Chapter 4

The sales associate froze for a moment before carefully accepting the ring box.

"Of course, ma'am. Please give me a moment while I verify everything."

Bridger had just taken a step when he stopped. He turned around, his grip on Emerald's hand loosening slightly as panic spread across his face.

"Ensley, what do you mean by that?"

I took a deep breath. The hurt I'd been holding back for days surged to the surface, leaving my eyes burning.

"Bridger, there's no point in having this wedding anymore."

I turned and walked away. Behind me, Emerald's weak voice called out, "Go after her. Ensley's my best friend. I can't stand seeing her get hurt."

Bridger pressed his lips together, a trace of irritation creeping into his voice. "Why should I go after her? She's the one who did something wrong, and now she's throwing a tantrum. It doesn't make any sense.

"Your injury is more important. I'll take you to the hospital first. She put so much into this wedding. There's no way she'd actually call it off. She's just angry."

With that, he turned and left with Emerald.

Watching the two of them walk away, I let out a quiet laugh.

So Bridger did remember everything I'd put into this wedding. He remembered. He just didn't think it was worth caring about.

For the next two days, Bridger didn't send me a single message. Maybe he was giving me the silent treatment, or maybe he'd already forgotten that I'd called off the wedding.

Instead, I came across one of Emerald's social media posts.

It was a handwritten list of foods to avoid.

I recognized the handwriting immediately. It was Bridger's.

The caption read: "Someone's memory has gotten unbelievably good. I'm so touched."

I stared at the photo for a long time.

The previous winter, I'd cut my finger while chopping vegetables in the kitchen and needed three stitches.

That night, Bridger asked what I wanted to eat. I told him I wanted soup. He ordered takeout.

When I opened it, it was spicy broth. He'd forgotten the doctor had told me to stick to bland food while my stitches healed.

I looked away and kept scrolling. By the time I'd finished packing my luggage, it was almost evening.

My phone suddenly rang.

It was Bridger's mother, Linda Lewis.

I answered, and her voice sounded unusually anxious. "Ensley, are you free? Could you come to the hospital? I'd like to see you."

Linda had always treated me reasonably well. She gave me gifts during the holidays and had always shown me the care and concern you'd expect from a future mother-in-law.

After hesitating for a couple of seconds, I decided to go.

When I pushed open the hospital room door, the three of them were gathered together, chatting happily.

Linda sat beside the bed with one hand wrapped around Emerald's, her face full of concern.

Emerald was leaning against her, acting spoiled. "Aunt Linda, the broth you made was so good. Will you bring me more tomorrow?"

Linda gently pinched her cheek. "Of course. If you want it, I'll make it for you. Just focus on getting better."

Bridger stood at the foot of the bed, smiling warmly at the scene before him.

What a happy family.

Linda looked up and saw me. The smile on her face faded, and her expression grew noticeably more distant.

"Ensley, you're here?"

Bridger frowned. "Mom, what are you..."

She shot him a look before turning back to me. "Ensley, you two are about to get married. How did things become such a mess? I understand that girls throw little tantrums now and then, but at this point, you really need to let it go."

As she spoke, she glanced back at Emerald.

"Emerald lost her mother when she was little. I felt sorry for her, so I took her in as my goddaughter. It breaks my heart to see her hurt. Ensley, you're a sensible girl. Don't be stubborn at a time like this.

"She's been feeling terribly guilty because you and Bridger are breaking up. Being upset isn't good for her recovery, either.

"So I'm making the decision for you today. You and Bridger need to stop fighting and focus on preparing for the wedding."

She sounded like she was trying to make peace.

But in reality, she was only blaming me for making both her son and her goddaughter unhappy.

Ever since we were children, people had always said Emerald was sweet-talking and knew how to win people over.

As for me, I was quiet and awkward.

Looking back, they weren't wrong.

It was I who had introduced my only best friend to Linda. In just a few years, the two of them had become like a real mother and daughter.

Meanwhile, I was treated with nothing more than the courtesy due a son's girlfriend.

Warm yet distant.

Now I finally understood that in this family, I was the only outsider.

"Linda," I spoke as I slipped the tennis bracelet off my wrist. She had given it to me on her birthday the previous year, telling me it was a symbol of becoming a daughter-in-law of the Lewis family.

"You've misunderstood. I'm not here to make up with Bridger." I gently placed the bracelet on the bedside table.

"I'm here to return this."