A Ring That Changed Hands

My phone kept buzzing as congratulations poured in.

I replied to friends and family on autopilot, saying that the wedding was canceled. I was also ready to return every wedding gift, one by one.

Then, a new notification popped up on my social feed.

Elena had posted a close-up photo of two hands tightly intertwined, fingers locked. The caption read, 'Julian's scent is the most comforting thing in the world.'

Julian replied underneath with a hugging emoji.

I stared at the bruises circling her wrist in the photo and suddenly laughed out loud.

How ironic.

The engagement ring I had chosen myself was now shining on someone else's finger.

I commented under the post. Elena's video call came through almost instantaneously.

On the screen, Julian's bare chest was covered in scratch marks. Elena curled up against him like a cat, deliberately exposing the bite mark on her shoulder.

"Nora." Her voice was sickly sweet. She ran her fingers over Julian's abs as if showing off. "Julian's exhausted and still sleeping. He worked so hard last night helping me detox…"

I watched her performance without a flicker of expression.

"Oh, right," she added suddenly, covering her mouth in mock surprise and shaking her head. "Isn't today your wedding? It’s all my fault. If I hadn't been drugged… Nora, you're not mad at me, are you?"

The camera shifted to Julian's sleeping face. His neck was covered in hickeys, and a very visible bite mark sat on his collarbone.

"Elena, stop pretending. You know perfectly well who drugged whom," I cut in coldly, having no interest in watching her put on that fake act.

"Nora," she sneered, dropping the act, "Julian and I have known each other for over ten years. You really think you can compete with me? We're not even related by blood. He was always meant to be mine. You're just some broke nobody. What right do you have to be with him?"

I laughed.

Julian had mentioned this "sister" countless times while we were together. He always said she was delicate, that I had to treat her well in the future. I used to tease him for still doting on his sister like this at his age. I never imagined this was the truth between them.

She smiled smugly, then instantly switched to a pitiful expression. "Julian, Nora's being mean to me…"

He stirred awake. When he saw me on the screen, he froze. "Nora…"

"Julian, don't you find this little sibling act of yours disgusting?"

Elena burst into tears. "It's all my fault! Julian, don't fight with Nora. I'll just leave…"

Julian exploded upon hearing her cry. "That's enough! Nora! If you've got a problem, take it out on me! Don't lash out at Elena! She's already in such a pitiful state, and you're still pushing her? It's just a wedding. So what if we postpone it? Do you have to be this vicious?

"We're not even legally married yet. I'll sleep with whoever I want. You don't get to control me!"

I looked at the way Julian shielded Elena and let out a sardonic laugh. "You're right. We're not legally married. Your body, your choice."

My softened tone made Julian relax. "Good. Stop being angry with Elena. As long as you treat her well, we'll have another wedding in a few days."

I nodded calmly. He clearly took it as a compromise and hung up the call, satisfied.

From this moment on, I would no longer concern myself with anything related to Julian.

…

I heard the front door unlock at 3 p.m.

Julian walked in with his arm around Elena's waist, dragging two oversized suitcases behind them.

"The doctor says she needs continued observation," Julian said casually, as if discussing dinner plans. "This mess happened because of you, after all. Elena will stay in the master bedroom."

Elena tilted her head and smiled sweetly at me. Her slender fingers deliberately tugged at Julian's collar, revealing the bruises beneath.

"You won't mind, will you, Nora?"

I said nothing, watching her inspect our wedding home like she was the mistress.

She suddenly stopped in front of a family photo of my parents and me. "Wow, are these Nora's parents?"

Before I could react, the frame smashed heavily onto the floor.

Glass shards were scattered everywhere, slicing across my smiling face in the photo.

"Nora, I didn't mean to."

I stared at the last photo I had with my parents, now shattered at Elena's feet. Rage surged through me, and I raised my hand.

Before I could touch her, Julian stepped in front of Elena and slapped me hard across the face.

Elena cried out and threw herself into his arms.

"She didn't do it on purpose! Is this really necessary?"

Glass and Blood

"Nora, I'm sorry. This is all my fault," Elena said softly. "I know you hate me for taking Julian away. You can hit me if it'll make you feel better."

The words sounded repentant, but malice flickered in her eyes.

I watched her coldly, unimpressed by the clumsy act. Suddenly, I saw her suddenly lose her balance and fall straight onto the shattered glass.

"Ah! Julian!" she screamed, lifting her bleeding arm.

Julian charged over like an enraged lion and slammed his foot into my stomach.

I flew into the coffee table. A sharp pain ripped through my ribs, and my vision went dark.

"Nora didn't do it on purpose, Julian. I'm fine," Elena said weakly. "She's just upset. Julian, go comfort her."

Julian roared at me as he gently gathered Elena into his arms.

"Nora, how can you be this vicious? Elena is my sister. How dare you do this to her!" He said to her, "Don't be afraid. I'm taking you to get bandaged right now!"

Then, he turned to me. "I'll make you pay if she scars!"

I curled up on the floor, watching their backs as they walked away.

Blood seeped from my forehead, spreading across the floor like a dark red bloom.

…

In the middle of the night, the sound of someone kicking the door jolted me awake.

Julian stood in the doorway holding Elena, whose arm had been neatly bandaged. He said with icy eyes, "Quit playing dead. Do you know how many stitches Elena needed?"

Elena swayed in his arms, showing off her wrapped wrist. "Nora, I know you hate me, but Julian and I really are just siblings. It only happened because I was drugged…"

"Julian, this is my fault. I made Nora angry," she murmured. "I just won't be able to make you coffee for a while."

Julian clasped her hand, heartbroken. "Elena, stop defending her!"

"Elena's injured. Go pack her things," he barked at me. "Every single design sketch. Don't miss one."

He shoved me into the study. I staggered and slammed into the bookcase.

The wound in my abdomen tore open again, warm liquid soaking through my shirt.

I gritted my teeth as I gathered the scattered design drafts from the floor. Every movement sent pain jolting up my body. Soon, cold sweat drenched my back.

Just then, Elena pushed the door open and thrust a design sheet smeared with ink toward me.

"My competition piece!" she suddenly shrieked. "I stayed up three nights drawing this! Nora, how could you pour ink all over my design?"

Julian rushed in at the noise. He went berserk when he saw Elena sobbing on the floor. He slapped me to the ground, then immediately pulled Elena into his arms.

"Nora, do you have any idea how important this competition is to Elena?"

The pain was so intense that I spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Now you're even pretending to cough up blood?" Julian snarled. "If you've got a problem, take it out on me! Why do you keep hurting Elena? You've really disappointed me, Nora!"

I lay collapsed on the floor. Julian started to stand when Elena suddenly fainted.

"Elena! Elena! Call an ambulance!"

Julian swept her into his arms. On his way out, he kicked the coffee table over hard.

Glass shards sprayed across my face, sliding down with the warmth of my blood.

When the front door slammed shut, my knees finally gave out as I sank to my knees.

Blood kept spilling from the corner of my mouth, pooling on the floor in a blinding red stain.

I fumbled for the phone Julian had crushed underfoot. The screen was spiderwebbed with cracks, but our wedding photo still glowed beneath them—him lowering his head to kiss me, his eyelashes almost translucent in the sunlight.

My blood smeared the screen as my shaking finger hit the emergency call.

When the line connected, Julian's voice was ice-cold. "Nora, you've got some nerve calling. Elena's in surgery."

Every word sent blood bubbling from my lips. "J-Julian… we're done."

"What are you playing at now? Once Elena's out of danger, I'll deal with you… Elena!"

The call was cut off.

I suddenly remembered the night he proposed, holding me by the river and whispering, "Nora, I'll never let you suffer."

How cruel. 'The one you love most would always hurt you the deepest.'

My vision blurred. As I stared at the chandelier swaying on the ceiling, I thought of the champagne flutes we'd prepared for the wedding that morning.

It seemed we would never reach the day of sharing that final toast.

Darkness swallowed me whole.

'Julian, we will never see each other again.'