Chapter 3

I moved into the company dorms for the time being.

Life became incredibly peaceful for a few days.

A week later, Ms. Palmer asked me to pick up some brand samples from the mall.

It was the weekend and the mall was packed.

As I walked past the jewelry section, two familiar figures caught my eye.

Daniel and Gina were leaning over a display counter, their heads close together.

I paused, planning to walk around them. But Gina looked up and spotted me.

She ran over immediately.

"Grace!"

She grabbed my arm, pulling me along.

"You're back from your trip? Why didn't you tell us?

"Come look. I’ve been picking out jewelry for you."

A row of gold pieces lay on the counter.

Gina grabbed a chunky gold bangle and tried to force it onto my wrist.

"Isn't this beautiful? Daniel said we're buying traditional gold jewelry. I spent hours picking this."

The cold metal bit into my skin.

I yanked my hand back.

"No, thank you."

Gina froze for a second.

Then she smiled and pushed the bangle toward me again.

"Just try it on. Just a quick try."

Losing my patience, I pushed her hand away forcefully.

Gina tripped over a nearby chair during the scuffle.

She stumbled backward, her hip slamming hard against the edge of the glass counter.

She gasped in pain.

The gold bangle clattered loudly onto the glass surface.

Daniel’s face dropped instantly.

He rushed over to support Gina.

Then he turned to me, his voice freezing cold.

"Are you crazy, Grace? Why did you push her?"

I stood frozen, my hand still hanging in mid-air.

Gina bent over, winced and tugged at Daniel’s sleeve.

"It’s fine, really. I just lost my balance."

Daniel ignored her, keeping his eyes locked on me.

"You owe her an apology, Grace. She has been running herself ragged helping with your wedding.

“Does she owe you something? Why the attitude?"

I looked at him and spoke softly, "Did I ask for her help? This is my wedding…"

Gina’s eyes welled with tears. Her lips trembled.

"Grace..."

Daniel looked at her, then cut me off with an irritated sigh.

"Enough, Grace. Look, you made Gina cry.

"You don't know the first thing about planning a wedding. Without her, this whole thing would be an absolute disaster.

"Are you throwing this tantrum to tell me you don't want to get married anymore?"

He stared at me with pure confidence.

In his mind, I would always be the quiet girl who bowed her head and apologized.

I looked at the two of them.

At eighteen, we had joined hands and promised to stay together forever.

Now, at twenty-eight, I stared at my fiancé and my best friend, my eyes burning as tears finally spilled over.

Seeing my tears, Daniel softened.

He let go of Gina and took two steps toward me. He reached out to wipe my face.

"Hey, I was just trying to scare you. Of course we're getting married. I…"

I took a sharp step back.

"Daniel, I'm not marrying you."

Daniel’s hand froze. His face went completely dark.

"Are you a child, Grace? Do you even think before you speak?"

A condescending smirk played on his lips.

He shook his head.

"There's a limit to your tantrums. Not marrying me? You don't even know how to cook.

“You get lost taking the subway. Who else besides Gina and me would ever put up with you?"

I stared at him, then let out a self-deprecating laugh.

Of course. It was always like this.

My thoughts and my emotions were just a childish game to them.

I was never respected.

“Never mind.”

I turned and walked away.

Behind me, Gina’s voice sounded frantic.

"Daniel, go after her! What are you doing?"

Then came Daniel’s voice, slow and deeply annoyed.

"Let her go. She'll come crawling back once she realizes she can't survive on her own. She needs to learn a lesson."

He was right. I really needed to learn my lesson.