Chapter 4

When I got home, Otis and I had a huge fight.

He didn't think I was serious. He treated it as if I were throwing a tantrum because he hadn't come to my dress fitting.

"Evelyn, it's such a small thing. Do you really have to threaten me with a breakup over it?"

I didn't answer. I just gathered my things and walked out of this "home."

Otis didn't try to stop me.

For a while now, in fight after fight, he'd stopped lowering his head to coax me the way he used to.

When I asked him why, all he said was,

"Evelyn, we're about to get married. What's the point of all this coaxing back and forth?"

We gave each other the silent treatment for three days.

In those three days, I passed my interview and got the offer in Westport.

Even as I booked my flight, my parents were still trying to talk me out of it.

"Evie, are you really sure about this?"

"Otis has probably just been too worn out lately, that's why he's been neglecting you."

"Can't the two of you sit down and talk it through properly?"

This time, I didn't hesitate.

"He started ignoring how I feel a long time ago. There's nothing left to talk about."

The day I was leaving, I got a message from Otis.

【Today's the dress fitting, isn't it? Do you want me to come pick you up?】

The whole time we were planning the wedding, he never once kept the schedule straight.

Now that I was leaving, he suddenly remembered the dress fitting.

How laughable.

I didn't reply, so he called me directly.

"When we do the fitting, I'll bring Isabel along and let her try a few on, see if anything suits her."

"We'll add her to the bridesmaid lineup."

I let out a small laugh.

"Whatever you want."

I hung up on him right there.

A little while later, I got a message from the bridal shop clerk.

【Miss Fisher, didn't you say the wedding was canceled? Why is Mr. Simmons saying he wants a custom gown made for his childhood friend to wear as a bridesmaid?】

Then one from the wedding planner.

【Miss Fisher, Mr. Simmons suddenly says he wants to add a solo song by a woman to the wedding. What should I tell him?】

I answered,

【Just tell him it doesn't matter.】

Then I dragged my suitcase out and took a cab to the airport.

Right up until boarding, messages from Otis kept pouring into my phone.

【Where are you? We're almost there.】

【Don't try anything on yet. Isabel's a germophobe. Wait until she's tried it, then you can put it on.】

【Why aren't you saying anything? Where are you?】

I didn't answer a single one. I just switched the phone off.

And then, without looking back, I left this city that had him in it.

From that day on, our paths would never cross again.

Meanwhile, Otis and Isabel had already arrived at the bridal shop.

The clerk looked at the two unfamiliar faces and asked,

"Sir, miss, do you have an appointment?"

Otis went blank. The wedding had been my job alone from the start. He didn't know a thing about it.

"Could you check? It should be under Miss Fisher."

While the clerk was looking it up, the message he'd sent the wedding planner finally got a reply.

【Mr. Simmons, Miss Fisher let us know the wedding is canceled.】

It was like thunder cracking open beside his ear.

Then the clerk's words reached him too.

"Sir, Miss Fisher's order was canceled a long time ago. Would you like to double-check?"