Chapter 4

At 8:00 PM, Carter called me.

The background was incredibly noisy, filled with the shrieks and laughter of children.

"Where are you? My mom wants us to come over for Thanksgiving dinner."

Anticipating my refusal, Carter quickly added, "Mom specifically told me to make sure you come with me."

"I'm at the bridal salon."

"Send me the address. I’ll pick you up."

After a brief silence, I texted him the address.

Carter arrived incredibly fast, almost as if he had already been waiting nearby.

I walked up to the car and reached for the front passenger door.

It was locked.

As I reached for it a second time, the window rolled down.

"I'm so sorry, Natalie," Chloe said with a sweet, helpless smile from the passenger seat. "I get terrible motion sickness if I sit in the back. Do you mind?"

I stood there, motionless.

Carter cleared his throat. "Natalie, she gets sick easily. Just let her have the seat."

Let her have it?

I hadn't said a single word, yet somehow, I was the one being difficult.

Carter frowned impatiently. "My parents are waiting. Just get in, quickly."

I turned and opened the back door. There were three seats in the back.

Two of them were taken up by bulky child safety seats. The remaining middle seat was piled high with shopping bags and toys.

Chloe turned around, looking embarrassed. "Carter took us to the theme park today, and the kids got a little carried away with the souvenirs."

"You don't mind squeezing in a bit, do you, Natalie?"

It was only then that I noticed all four of them were wearing matching family outfits.

I didn't say a word. I squeezed into the tight space, closed my eyes, and leaned my head against the cold window.

During the entire drive, the two of them chatted happily about parenting styles and planning their next summer vacation.

Not once was I included in any of those plans.

The moment we walked through the door, Carter’s mother, Mrs. Miller, rushed over with a huge smile.

"Chloe, darling! You’re finally here! Come in, come in!"

"And look at my beautiful grandbaby boy and girl!"

Mrs. Miller completely bypassed me, pulling Chloe toward the dining room. Carter followed right behind, carrying the kids.

I was left standing at the entrance like an invisible ghost.

At the dinner table, Mr. and Mrs. Miller sat at the head. Carter sat next to Chloe and the kids.

I was placed at the very end of the long table, next to the kitchen door.

"Chloe, try this. I made all of your favorites tonight!" Mrs. Miller said warmly.

I glanced over the table.

They had invited me under the guise of a family holiday, yet there wasn't a single dish on the table that I wasn't allergic to or that I actually liked.

"Natalie," Mrs. Miller suddenly spoke up, her voice dropping its warmth. "I heard you canceled the dress Chloe worked so hard to find for you?"

I took a sip of my water. "Yes."

Mrs. Miller’s brow furrowed in deep disapproval. "How could you just cancel it like that? Do you have any idea how much time and effort Chloe put into picking that out for you? You are so ungrateful."

I set my glass down, my voice quiet but firm. "Because it's my wedding."

Mrs. Miller pointed a finger at me, her face red. "You are such an stubborn, difficult girl!"

Carter didn't even look up. He was fully occupied cutting the steak on Chloe’s plate and feeding the kids.

After the miserable dinner finally ended, Mrs. Miller immediately told me to clean up the table and wash the dishes.

Meanwhile, Chloe sat comfortably in the living room, eating fresh fruit that Carter was peeling for her.

Suddenly, my lower abdomen cramped painfully. My phone buzzed.

A custom alarm went off, and Carter’s recorded voice played through the speaker:

"Hey babe, your period is starting today. Remember to stay warm and don't touch cold water, okay?"

Carter had set that reminder himself years ago.

He had said, "I have a terrible memory, so this way I won't ever forget to look after you."

But now I realized it wasn't about his memory. He just never kept me in his heart.

He remembered Chloe’s favorite foods, the exact dates of her cycle, and every little preference of those two kids.

He just couldn't remember mine.

"Let me take over. Go rest."

Carter suddenly appeared and took the dish towel from my hand.

In the living room, Chloe and Mrs. Miller were playing with Lego blocks with the kids.

Mr. Miller was sitting on the patio, peacefully sipping his tea.

Only I stood there, feeling like an unwanted intruder in someone else's perfect family.

At 9:00 PM, a massive storm rolled in, rain lashing against the windows.

"Chloe, you and the kids are staying here tonight," Mrs. Miller announced.

Chloe shot a quick, guilty glance at me. "But there’s only Carter’s room. Where will he sleep?"

Mrs. Miller patted her hand reassuringly. "Natalie isn't married into the family yet, so it’s not appropriate for her to sleep over anyway. Carter can just sleep on the couch."

Then, she turned to me with a fake, polite smile. "Natalie, it's getting late and the storm is bad. It’s not safe for a girl to drive alone, so I won't keep you any longer."

I nodded, grabbed my purse, and walked out without another word.

Carter ran out after me, grabbing my arm in the hallway. "Natalie, don't overthink this. My mom is just looking out for your reputation."

I violently shook his hand off and took a step back.