Chapter 4

4: 4

With that, I turned and walked out.

A strip of confetti had caught in my hair, its edge pricking the corner of my eye, and I couldn't stop the tears from coming.

My father lunged again to hit me, and the others held him back.

They said, "Let it go, let it go. Don't waste your temper on someone like that."

My mother's voice shook. "We really did raise you for nothing."

My steps paused for a beat. I didn't turn around.

Rosalie dropped to her knees, her voice thick with tears.

"Mom, Dad, whatever Fern won't do, I'll do it."

I looked back and saw Luke watching me, his brow drawn tight.

My parents looked at Rosalie sobbing, snot and tears everywhere, as if their own daughter were the one being married off.

My best friend came over and grabbed my arm, frowning.

"Fern, why make such an ugly scene? How are you going to face each other after this?"

Calmly I pulled my arm free, looked her in the eye, and gave a small smile.

"No need. There won't be any 'after this.'"

Her face went very ugly. Her lips moved.

In the end she said nothing.

On the way to the airport, Luke kept texting me.

"Rosalie's been crying for ages. Her depression's flaring up again. You've put everyone in a bad mood."

"You're about to give your mother a heart attack, and you're just going to walk off like this?"

But my fingertip tapped into Rosalie's feed instead.

She'd just posted a photo with my parents, sunlight bright over all of them.

She sat between my mother and father, smiling gently.

The caption:

【Some people are the family you were born to have.】

My parents had liked it first thing.

Not a ripple moved in me.

I liked it too.

Then I sent Luke one line.

"Your happiness—I'm done being the one watching from the side."

Then one tap, and I blocked him.

I shut off the phone and walked into the airport without looking back.

On his end, Luke was busy handling the wedding formalities and soothing Rosalie, and didn't see that text until evening.

His brow knit on instinct, but he chose not to reply.

My best friend leaned in, a trace of worry in her voice.

"Fern's phone stopped going through this afternoon. She's not really that angry, is she?"

Luke looked at the text that stung his eyes, tugged at his suit tie, and spoke with the same certainty as before.

"No."

He glanced at my parents.

"She can't bear to leave."

My friend's frown eased too. "Even if she's mad at the two of us, there's no way she'll stop worrying about her parents."

There was something almost smug in her tone as she went on.

"Fern just looks tough. She's actually soft-hearted."

"When has a little sweet-talking from you or me not smoothed her over?"

Luke's tight brow smoothed out as well.

He nodded.

He thought of the first time he saw Rosalie, how he'd let his mind drift.

Fern had cried for a long time then too.

But back then a little coaxing had been enough, and she'd forgiven him anyway.

"Luke, you're all I have."

Remembering that, Luke felt a good deal lighter.

On the sofa, Rosalie's eyes were red as she looked over at him.

"Big sister really isn't angry with me?"

She lowered her head, gripping the wedding dress, tears swimming in her eyes.

"It's all this illness of mine."

"I just wanted to know what a wedding felt like before I die."

She bit her lower lip and glanced at my parents.

"To feel what it's like to be loved by family. Just this one day, and my sister couldn't even stand it?"

My mother's heart broke to hear it, and she quickly pulled her into her arms.

"That Fern doesn't know how to behave. We spoiled her rotten since she was small."

My father sighed and shook his head along with her.

Luke forgot about the text entirely, sat down beside her, wiped her tears away with his large hand, and said gently,

"I'll make her come back and apologize to you."

"She was the one in the wrong here to begin with."

My best friend held her arm too, aching for her, and blamed herself.

"It's my fault for not keeping an eye on her and letting her ruin your wedding."

Luke let out a breath. "It's nothing. It's just a wedding."

"If Rosalie wants, I'll throw her as many as she likes."

My parents nodded, comforted.

"Exactly. That Fern's just stubborn with her mouth. In a couple of days she'll come scurrying back begging us to forgive her."

"When she does, I'll make her apologize to you properly."

But several days passed, and there was no word from me.

Luke looked at the last text I'd sent him and felt a wave of irritation.

He wanted to reach out and say something, then feared he'd only spoil me.

Rosalie wrapped her arms around his waist, her voice soft.

"My sister's always been like this. Even as kids she'd ignore me like this."

"Just waiting for someone to coax her. I didn't think she'd still be this way now."

She let out a soft laugh.

"After all these years, she really hasn't changed a bit."

A note of urgency crept into Luke's voice.

"You mean Fern will reach out to me in a couple of days?"

Rosalie bit her lip and looked at him.

Luke's heart sank, and he quickly soothed her, his voice gentle.

"I just don't want Mom and Dad upset. She is their real daughter, after all."

Rosalie nodded obediently against his chest.

"Don't worry, Luke. I know my sister better than anyone."

Half a month went by. My parents couldn't stand to lose face any longer and hinted that Luke should call me.

Luke sighed. "True. I've let her stew long enough. She should know she was wrong by now."

So, full of confidence, he called me with the whole family watching.

The line connected with a series of rings.

But what came through was a cold, mechanical voice.

"The number you have dialed is not in service. Please check the number and dial again."

Luke's face froze.