Chapter 2

I couldn't be bothered arguing with Edwin anymore. I went straight back to the bedroom and went to sleep. It was my day off, so I slept in.

Before I had even opened my eyes, I heard laughter and playful banter coming from the living room. The two people who were talking didn't even bother keeping their voices down.

I opened the bedroom door and saw Edwin still by the entryway, changing out his running shoes. His hair was damp with sweat, and the zipper of his running jacket was half down.

He had two bags of breakfast with him.

Melissa was right behind him, her cheeks flushed as she remarked with a laugh, "I almost couldn't finish the run today."

Edwin grinned at her, retorting, "It's your fault for staying up late last night. We'll just cut our run by half a lap tomorrow."

During the second year of my relationship with Edwin, I suggested that we take walks around the neighborhood after dinner.

He said he didn't have time for that. After I brought it up a few more times, he told me he was tired enough after work and wanted to spend his evenings peacefully at home.

But for the past three years, come rain or shine, he would wake up one hour early to join Melissa on her morning runs.

Upon seeing me exiting the bedroom, Edwin paused. "Oh. You're up."

I said nothing.

He lifted up the two bags of food. "I bought breakfast. Want to have some with us?"

I didn't even have to wait for him to unbox the food to know what he'd bought—a shrimp omelet and clam chowder. Those were Melissa's favorites, but I was severely allergic to shellfish.

The first time I ended up in the hospital due to an allergic reaction, Edwin sat with me while I received the IV drip and carefully made a note of my allergies on his phone.

But the next time he bought breakfast, it was still some shrimp omelet and clam chowder. It was second nature to him. After all, he and Melissa had known each other for over two decades now.

But this time, I suddenly felt drained.

"Edwin."

He looked at me.

"Why do you keep forgetting that I'm allergic to shellfish?"

Edwin's smile faltered, but Melissa immediately flashed a playful grin at me. "It's my fault. Christine. I kept urging Eddie to buy the food that I wanted, so he forgot to ask you what you'd like to have. It won't happen again. Right, Eddie?"

He nodded, saying, "That's right. I'll get you something else next time."

I'd heard that before. Yet, ever since they started going on these morning runs, not once had he ever bought any sort of breakfast food that I could eat.

I didn't bother saying anything more.

Melissa was already heading to the bathroom as if this were her house. "I'm going to take a shower first, Eddie. I hate feeling so sticky."

"Go ahead. I left you a fresh towel in the usual spot."

The usual spot referred to the second drawer in the bathroom. A pink bath towel, apricot-scented body wash, and Melissa's favorite body lotion were kept there all year long.

Edwin never bothered with any of the housework. Even when the toilet roll had run out for three days, he wouldn't even think to replace the empty roll with a new one.

But whenever it was something for Melissa, he was nothing if not meticulous, always remembering to switch it out in time.

Edwin and I were the ones living in this house, but right now, I was the one standing in the living room, looking like an unwelcome outsider.

A heaviness filled my chest. I went back into the bedroom. After getting changed, I grabbed my handbag and started heading to the front door.

Edwin finally looked at me again. "Where are you going?"

"I've got something to do."

He didn't bother asking any further and went back to setting breakfast out for Melissa.

Once I stepped out of the house and felt the breeze against my face, it felt as if I could finally breathe again.

There were a lot of things I had to do today. The first on the list was canceling my order for the wedding gown. I also had to cancel the booking for the wedding venue.

The moment I entered the bridal boutique, Alice Dennings, the sales assistant who attended to me, came over and greeted me.

"Hi, Ms. Graham. Are you here with Mr. Howell today? We've prepared both the wedding veils you were deliberating over today. You can try them on with your gown later for your fiance, and he can help you pick the right one."

It was only after she'd finished speaking that she finally realized no one else had come in with me. Her expression stiffened slightly.

With a light chuckle, I replied, "I'm here alone, and I'm not here for a try-on. Please help me cancel my order."

Alice's expression fell, but she didn't ask any questions. After all, what bride would come in for six separate fittings without her groom showing up even once?

The first few times it happened, she'd tried to brush it off with a laugh, saying, "Mr. Howell must be very busy with work."

By the sixth fitting, she had stopped mentioning Edwin altogether. She simply helped me into the gown and adjusted the hem in silence.

After the paperwork for the order cancellation was completed, she handed me the refund receipt. With an earnest expression, she said, "You're a kind and wonderful person, Ms. Graham. You're also very pretty. I'm sure you'll meet someone who truly cherishes you."

I froze for a moment before thanking her with a smile. But after leaving the bridal boutique, my eyes started to sting.

Even someone who had never met Edwin before could tell that he wasn't a man worth marrying. Yet, it had taken me five whole years to come to that realization.

By the time I'd cancelled my bookings for everything—from the wedding venue to the photographer and the florist—the sun had almost fully set.

I got a call from Lori Fuller, Edwin's mother.

"Hey, Christine. Come over to the house for dinner today."

After a pause, she added with a smile in her voice, "Edwin and Mellie are already here. We're all just waiting for you."