Chapter 4

"Margaret, do you want to download the game and play with us?"

"No. I don't like video games."

"Don't invite Margaret. Otherwise, we'll have to carry this newbie, and it'll be hard to win."

I kept watching the two of them until Sebastian placed the last shrimp on Claire's plate.

Then I glanced at my own empty plate. "I heard from Sebastian that you're having a wedding ceremony on your birthday?"

"He even told you about that?" Claire said shyly as she leaned against Sebastian.

"Margaret, it's just a promise we made when we were kids. Please don't take it the wrong way."

Sebastian had actually gone to so much trouble to make a childhood promise to Claire come true.

Yet after seven years with me, he couldn't even give me one promise.

It was almost laughable.

"I don't mind. As long as you two are happy."

Claire continued, "Margaret is always so understanding. Actually, I haven't really liked any of the wedding dresses I've tried lately. But the last time I was at your house, I saw a sketch for a wedding dress on your desk. I wanted to ask you to make that one for me, but I was too embarrassed to ask."

Sebastian answered for me, "Why would you be embarrassed? Everything in this house belongs to you too. Margaret, show Claire the sketch. Then just make her a dress based on it."

I answered directly, "I tore up that sketch."

Sebastian looked confused. "Why?"

"Because I didn't want it anymore."

"That's a shame."

When Sebastian saw the disappointment on Claire's face, he immediately comforted her. "It's okay. If you can't have that one, pick an even better dress. I'll buy you a designer necklace to go with it. No matter what dress you wear, it'll make the whole outfit look expensive."

I stared at Sebastian in disbelief.

In the seven years we'd been together, he had never given me a gift worth more than 1,000 dollars.

He had rarely even spent more than 500 dollars on me.

Yet he could casually promise Claire an expensive designer necklace.

I said sarcastically, "Sebastian treats you so well."

On the morning of our seventh anniversary, Sebastian was already dressed in a suit and ready to leave.

I asked curiously, "Isn't a birthday celebration usually at night?"

He actually said, "Of course I have to go pick up the bride. Claire said I have to be there by nine."

I froze for a moment. "You're really making this that formal?"

He answered calmly, as if there was nothing strange about it. "Of course. It's Claire's first time, and it's my first time too."

After saying that, he grabbed his car keys and headed for the door.

I called after him, "Sebastian."

He turned around. "What is it?"

I asked, "Are you really going?"

Sebastian frowned. "Don't start this again. We've already prepared everything, and I've told you. We're just having fun with it."

I reminded him, "Today is our seventh anniversary."

He didn't care at all. "It doesn't matter if we don't celebrate it. Haven't we always been like this?"

I watched him until my eyes burned and filled with tears. "I was just kidding. Go."

"Then I'm leaving." He walked out without another word.

At three that afternoon, while I was at the airport, Sebastian sent me 100 dollars with a message wishing me a happy anniversary.

He had bought Claire a designer necklace that day.

But all I got was 100 dollars.

I didn't accept the money.

Instead, I sent Sebastian one last message. "Sebastian, we're over. Let's break up. I hope you and Claire will be happy together."

After sending it, I blocked Sebastian.

I turned off my phone and grabbed my suitcase before joining the crowd of passengers heading toward the gate.

Six hours later, I landed in Belmont.

I turned my phone back on and was about to contact the owner of the bridal boutique.

Then a flood of messages came pouring in.