Chapter 5

“Don't you dare take her side!”

Christian shook her hand off and jabbed a finger toward the entryway.

“Get out. Come back when you've come to your senses.”

“Otherwise, don't ever set foot in this house again!”

Three years together, dissolved in an instant by someone else's two tears.

My chest ached, tight and heavy.

I didn't argue.

“Christian, you said that.”

He turned his face away, his tone impatient.

“I did. Get out.”

I didn't look at him again. I turned and went back to the guest room.

My suitcase had been mostly packed for a while now.

I pulled it straight toward the entryway.

As I passed the living room, Christian stood with his back to me, head bent, softly comforting Crystal.

The door closed quietly behind me.

I had made the right choice.

And yet my heart still felt hollow, like a piece of it had been scooped out.

I dragged my suitcase downstairs, took out my phone, and booked a flight for three days out.

For the next two days, I stayed at a hotel.

Running paperwork, filing my resignation, on my feet from morning to night.

On the afternoon of the third day, Christian's post came across my feed.

The first photo was of a trendy restaurant.

Delicate desserts sat on the table.

Crystal rested her chin in her hand, her whole face glowing with happiness.

The second was of a castle at an amusement park.

Crystal wore a cartoon headband, posing with one of the costumed characters.

Christian stood behind her, one hand hovering lightly at her waist.

The caption was a single line.

“This little one is really hard to please.”

The doting practically spilled off the screen.

I looked at it for a long time.

Three years together, and he never once made me public on social media.

On holidays, whenever I brought up posting a photo of us, he'd smile and ask,

“If you found a million dollars, would you go around telling everyone?”

Back then, I'd shake my head, foolish.

And he'd reach out and ruffle the top of my hair.

“Exactly. You're my million dollars. It's enough that I know how good you are. Nobody else deserves to see it.”

I let that line fool me for three whole years.

Only now do I understand. It was never that I was too good.

It was that I wasn't good enough.

I closed the app.

The advisor from the study-abroad agency messaged me.

Everything was in order, she said, and I needed to come sign to confirm.

I finished signing and had just stepped out the front door when my phone suddenly rang.

It was Naomi.

I answered, and her voice came through, imperious.

“Tilda, you've had enough time to cool off these past couple of days, haven't you? So many relatives have been asking about the bride being swapped at the wedding. We can't very well explain it, so we've said you suddenly came down with a fever that day and couldn't attend, and that Crystal stepped in at the last minute to save the day.”

“Come over in the next couple of days, and when relatives ask, you stick to that story. Don't let anything slip.”

Listening to her matter-of-fact tone, all I felt was the irony of it.

My wedding had been stolen.

And now they wanted me to cover for the person who stole it, to save face for the Delgado family.

There was no bargain that cheap anywhere in this world.

I refused outright.

“Christian and I never had a wedding, so there's nothing between us. What his relatives think has nothing to do with me.”

Naomi went off instantly.

“How dare you talk like that! No respect at all. You're not even married in and you're already giving your elders attitude?”

“Let me tell you, if you don't do as I say today, you can forget about ever setting foot in the Delgado home for the rest of your life!”

My tone stayed calm.

“Perfect, because I never wanted to. Christian and I have already broken up. I'd appreciate it if the Delgados stopped calling to harass me. Otherwise I'll go straight to the police.”

I didn't wait for her to speak. I hung up.

And with that, I dropped the number into my block list.

An hour later, Christian called.

Thinking of the breakup I still needed to say, I answered.

The accusations came the moment I picked up.

“Tilda, what kind of way is that to talk to my mother? When did I ever say we were breaking up?”

“I told you to go out and cool off for a couple of days. Crystal's allergic reaction was that serious and I didn't even hold it against you, and here you are, actually talking back to my mother. I've clearly spoiled you rotten.”

“I've already apologized to the family on your behalf. Once my mom's temper settles in a day or two, I'll take you back to say sorry in person, a few soft words, and this whole thing blows over.”

I opened my mouth, about to say the word “breakup.”

Then Crystal's gentle call drifted through from his end.

Christian tossed out a hurried line.

“I've still got some work here. Hanging up now.”

And he hung up, just like that.

I looked at the ended-call screen and let out a bitter laugh.

Same as the countless times before, he wouldn't even give me the chance to say the word breakup.

I didn't hesitate. I dragged him into the block list, and deleted every last one of his contact details while I was at it.

Two days later, I arrived at the airport right on time.

The plane began to accelerate into the sky. I turned my head and gently closed my eyes.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Christian stood outside a hotel room door, holding an armful of exquisitely wrapped skincare products.

He raised a hand and knocked, his tone carrying a charitable sort of gentleness.

“Tilda, open the door. I've come to take you home. I bought the apology gifts for you already. When we get back, just say you bought them. Don't slip up.”

No sound from inside.

He put more force into it and knocked twice more.

“Tilda! Stop throwing a tantrum, open the door!”

A few seconds later, the door opened.

A shirtless man, his face still thick with sleep, roared at him.

“You've got a death wish! What's with all the pounding this early? Can't a guy get some sleep!”