Chapter 3

The last bit of warmth in my chest went cold.

“You won't even bet with me?”

“You really think I'd force you to marry me?”

He didn't answer.

I felt something inside me go numb.

Slowly, I lifted the cup in front of him. Then I turned it over.

Empty.

There wasn't a single die inside.

Everyone stared at the empty cup.

No one spoke for a few seconds.

Then Jake muttered, “An empty bet?”

“That's an automatic loss.”

I forced a smile and looked at Cole.

“I never wanted to beat you.”

“So why are you acting like I'm about to put a gun to your head?”

Cole went silent.

His eyes dropped to the empty cup. Something seemed to click.

He reached for me.

“I just didn't want you to lose...”

But you'd already made me lose.

Completely.

I stepped away from his hand.

His fingers stayed frozen in the air.

After a second, he laughed.

“I know you've always wanted to get married.”

“It's only three years. Don't you have any faith in us?”

“You're not seriously worried you'll fall out of love with me in three years, are you?”

“I wouldn't change for ten years.”

I almost laughed.

The whole thing was so absurd.

Somehow, after two sentences, I was the one who looked like I didn't believe in our relationship.

The hall had already gone completely off the rails.

Finally, someone stood up to break the tension.

“Okay, okay. It's after three in the morning. Let's call it a night.”

Everyone looked relieved.

Chairs scraped against the floor.

People started getting up.

Cole helped Mia to her feet.

Then he looked at me.

“I'll take her home first, then I'll take you.”

“It's on the way.”

I smiled.

“No need. I'm riding with Adrian.”

Cole looked like he wanted to say something.

But Adrian was already in the elevator.

He held the doors open and called out,

“Grace. Come on.”

I walked quickly into the elevator.

Then I left with him.

...

I woke up hungover to my phone ringing over and over.

“Grace, what did the hotel say?”

“Grace, your uncle wants to know if the wedding is still happening.”

“You little idiot. Why the hell did you suddenly cancel the wedding? Get home and explain yourself!”

My head was pounding.

I lay there for a long time before everything from last night came rushing back.

It hadn't been a dream.

The wedding I'd waited seven years for was really gone.

All because of a stupid guessing game.

I rubbed my temples and opened my phone.

99+ unread messages.

I tapped Mia's voice message.

“Grace... I said what I said last night. I'm not taking it back.”

“Get ready.”

The next message was from Adrian.

“There are washed apples on the table. Eat something before you drink again.”

“Don't forget what you said. A bet's a bet.”

Then I opened Cole's chat.

Nothing.

Not even a good morning.

Someone had posted a group photo from last night.

The caption read:

Happy birthday. This night never ends.

The filter was warm. Everyone was smiling.

I was standing in front of the cake, candles glowing against my face.

I looked genuinely happy.

Someone commented: So when's the wedding?

The person who posted it replied: Haha. Not telling.

I took a slow breath and called Cole.

“Grace?”

Mia's voice came through in the background.

“Cole, my head is killing me...”