“Deborah, I've told you my parents have their reservations about where you come from. But I've worked hard to get them to accept you. We're about to get married. What more do you want?”

“And what about Irma?”

I stared at his hand with open contempt. “Every time you touch me, you have to scrub yourself down with alcohol wipes. Over and over.”

“So why not when you touch Irma?”

Just now, in front of everyone, the two of them had chased and tussled and laughed together.

Their faces nearly pressed against each other.

And not once did Spencer's germ phobia so much as flicker.

His expression darkened, his brows knotting tighter and tighter.

“Deborah, I think I've explained this to you more times than I can count.”

“Irma's mother was my mom's best friend. She died young, and afterward Irma's stepmother treated her cruelly.”

“My mom couldn't stand to watch it, so she kept bringing Irma to our house.”

“You could say she grew up under our roof. She's no different from my own sister.”

So she could lounge on Spencer's bed in nothing but shorts.

But his bed? I wasn't even allowed to sit on it.

He couldn't stand the thought of my outdoor clothes soiling his sheets.

Even the chairs in the house had to be disinfected the moment I got up.

Watching my face tighten with humiliation, he hesitated, then forced the words out. ：

“Deborah, I'm not doing it on purpose. I just have a severe phobia of germs.”

But Irma was different.

On Spencer's turf, she could do whatever she pleased.

“Irma and I go back to childhood. She's used to being around me, so the phobia doesn't kick in.”

Now, listening to Spencer fumble through his excuses,

I felt something loosen, and a faint smile crossed my lips.

“Right. The two of you are the real family. I'm the outsider who could never fit in.”

And I didn't want to fit in anymore.

When he saw me turn to leave, panic flashed across his face. He caught me from behind, wrapping his arms around me.

“That's not what I meant.”

“Deborah, you've been running yourself ragged lately, haven't you? Rest first. Once you've settled down, there's plenty of time to sort out the wedding.”

I was about to tell him I was perfectly settled, that I'd thought it through and wanted to break up.

“Spencer, come here a second!”

Andrea's voice cut in at just that moment.

“Coming!” Spencer frowned. “Deborah, I'll have the driver take you home.”

“Don't bother. I'll grab a cab.”

As I turned to go, Irma deliberately brushed past me, throwing me a taunting look.

“Deborah Butler, don't think being Spencer's girlfriend makes you anything special.”

“Mrs. Stephens has her heart set on me as her future daughter-in-law. You? You haven't even passed the test.”

“I'll be honest with you. I have feelings for Spencer too.”

“So I won't be letting him marry you that easily.”

“In the end, whoever gets to be Mrs. Stephens, well, may the best woman win.”

I answered calmly. “Sorry. I have no interest in fighting you for him.”

With that, I shouldered past her and walked away.

Over the next three days, I took on a business trip the company had asked me to handle.

Three days of running myself off my feet. I came back so exhausted that I slept like the dead.

When I woke, a message from Spencer was waiting on my phone.

“The wedding plan's been chosen.”

“The wedding's set for two weeks from now. Remember to let your relatives back home know to come.”

I bolted upright, completely lost.

“Which plan did you choose?”

“Spencer, you didn't talk to me about any of it. The plan, the date, you just decided everything on your own?”

There was a pause on his end.

“These six wedding plans, weren't they the ones you put together in the first place?”

“I know you weren't there, but I went with Irma's suggestions.”

“She thought a Korean-style lawn wedding would be perfect, and I figured you girls all like pretty much the same things, so I locked it in.”

I laughed, weak and hollow.

Irma again.

He always assumed she and I wanted the same things.

But he'd forgotten. On my last birthday, he'd ordered me a mango cake, going off Irma's tastes.

I'd taken one bite and broken out in hives all over, ending up in the hospital.

Irma had chased after us, eyes red, sobbing out an apology.

“I'm so sorry, I had no idea Deborah was allergic to mango, otherwise I never would have blended it into juice for the cake……”

And now even the wedding.

He could plan it with someone else, without me.

If that was how it was, then what did this wedding have to do with me at all?

It struck me as funny, and the laugh slipped out before I could stop it.

Spencer's rigid body suddenly went slack.

“Deborah, since you're laughing, I'll take that as a yes.”

His voice softened all at once.

“Deborah, let's stop fighting, okay? Things were so much better before, when we were happy together.”

“I'm honestly looking forward to it now. What you'll look like in a wedding dress, marrying me? The most beautiful bride in the world, no question.”

My gaze drifted slowly toward the distance, and a mocking smile touched my lips.

“You'll get the most beautiful bride in the world, all right.”

Just that the woman.

Wouldn't be me.

As for the wedding.

I'd give him one hell of a surprise.

For two solid weeks, I dodged every chance to see Spencer.

Either I claimed work was keeping me busy, or there were other matters I had to handle.

Spencer wasn't pleased, but time after time, he let it go.

“Fine, I'll let you work these last two weeks.”

“Once we're married and you're Mrs. Stephens, there's no reason for you to be out working at all.”

Then came the wedding day. Spencer and his family stood at the venue, waiting more than two hours.

And still there was no sign of me, no sign of anyone from my side either.

“What's going on, Spencer? Didn't you say eight o'clock? It's almost ten now.”

“If this drags on any longer, the whole ceremony's going to run late!”

Spencer checked his watch for the ninth time, his face gone ashen.

“Give it a little longer.”

“Maybe something happened. I know Deborah. She's not the type to be late.”

But not a single relative from the bride's side had shown up, and that was clearly wrong.

Spencer reached his limit, picked up his phone, and dialed that number again, the one that never went through.

Then, the next second, someone cried out：“The bride's here!”

Spencer's head shot up, joy breaking across his face, and he hurried over to meet her.

But the bride in the wedding dress was Irma,

and his expression iced over in an instant.

“Irma, your usual nonsense I can let slide, but do you understand what today is?”

“Today is my wedding with Deborah.”

“Who told you to put on that dress? Take it off!”

Irma fidgeted, her eyes welling up.

“Spencer, why are you snapping at me?”

“Deborah's the one who ran out on the wedding. She said she was giving the bride's spot to me, that I should marry you instead.”

The color drained from Spencer's face. “What did you say?”

“If you don't believe me, go find Deborah yourself!”

“Though by now, she's probably already on a flight out of the country, halfway overseas, don't you think?”