chick, crying as she looked at me.

"What more do you want? You've all but driven Rosalie to her death."

"Back in school we wanted to sponsor her, and you were jealous. You tore up her homework on purpose, you stripped her and bullied her, and now you're still jealous."

"How did I ever end up with a daughter like you."

I stood where I was, and all I could feel was how absurd it was.

The one whose homework got torn up, the one who was bullied, was me.

I looked at Luke.

We'd grown up together. He knew all of it, perfectly well.

He'd even chased off the ones who tormented me, once.

He'd picked up my pen and notebook for me, wiped the mud off my face.

"How can your family play favorites like that."

His eyes had gone red with the ache of it.

"From now on I'll protect you. I won't let you be wronged again."

But that boy, the one who had looked at me with nothing but tenderness, couldn't tear his eyes away from Rosalie the first time he saw her.

Even then, I'd known that vow had shattered in the end.

Now Luke avoided my eyes and frowned.

"Mom and Dad are right. Rosalie is just like a daughter to them. All these years living under someone else's roof, having to read your moods, has been hard enough on her."

"Can't you just show her a little understanding?"

I gave a self-mocking smile and nodded.

"Fine. I'll show her understanding."

Before anyone's face could relax.

I turned to my parents. "I'm being transferred overseas. I probably won't be back for ten years."

My eyes stung, but I kept my voice light.

"Since you love her so much."

"Then let her be your daughter."

I pulled off that flimsy little ring and threw it at Luke's feet.

"Here, take it back. We're even."

"I'm calling off the engagement. Marry whoever you want. That's what understanding looks like."

Nothing between us, nothing owed. That's the only outcome I'll be satisfied with.