Chapter 6

After getting off the hot air balloon, we returned to the hotel, where an elaborate proposal setup was waiting.

Poppy stormed ahead angrily while Ralph trailed behind, trying to appease her. James and I walked at the back with his friends.

Honestly, I could not blame Poppy for looking down on Ralph. What kind of man was so cheap?

This entire trip, James and his friends paid for everything: food, activities, flights, and hotels. Ralph had not contributed even a single cent. He even tried to piggyback off James's proposal setup for me.

Right after I accepted James's diamond ring, Ralph got down on one knee in front of Poppy with a soda can pull tab.

"Poppy, this place is so romantic. Will you marry me?"

James's friends cracked up at the scene.

"Is this guy for real? He mooches off everyone else's food and fun, and now he's mooching off someone else's proposal?"

"This is better than reality TV. What, you can't afford your own moment?"

"I've never actually seen someone propose with a soda tab. That's a new one!"

James laughed. "Hey, love on a budget can be sweet too, right?"

Hearing their mockery, Poppy looked utterly humiliated. She shoved Ralph's hand away, crying and cursing at the same time.

"Get away from me! I don't want to be with you! You're so humiliating. Just leave! We're over!"

James and his friends were getting quite the show and laughed even harder.

Poppy ran off in shame. I followed her.

The moment Poppy reached the hotel, she pulled out her phone. "Mom, I don't want to be with Ralph anymore! He's too embarrassing!"

Hearing Poppy's tearful complaints, I stopped in my tracks. Everything was going according to plan.

Back in my room, I finally let my guard down. James was in the bathroom showering. I opened his phone, and the screen displayed a group chat called ‘Wife-Killer Club’.

What James said in there was completely different from his outward persona.

His nickname in the group was ‘Never Misses’.

Never Misses: [Boys, my proposal succeeded today. I’m ready to execute the wife-killing plan soon!]

His friends chimed in.

[Holy shit, bro! You're incredible. Didn't you just finish with your last one not too long ago?]

[You're an inspiration to us all!]

[Got any videos? Let us see how it's done!]

[Bro, have you got any tips? Teach us!]

Never Misses: [Throw money around! I've already spent hundreds of thousands on this dumb b*tch. Today's proposal ring alone was worth six figures.]

Never Misses: [I throw money everywhere. What woman can resist that?]

Never Misses: [But this woman's loaded too. After I get rid of her, I'll make bank. I'll send you all a little gift when the time comes.]

I heard movement from the bathroom. I quickly deleted the chat history and put his phone back where it was.

James came out of the bathroom, still damp, and wrapped his arms around me. "Babe, I'm so happy I get to marry you. Just thinking about holding you like this every day makes me too excited to sleep."

His hands started wandering, but my phone rang abruptly and interrupted him.

I got up, pointed at the phone, and mouthed, "It's my mom."

I had just stepped into the hallway and answered when Mom's harsh voice came through. "Elisa, I let Poppy go on this trip with you, and this is how you treat her? You bullied her?"

I was baffled. "Mom, how did I bully her?"

"Then why were you all laughing at Ralph?"

I rubbed the bridge of my nose, exhausted. "James set up that proposal for me, then Ralph jumped in afterward to propose to Poppy. How do you think that makes Ralph look? How does it make Poppy look like? How does it make me look?

"I think Poppy's right. Ralph isn't good enough for her. Mom, your taste is terrible. Poppy deserves someone better."

The moment I finished speaking, Poppy hugged me from behind, crying pitifully. "Elisa, you think Ralph isn't good enough for me too, right?"

She snatched the phone from my hand. "Mom, this is all your fault! I don't like Ralph. You're the one who forced us to be together. We'll never be happy.

"I already broke up with Ralph. I will never get back together with him. Even if every man on earth dropped dead, I still wouldn't be with him!"

After she finished yelling, the door to the room across from us opened. Ralph walked out with a dark expression. "Fine. I get it! We're done. You can stay and have fun. I'm going home. I’ve got livestock to deal with back at the farm."

After Ralph left, Poppy visibly brightened. She had a blast skiing and enjoying the hot tub with the rich boys.

"James, seafood again? I hate seafood!"

At another group dinner, Poppy complained to James as the waiter brought out a large seafood platter.

James paused. "Your sister likes it."

Poppy glared at me furiously. I pretended not to notice and gave her a shy smile. I linked my arm through James's. "You're so good to me. I'm so lucky."

Poppy angrily scraped her fork across her plate, making an awful screeching sound.

After dinner, James shot me a meaningful look. I hesitated for a moment. Then, I exchanged a bashful glance with Poppy before following him out.

Poppy tried to follow, but someone stopped her. "Read the room, will you? They want alone time. Why are you following them?"

I did not turn around, but I knew Poppy's eyes were filled with jealousy.