Chapter 5

I didn’t know what time I fell asleep.

The next morning, I was woken up by my phone ringing.

I found my phone in a daze and saw my mom’s number on the screen.

I swiped right to answer the call.

“Joshua Sanders! Look at the time now! Why aren’t you here yet?” My mom’s voice came crashing through the receiver like a ton of bricks. “Your brother is getting engaged today! Our relatives are all here, so how could you, as his elder brother, not be present?!”

I glanced at the time.

It was half past nine in the morning.

“Hurry up. The restaurant your dad booked is in the south of the city. Call for a cab and come here straight!”

My mom hung up without even waiting for an answer.

I threw my phone on the bed and sat up, rubbing my temples.

My bag was still in that house, with my ID, credit card, work phone, house keys, and employee ID badge all in that bag.

These weren’t actually important. What was important was an original copy of a contract I had just signed with my customer last week, which I had to submit to the company for archival purposes on Monday.

The hotel I was staying in right now was about a 20-minute drive away from my house.

I received a call from my mom while in the taxi.

“Where are you now? We’re all waiting for you!”

“Almost there,” I said before hanging up.

The scenery sped outside the window. I leaned against the glass pane as I watched the city I’d lived in for eight years zoom past, suddenly finding everything so unfamiliar.

I stepped out of the taxi at the restaurant.

Three huge tables were booked for the celebration. All my uncles and aunts and even some relatives I couldn’t recognize were there. They were probably distant relatives from my mom’s side whom we seldom met.

Jeff sat at the head of the table right in the middle with Vivian next to him.

My presence made silence ensue in the private room.

However, the boisterous celebration soon resumed.

No one thought I should be reacting in any particular way.

“Joshua is here!” Aunt Tilly was the first to spot me and waved at me with a smile. “Quick, sit down! We’re all waiting for you. Look at how fortunate your brother is, having found such a good partner for himself!”

“Yeah, I heard she has an annual salary of $100,000 and works as a software engineer. She has a bright future ahead of her!”

The relatives were all talking over each other, chattering about the newlyweds, and I could hear everything they were saying clearly.

My mom walked through the crowd and grabbed me by the arm. With a smile on her face, she dragged me to the front.

“You’re finally here. Can’t believe you’re dilly-dallying so much on your brother’s big day.”

My mom dragged me to a seat at the head table, right opposite Vivian and Jeff.

Vivian looked up at me, looking as calm as a stranger.

Jeff bowed his head, looking shy as he subconsciously tightened his hold over Vivian’s hand.

My mom was still smiling as she pushed me toward Vivian. “Joshua, you haven’t congratulated your brother yet.”

Everyone’s gaze landed on me, and I looked at all the faces around me.

Suddenly, I found everything so ridiculous and laughable.

“I do have something to say.”

I looked at Vivian and said emphatically, "Congratulations for finding a steady, down-to-earth, and good man to settle down with.”

I then turned to look at Jeff and said with a smirk, “Are you happy now, stealing my girlfriend from me?”