Chapter 4

It was the day before my flight out of the country.

My boss had given me the day off to say goodbye to my family.

But before I even opened the front door, bursts of laughter echoed from inside the apartment.

My mother’s laugh was the loudest.

"Oh, Gina, if you were my daughter, I would wake up smiling every single day."

My hand froze on the doorknob.

When I finally pushed the door open, a room full of happy faces turned to look at me.

I immediately felt like an outsider.

Daniel was sitting right in the middle of the couch, legs crossed.

The moment he saw me, his smile vanished, replaced by an irritated grunt.

My mother glared at me, clearly ready for a confrontation.

"Grace, what is wrong with you? Daniel says you've been throwing tantrums lately."

I didn’t answer. I just took off my coat and poured myself a glass of water.

My mother rolled up her sleeves, about to stand up and lecture me.

Gina glanced at me and tried to play peacemaker.

"It's nothing. Grace has just been really stressed with work lately."

My mother slapped the armrest of the couch.

"Stressed? I think she just thinks she's too good for us now. Look at that long face."

She turned back to Gina. "If Grace were even half as sensible as you, her father and I could actually relax."

Sitting next to my mother, Gina flushed at the praise, but her eyes nervously darted toward me.

She stood up, picked up a fruit platter from the coffee table, and walked over.

She offered it to me cautiously.

"Grace, have some fruit. I chopped up some mango for you. I know it’s your favorite."

I didn't take the platter.

I looked her dead in the eye and asked, "Gina, are you in love with Daniel?"

The room went dead silent.

Gina’s hands shook violently.

A few pieces of mango rolled off the edge of the plate and fell onto the floor.

Her face turned bright red instantly, her lips trembling, unable to form words.

Three seconds passed in agonizing silence.

Then, Daniel bolted upright, his face dark with rage.

"Are you out of your mind, Grace?

"Why would you ask her something like that? What is wrong with your head?"

My father stood up too, frowning deeply.

"Grace, watch your mouth. We saw Gina grow up like our own daughter."

My mother panicked. "How can you be so thoughtless? Gina has been so good to you, and you..."

I stood by the dining table, facing three familiar faces.

My parents.

And Daniel, whom I had known for twenty-six years.

Every single one of them looked at me with anger and disappointment.

All because of Gina.

My lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. "Oh. I was just kidding."

Daniel froze.

Gina stared at me blankly, whispering my name. "Grace..."

Finally, Daniel rubbed the back of his neck, letting out a frustrated sigh.

He threw his hands up in defeat.

"Fine, I give up. We’ll scrap all the previous decisions. We’ll do everything exactly your way. Happy now?"

I just watched him.

He walked over and patted my head, looking completely exhausted by my childish behavior.

"Stop being angry. From now on, whatever you say goes."

He sighed. "I'll pick you up during your lunch break tomorrow to look at wedding venues, okay?"

No. Not okay.

I already told him I was not marrying him.

Early the next morning, I boarded a flight with Ms. Palmer, heading to a city hundreds of miles away.

On my phone, there were several late-night texts from Daniel detailing the new wedding arrangements.

I turned off my phone without responding.

I was finally flying toward my own future.