Chapter 3

The next day, I went to pick up my custom wedding ring.

And ran straight into my mother and sister again.

I just wanted to grab the ring and leave. I didn't want to get tangled up with them any longer.

The moment the sales associate saw me, she brought out the custom diamond ring.

Just then, my sister crowded up beside me, staring at the ring, her eyes lit up.

“Serena, this ring is gorgeous. I want it.”

This ring was something I'd gotten in line for six months in advance, then spent three months working through with the designer to have made.

Every detail of it was exactly the way I wanted.

There was no way I was handing it over.

So I refused her without a moment's hesitation.

“This is my wedding ring. There's no way I'm giving it to you!”

Hearing that, Jocelyn's mouth crumpled and tears welled up in her eyes.

Of course Mom couldn't stand to see Jocelyn upset. Her face went cold and she said to me,

“Serena, you can see how much your sister loves this ring. Just give it to her.”

“She's younger than you, after all. You should give in to her.”

Then she turned to the sales associate and said,

“Bring the ring out and let her have a look.”

The associate looked at Mom, clearly caught in an awkward spot.

“This is Ms. Morrison's custom wedding ring.”

But Mom said, unbothered,

“I'll pay more. Double, triple, whatever it takes...”

The associate hesitated a moment, then looked at me, a little apologetic.

“Ms. Morrison, I'm sorry.”

“This ring has been bought by your mother.”

I clenched my fingers tight at my side, drew in a deep breath, and said slowly,

“We signed a contract. What you're doing is a breach of it!”

But Mom covered her mouth and let out a scoff.

“We're family. There's no such thing as a breach here.”

“Just think of this ring as your engagement gift to your sister.”

Jocelyn said with a smile from beside her,

“Thank you for the gift, Serena.”

Watching how smug she looked, I couldn't help but say,

“But this ring is my size. Jocelyn can't even wear it.”

“If you don't believe me, try it on.”

At that, Jocelyn picked up the ring and slid it onto her finger.

Sure enough, it jammed at the second knuckle and wouldn't go any farther.

I held out my open hand toward her.

“Since it doesn't fit, give it back to me.”

But Jocelyn shielded the ring on her hand, unwilling to hand it over.

And Mom just slapped my hand away.

“So what if she can't wear it? As long as she likes it, she can keep it sitting there for all I care.”

“As for you, stop coveting things that aren't yours.”

In that moment, a deep, helpless weight rose up in me.

This ring had taken me so long to get.

But the second Jocelyn wanted it, Mom put it straight into her hands, without the slightest regard for how I felt.

I should have seen through them sooner. Then I wouldn't have been foolish enough to keep hoping in them for so long.

I turned and left, done getting tangled up with them.

Over the next few days, I didn't cross paths with them again.

I stayed busy with the rest of the wedding preparations.

But I did go home one more time.

Because I wanted to take away everything in that house that belonged to me.

When I got there, no one was home.

Just then, Jocelyn's feed updated.

So they were all out preparing for her engagement.

Seeing that, I turned off my phone.

I went to my bedroom and started packing up the little I had left.

There was the trophy I'd won at a competition in middle school.

The one I'd worked a whole month to earn.

But before I even had the chance to show Mom, Jocelyn came home with a most-improved certificate.

And Mom's attention went entirely to her.

I set the trophy in the most visible spot in the living room, and not one person said a word about it.

Only after it had gathered a layer of dust did I carry it back to my room and keep it there like a treasure.

There was also the dress I'd begged Mom for, for so long, before she finally bought it.

A little over a hundred dollars.

I took on a whole month of housework before she'd buy it for me.

And after she did, she reminded me again and again,

“Serena, you're the older sister. You need to be sensible. A dress this expensive, don't buy one again.”

But a single one of Jocelyn's dresses was worth ten of mine.

I threw all of it into the trash.

Wiped out, completely, every trace that I had ever existed in that house.