Chapter 2

"Chad, please don't be mad at Suzie," Finley pleaded.

He then grabbed my hand and said apologetically, "She lost a game of rock-paper-scissors with me and promised that she could only drink my wine. How about this? Play a round with me. If you win, I'll let Suzie drink your wine."

Suzanne's expression softened. When she turned to look at Finley, her eyes were full of helpless affection.

She said, "Go on. Play a round with Finley. If you win, I'll drink your wine."

Suzanne spoke in a volume that was neither too soft nor too loud. It was just loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.

I closed my eyes, feeling like I could barely breathe. "I forfeit."

A flash of smugness quickly crossed Finley's eyes.

He cleared his throat and said smoothly, "Then since I won, shouldn't I get a reward? My mom said that after drinking the wedding wine, we're supposed to go pray in church."

I heard several people around us gasp in disbelief.

This custom had been passed down for generations.

On the night or early the next morning after a couple drank the wedding wine, they would be blessed with a child as long as they truly loved each other if they went to pray at the village church. Their relationship would remain loving for the rest of their lives.

I had originally planned to do the same because I'd believed that Suzanne and I truly loved each other.

I looked up and happened to meet her eyes.

She knew about this custom. She knew how much I had wanted us to spend the rest of our lives together in happiness.

How would she choose?

"Okay," Suzanne replied.

I felt my heart shatter into pieces and broke completely. Even the last bit of pain turned into numbness.

After Suzanne agreed to Finley's request, then only she remembered me. She quickly took my hand and started making excuses to comfort me.

She said, "You were the one who forfeited and lost me to him. Don't throw a tantrum. Stay home and wait for me."

I stopped Ivan with my eyes when he tried to stand up and curse at her.

Then, I calmly said, "Okay. Fine by me."

The people around us froze.

Finley's eyes immediately lit up, and he quickly chimed in, "Then let's go tonight. The church's lights are at their brightest at night. Praying for love and children is especially effective then."

Another round of cheers and teasing erupted around us.

Suzanne seemed hesitant as she glanced at me, but Finley's smile soon infected her, and she smiled too.

"Okay. I'll do whatever you say."

Halfway through the dinner banquet, a group of people actually took lamps and surrounded Suzanne and Finley as they headed to church up in the mountain.

I didn't follow. I stood beside the fire pit and watched them disappear farther and farther into the distance.

The night grew darker.

My Instagram kept refreshing and showing Suzanne's and Finley's latest posts.

They were kneeling together before Priest and giving their offerings. The elders tied blessed bracelets around their wrists, praying for them to grow old together and have many children.

Every update I heard stabbed into my ears unpleasantly.

Ivan tried several times to call Suzanne, but I stopped him.

By the time the banquet had nearly ended and only a few scattered people remained around the fire pit, he sighed.

"Today's your birthday. Has she forgotten?" he remarked grimly.

My footsteps halted.

He was right. Today was indeed my birthday.

Every year on this day, no matter how busy Suzanne was, she would spend it with me. She used to say that I was born during the cherry blossom season, so it was easy to remember.

Back then, she had said it so sincerely. And I had believed her with all my heart.

But this year, she drank someone else's wedding wine during the day and accompanied that certain someone to the church at night.

She had completely forgotten my birthday.

When Suzanne pushed the door open, she reeked of alcohol and was carrying a box in her hand.

When she saw me sitting by the window, she seemed relieved as she walked toward me.

She said, "You're still awake? This is for you. I almost forgot."

Then, she placed the box on the table.

It seemed to her that everything that had happened today could be fixed with a gift, and we could go back to the way things were before.

I didn't open it.

Instead, I picked up on an odd scent coming from her. Besides the alcohol, there was a familiar scent of cologne.

It wasn't one I used.

I looked up. Under the lights, I spotted a faint red mark on her neck.

Suzanne followed my gaze and glanced down.

Then, she casually explained, "The other villagers got too carried away on the mountain. Don't overthink it."

She explained way too quickly.

When I remained silent, she frowned and got upset first.

"Are you still making a fuss over what happened during the day and tonight? There were so many people watching at the festival. I had to keep up appearances. We can celebrate your birthday every year. Celebrating a little later is no different."

The moment those words fell, the last thread holding my heart together snapped completely.

I pushed the box back toward her. "Don't bother making it up to me."

She froze and blurted, "What?"

I looked up at her and said, "You don't need to make up for the gift, my birthday, or the wedding wine. I'm tired of this, Suzanne."

She froze for a moment. Then, she laughed.

"Chadwick, are you seriously pulling this again? There will be another banquet at home tomorrow. Don't make a scene at a time like this."

I shook my head and stressed, "I'm not making a scene. I just don't want to continue doing this anymore."

She stared at me, the smile on her face slowly fading. The next moment, she turned her back to me.

Suzanne said, "You're mad now, but it'll pass. Come home with me tomorrow. My parents want to see you."