I crashed at a random hotel for the night. It wasn't until noon the next day that I finally charged my phone and turned it on.

Sure enough, there were 109 missed calls and countless WhatsApp messages. Everyone was asking me why I had run away from my wedding and canceled it.

Just then, a call from Felix’s mom, Sophia Vance, came in. After some hesitation, I swiped to answer.

"Rosa! What is the meaning of this? Announcing the cancellation of the wedding publicly—whose face are you trying to slap? Felix agreed to marry you because he liked you, even though someone with your family background shouldn't be matched with our Felix, and yet, you’ve gone and humiliated us."

Already nursing a headache, I couldn't help but interrupt her, "Aunt Sophia, aren't you going to ask what Felix did?"

"Isn’t it just changing the wedding dress? Our Thorn family organized the entire wedding; changing the dress is nothing. Why are you being so unreasonable? You’re already throwing a tantrum, and you're not even married yet!"

"Aunt Sophia, shouldn’t you be happy that I’m no longer going to be your daughter-in-law?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line.

"What do you mean by that? Let me tell you, if you keep up this attitude, don’t blame me for making sure you never enter the Thorn family!"

I couldn't listen to Sophia’s scolding any longer. I told her I had things to do and hung up the phone.

From the beginning, Sophia never thought highly of me, mainly because I came from a single-parent household. I knew she preferred Gemma; I had seen a family photo in the Thorn's living room corner. In the picture, Sophia was lovingly holding Gemma and Felix's hands, her eyes filled with a warmth and kindness I’d never seen directed at me.

Sophia often compared me to Gemma, pointing out I wasn’t as pretty, refined, or intelligent. She’d pull Felix aside to talk, but close enough that I could overhear every word. I never once heard Felix defend me; he probably agreed with her silently.

After hanging up, I briefly skimmed through my messages and found dozens from my mom, Diana Wren. She was asking where I was and why I hadn't come home.

Tears suddenly started falling uncontrollably.

"Mom."

"Rosa, where are you? Diana has been trying to reach you all night, you're making her worry to death."

There was no blame, only concern.

"Mom, I’m okay."

"Come home soon, Diana has something to ask you."

I heard a sigh from the other end of the line.

I went to a nearby mall, bought a change of clothes, and tossed my old ones into the trash before heading home. As soon as I walked through the door, I saw Diana waiting on the sofa. When she saw me, she quickly stood up.

"Are you hungry? Did you eat?"

She guided me to the dining table and brought out the food she'd kept warm. There was my favorite dish, tomato pasta.

"Eat first, then tell Diana what happened."

At that moment, I couldn't hold back my tears any longer. "Mom, aren’t you mad at me for being so headstrong?"

"Diana knows what her daughter is like. You’ve always been well-behaved and had your own opinions since you were little. If you canceled the wedding, it’s because you faced something unbearable. Diana doesn't blame you; she just wants you to be happy."

"No matter what decision you make, Diana supports you."

I broke down completely, crying my heart out. From yesterday until now, I finally felt I could let it all out without any reservations. There was no blame, only understanding and compassion.

In the middle of my crying, my phone in my pocket started vibrating crazily.

Caller ID showed the big words "Honey".

I blinked for a few seconds, then hung up and changed the note, blacklisted, and deleted it.

"Mom, I'm tired."

Diana didn't say much, just held me in her arms and wiped away my tears.

"Felix is a good boy, but Diana's Rosa is also a wonderful child. If you don't want to get married, we won't force it."

I cried until I was exhausted, then got up and went back to my room to pack my things.

The small room was filled with stuff, so I took out a large cardboard box and started organizing.

I packed everything Felix had ever given me into that box and then prepared it for shipment.

From the handkerchief he handed me when we first met five years ago to the engagement ring he bought for me a few months ago—everything went into that box and was sent back to him.

Returning his belongings and reclaiming my heart.

Five years of companionship couldn't make him forget Gemma, nor could it shake her place in his heart, not even a little.

Even at our wedding, he wanted me to wear the wedding dress Gemma had designed before she died. I've never felt so utterly humiliated.

I actually knew everything, but I still hoped Felix had even a shred of genuine love for me.

Before the wedding, I found a diary that had fallen off the bookshelf in Felix's study. By chance, the page it opened to was Felix and Gemma's promise.

In beautiful handwriting: Felix promised me that at our wedding, I would wear the rose wedding dress I designed myself, and the wedding venue would be filled with Edelweiss roses, which I love the most. I really, really want to marry Felix as soon as possible!

The sketch of the wedding dress was right below it.

It was identical to the dress Felix had given me for our wedding.

Felix had not forgotten his promise to Gemma.

A dead person's promise was to be fulfilled on a living person like me.

I admit I love Felix, but seeing the dress pained me so much I could hardly breathe.

I asked him multiple times, and he never told the truth.

Roses symbolize love.

But Felix, whose love do they represent?

If he had just been honest with me once, I wouldn't have the heart to cancel the wedding in such an ugly way.

Five years of love, and this was the first time I felt so powerless.

Night fell, and in the stillness, my phone rang. I answered it, expecting the call.

"Rosa, what is this supposed to mean!"

Felix sounded furious and desperate, likely seeing the box I sent back.

"Mr. Thorn, you received it, right? Everything you ever gave me is in that box, including the ring."

"Felix, let's break up."

He gritted his teeth and asked, "Rosa, do you know what you're doing?"

"You ruined the wedding! Do you know how much effort I had to put into fixing things for you? I've apologized to Sophia countless times for you, and now you say you want to break up with me?!"

In five years, this was the first time I heard Felix yell at me.

"It's just a dress! You look even more beautiful in roses. If you really don't want to, we can alter your design and have it for a different occasion."

He still wouldn't give up making me wear that dress.

"Felix Thorn."

He gave a slight acknowledgment.

"That dress is a promise between you and Gemma, not me."

"You've loved Gemma all along, not me, right?"

"Can you tell the difference, between Lisanthus and white roses, Rosa and Gemma?"

The silence on the other end of the phone lasted for a minute.

"You went through my stuff?"

No apology, no guilt, just a stern accusation.

Despite preparing myself countless times, I couldn't help but choke up.

"Is that all you have to say to me?"

"Rosa, I trusted you enough to let you access my study freely, but I never thought you'd go through my things. That's Gemma's diary; it's her legacy!"

My heart ached unbearably, and it felt like all the blood in my body was flowing backward.

"Felix, it fell down on its own."