Chapter 1

The day before my engagement, I went to the jewelry store to pick up the wedding rings.

But the clerk told me that the women's ring had already been taken that morning by Arnold.

That ring had my name engraved on the inside.

He was supposed to slip it onto my finger himself when we went up on stage the next day.

Ten minutes later, Lucinda, his childhood friend, posted to her social media feed.

In the photo, she was standing in front of the flower wall in the banquet hall I had booked, wearing my ring on her ring finger.

The caption was just one line:

Got dragged in to help rehearse; the ring is prettier than I expected.

Their mutual friends egged her on in the comments:

For a second I thought you were the one getting engaged tomorrow.

Arnold liked it.

I sent him the screenshot and replied with just two words.

Delete it.

Half an hour later, he called.

"Lucinda happened to be around, so I had her help me test the shot."

"Both families' elders will be there tomorrow. Don't blow this up in front of everyone."

The next day, the engagement party began.

When the emcee announced the exchange of rings, Arnold walked up to me carrying a tray.

Lucinda stood by the flower wall, still holding the program sheet.

He picked up the ring and took my hand.

"Put it on. Besides you, no one cares whether she touched it last night or not."

......

When the ring pressed against my finger, I didn't move.

Arnold gripped my fingertips, the women's ring hovering just short of my knuckle.

My name was engraved inside it.

Last night, in that post, Lucinda had held it up to the light just like this.

Someone below urged me on first.

"Hurry and put it on, the elders are all watching."

Arnold pressed down on my hand.

"Sybilla, don't make everyone look bad."

I looked toward the flower wall.

Lucinda was still standing there, the program sheet in her hand curled into a white edge.

She didn't step forward, just lowered her head and pressed her lips together.

Arnold pushed the ring toward me a little more.

"Put it on."

"I already had her delete the photos."

"Don't leave her standing here to get yelled at."

I looked at him.

"She touched my ring, and now I'm supposed to smooth things over for her too?"

Arnold's brow furrowed.

"You really have to make a scene today?"

Lucinda's eyes reddened fast.

"Sybilla, I was only trying to help rehearse."

"If it makes you uncomfortable, I'll step back."

She took half a step back, but stayed in front of the flower wall.

The mutual friends nearby immediately chimed in.

"She was just helping test the run-through, no need to take it so seriously."

"It's not like the ring isn't going to you."

"It's your engagement day, don't make things awkward."

The emcee held up the microphone, not daring to read on.

The photographer's lens was still trained on my hand.

The tray wasn't withdrawn, the ring wasn't taken back.

Everyone was waiting for me to hold out my hand.

Arnold's mother rose from the front row.

"Sybilla, whatever it is, come down and we'll talk about it."

"Put the ring on first."

The relatives joined in the coaxing.

"A young woman shouldn't be so petty."

"If this really turns ugly, what will the guests outside think of the James family?"

My mom clutched her purse.

My dad looked at Arnold, the smile on his face fading little by little.

Arnold didn't look at them.

He only stared at me, his voice dropping lower.

"Lucinda's been busy this whole time and hasn't had a sip of water."

"Just put the ring on first, don't let her run around for nothing."

I yanked my hand back hard.

The ring hit the tray with a very faint sound.

Arnold's face darkened.

"Sybilla, if you keep this up, how are we supposed to salvage today?"

Lucinda's tears finally fell.

Arnold let go of me.

His first move wasn't to comfort me.

He walked over to Lucinda, blocking the crowd's view of her.

"Don't cry."

"It's not aimed at you."

Arnold's mother came around the tray too, pressing a tissue into Lucinda's hand first.

"Don't cry your eye makeup off."

Only then did she look at me.

"Sybilla, put your hand down first."

I had put my hand down long ago.

It was only the ring still gleaming on the tray, everyone certain it would end up back on my finger sooner or later.

The mutual friends muttered under their breath.

"Lucinda's got it rough too; she helps out and gets scolded for it."

"She only posted last night because she was happy, and she never claimed to be the bride."

The emcee nudged the tray toward Arnold.

"Should we put it away for now?"

Arnold didn't take it.

His hand was still resting behind Lucinda's shoulder.

"We'll need it later."

Once those words landed, some people below actually looked relieved.

"Good, so it can keep going."

"Let Lucinda step aside and pull herself together first."

"Steady the bride too, don't hold up the program any longer."

"Arnold, calm one of them down at a time."

Hearing that, the emcee immediately lowered the microphone.

The photographer didn't shut off the camera, just let the lens drop to his chest.

They were all waiting for Arnold to soothe Lucinda before coming back to deal with me.

Arnold turned to look at me.

"Wait a minute."

He left me on the red carpet and went with Lucinda behind the flower wall.

The photographer's lens shifted off my hand and swung after them for a moment.

The tray was still in front of me.

The ring was blindingly bright.

No one urged him to come back anymore.

My dad finally stood, meaning to head up to the stage.

Arnold's mother stepped in to block him first.

"In-laws, the children are just squabbling over little things."

"The guests outside are all watching, let them finish the program first."

My dad looked at her, then at the sight of Arnold shielding Lucinda behind the flower wall.

His hand dropped to his side.

The emcee let the microphone hang at his side.

The tray was still in front of me.

That ring was never taken away.

Arnold walked Lucinda behind the flower wall.

No one urged him to come back anymore.