Never Let Go

When the bet started, Wren Shackelford was still texting me.

[Remember to wear something smart when you return tomorrow. Wear that bespoke suit I bought you the last time. I’ll pick you up when you land.]

I stared at her text and looked at her wager of five million dollars in the group chat, my fingertips growing cold.

Since we started online dating a year ago, Wren had always been gentle and patient toward me.

Despite our time difference, she would chat with me through the night when I lost sleep and game with me when I needed to vent my frustrations accumulated from work pressure.

I didn’t want to believe that this was all a huge scam, but the texts in the group chat just kept coming.

[Is it the same bespoke suit Sean has? Hahaha!

[Last month, I heard the salesman who personally delivered the suit say that John the Hailstone was so fat he couldn’t even stuff a leg into the pants.

[To make things worse, Wren bought the smallest size! He would have to spend the whole night squeezing all 340 pounds of his fat body into the suit!]

Wren texted: [Yeah, that’s the suit. It'll make him look like a fat tied-up pig!]

Sean’s profile picture popped up. [Are you talking about this suit?]

He then sent a photo of him wearing a white shirt that outlined his powerful, lean figure.

Everyone began praising Wren for hitting the jackpot.

[It truly hurts more when you compare. They’re both Jacksons, but Sean's so suave and handsome. That fatty John looks just like a hailstone that can crush someone to death.]

[Hahaha! When John the Hailstone stands next to Sean, he’ll burst into tears over how ugly he looks in comparison!]

Sean sent an awkward emoji. [Even I find this suit a little tight. My brother weighs 340 pounds. How could he possibly fit in this? Let’s not put him on the spot. Just let him come in a tank top and boxer shorts.]

Wren texted: [Such trivial suffering is nothing compared to what you’ve been through. I’ll make him pay back double for all those years you've suffered!]

[Exactly. Sean, you’re bullied by him because you’re too kind-hearted. Don’t interfere and let us stand up for you tomorrow!]

[Thank you all for helping me like this. In fact, this isn’t the first time my brother stole something that belongs to me. I’ve gotten used to this since we were kids. It’s just… The chance to go overseas two years ago was very important to me. That’s why I want him to apologize to me. I really hope he won’t steal my things again in the future.]

Sean was acting pitiful once more, letting everyone coddle and comfort him.

I gripped my phone tight.

That chance to go overseas he was referring to was something he rejected because he was worried it might get too tough. That was the only reason the chance fell on my lap.

Over the past two years, I worked hard at Jackson Group’s overseas company and made great accomplishments.

My success made him jealous and drove him to spread rumors that I had stolen his chance to go overseas and the opportunity to work at Jackson Group. Many people in his circle started to take revenge on me for him, treating me like a joke and playing me for a fool.

Since we were young, that had been Sean's way of instigating everyone to bully me.

All those years when they cornered me in the washroom and slapped me, maliciously knocked into me while I was running, pasting a label that read “dumb pig” on my back so that everyone would mock me…

They even made a school-wide announcement when I took a clumsy fall, declaring, “John the Hailstone from Class 7 of Grade 12 is in urgent need of guidance from a sow to give birth to piglets!”

Each time I was bullied, Sean never failed to make his grand entrance afterwards, behaving every bit like a victim and receiving everyone’s pity and comfort. All the nastiest nicknames and the cruelest tricks they played left indelible marks on me that I couldn’t seem to shake off.

Texts were still appearing on my phone screen.

Wren asked, [Does anyone else want to place their bets? The countdown is about to begin soon. We won’t accept any latecomers!]

At the very last second on the countdown timer, right at the same moment I was about to place my bet, someone with a profile picture of a red rose entangled in thorns texted: [Wait. I’ll bet 30 million dollars that John will win hands down.]

[Wait, how much? 30 million dollars?! That’s more than all of us combined!]

[Hang on, sister. Are you sure you want to bet all that money on a fatty? John's clearly desperate for love. He’ll do every one of Wren’s bidding. Not only will he be willing to kneel, but he’ll even be willing to jump down a building for her!]

Sean also tried to persuade her otherwise. [I’m John Jackson’s younger brother. He’s really awful, and he's done many horrible things to me. He’s not worth such a huge bet on your part! We won’t feel good taking so much money from you when we win.]

Even Wren jumped in.

[30 million is a huge sum. You might lose it all betting on him…

[You might not know how much John loves me. He can forgo sleep for a few consecutive nights just to wait for one call from me.

[One time, I lied to him that I went overseas to visit him. He stood at the Fairy Tower for one whole night and almost froze into an icicle.

[Oh, he even tattooed my initials on his collarbone and couldn’t bear to remove it despite having an allergic reaction to it and contracting a high fever. Kneeling would certainly be something he would do for my sake.]

All those things that I thought were proof of love were listed one by one, insulted in front of others.

What wrong did I do?

Nothing at all.

She was the one in the wrong for taking my true love as a wager.

Thorned Rose fell silent for two seconds before texting: [So what? It’s my own business choosing him. It’s also my own business for choosing to trust him. I’ll just make my choice. Whether I lose or win, I don’t care.]

No one else said anything further.

I felt tears well up in my eyes.

I didn’t cry when I was living alone on a foreign land. I didn’t cry when I was dieting till I had low blood sugar and was hospitalized.

I was even able to hold back tears after finding out about my online dating partner's betrayal.

Yet, it was this unconditional trust that made my eyes feel hot with tears.

After reading that text again and again, I returned to my chat with Wren and resolutely sent her a text: [Okay, I’ll wear that bespoke suit and be there on time.]

I wasn’t the one in the wrong. I shouldn’t be avoiding her.

Wren’s reply came quickly. [Sure. I have a huge surprise for you tomorrow.]

Right after she texted that, I saw that a screenshot of our chat was sent to the chat group.

[He really has the guts to appear in that suit! Wren, if he runs to you all bundled up in that tight suit, I fear the entire building might shake!]

[I wonder if he can squeeze into the door we specially designed. For all we know, we might end up having to call 911 to take down the door!]

Wren tagged Sean and texted: [Sean, wear that suit tomorrow and let him know how embarrassment truly feels like.]

Amidst all the laughter and jokes, I dialed the dedicated line to Shackelford Enterprise. “Mr. Shackelford, I’m sorry, but I won’t be working with the Shackelford Enterprise from now on.”

“Mr. Jackson, our discussions were going so smoothly. Shackelford Enterprise needs your support to turn the tide. Why are you suddenly backing out?”

No one back home knew of my true identity just yet.

I took a deep breath and said, “Come to The Onyx Grand tomorrow at 10 in the morning to see for yourself what your precious granddaughter has done.”