Chapter 2

"Wasn't marrying Mabel your dream since you were a kid? Why the sudden change of heart?" Dad asked, clearly confused. "Did she mistreat you?"

I forced myself to sound casual. "No. I just figured things out. She's not the right one for me."

Mabel and I had grown up together, inseparable since childhood. When I was five, Mom had a severe depressive episode and locked me in a closet for two days and a night.

It was Mabel who found me and got me out. From that moment on, I saw her as the light in my life, my salvation.

Later, when Dad spent his days taking Mom to one treatment after another, Mabel was the one who stayed by my side.

She had been part of every moment of my youth. Just when I thought we were bound to end up together, she met Carter.

In the end, I didn't stand a chance against someone who came out of nowhere.

I could only watch as they fell in love. It was the most painful time of my life—so bad that I wanted to drop out of school just so I'd never have to see them again.

Yet, the moment I finally decided to let Mabel go and move to New Bastia to join my parents, Carter broke up with her for reasons I never understood.

She fell into despair, but for me, it was a flicker of hope.

Not once did I leave her side. I comforted her, cared for her, and confessed my feelings. Step by step, we made it to where we were now, on the verge of marriage.

Then, Carter came back. The moment he returned, he went out of his way to provoke me, telling me Mabel would never marry me and that I should know my place and step aside.

I had sworn it was impossible back then. But now, I had to admit I was wrong. When it came to love, I'd lost completely.

…

Once I ended the call with Dad, I went online and bought a ticket to New Bastia for three days later. After that, I took a cab home and started packing.

I was halfway through packing when Mabel came home. She held out the lemon loaf cake in her hand and said, "Isn't this your favorite? I went out of my way to get it for you."

Lemon loaf cake was my favorite, no question. But now, as I looked at the half-eaten cake, I felt nothing but disgust.

"Thanks. But I don't eat other people's leftovers."

Mabel's expression faltered for a moment. "You can't finish a whole cake by yourself anyway. Do you really have to be so petty about it?"

I zipped up my bag and dragged my suitcase toward the door. "Think whatever you want. If you want to call it petty, fine."

Right then, she reached out and blocked my way.

"The wedding's in three days. Where are you going?" Mabel asked in a low voice.

There were three days left until my flight to New Bastia too. Not wanting to cause any trouble, I said, "The bride and groom aren't supposed to live together before the wedding. I'm going back to my place."

Mabel's expression softened when she heard that, though a hint of doubt remained. "Is that really a thing?"

"Of course. Ask anyone if you don't believe me."

It was a long-standing custom. I wasn't making it up. So, I had no reason to worry about her asking around.

But what I didn't expect was that she'd ask Carter right in front of me.

After he confirmed it, Mabel visibly relaxed. "I'll drive you."

With my suitcase in hand, I got into her car. On the passenger seat, I saw the sticker again—"Carter's Seat".

This time, I didn't tear it off and replace it with my own like I used to. I just got into the back seat instead.

"Aiden, you're finally being reasonable," Mabel stated, sounding relieved. "It's just a sticker and a seat. I don't know what you and Carter were even fighting over."

A faint smile played on my lips as I replied, "You're right. There's nothing to fight over. I've given it to him."

…

We were halfway through the drive when Mabel's phone rang. It was Carter's ringtone.

As soon as she picked up, his anxious voice came through the line. "Mabel, I was in the middle of a shower when the power suddenly went out. I don't know what happened. Can you come over and help me?"