3: 3

Philip held the invitation, turning it over, then over again.

The gold-embossed double-happiness character caught the light.

He didn't open it.

He stared for a few seconds, then looked at me and suddenly laughed.

"You already had them printed?"

"Felicity Mason, this little production of yours doesn't come cheap."

He tossed the invitation onto the table and looked down at me.

"Now I get it. The bracelet at the birthday banquet during the day, an invitation appearing at home that night. One thing tied neatly to the next, right?"

"Was this Grandmother's idea?"

"She hands you the bracelet, you pick up your cue. One plays the good guy, one plays the bad guy, grandmother and grandson working together to corner me into declaring myself on the spot?"

"She's eighty. She's not thinking straight. You're twenty-seven. Are you going along with the nonsense too?"

I watched his contempt, and my heart still went cold.

He would rather believe his eighty-year-old grandmother had schemed up an elaborate trap.

Than believe that someone had truly stopped waiting.

"Both families' elders set the date together. The third of October."

I spoke calmly.

"I finished my last fitting for the gown last week. The venue's booked too."

"Both families' elders."

He bit down on the words and let out a cold laugh.

"See? What did I tell you."

"Grandmother's even found you the actors."

Then the mockery faded from his face, replaced by another expression.

The one he wore at the negotiating table.

"How many of these did you print?"

"Have they gone out yet?"

He frowned and leaned in close.

"Felicity Mason, the company's just getting off the ground. If this leaks, care to guess tomorrow's headline in the business section?"

"Pull back the ones you haven't sent. The ones already out, I'll have someone go collect tonight."

His words were earnest, sincere.

Just like three years ago, kneeling in the mud, begging me to wait for him.

That night the stars were bright, and his eyes were brighter.

"Fel, I'm begging you to trust me. Wait for me a little longer."

"I swear I'll prove myself to the Delgados and marry you in style, the way you deserve."

"I want you to be the happiest woman in the world."

"Answer me." His voice dragged me back. "Have the invitations gone out?"

"I honestly never imagined you'd go this far just to get a title—"

"Philip!"

Our eyes met, and my voice shot up.

My eyes went wet before I could stop them.

"The one who knelt and begged me to wait, back then, was you!"

"And now the one standing here telling me I'd "go this far just to get a title" is also you."

"These seven years, was I waiting on you, or did I owe you something?"

His mouth opened, his chest rose and fell twice, but nothing came out.

He only picked up the invitation and tore it in two, right in front of me.

"My flight's in the morning." His voice dropped low. "I don't have time to play along with you and Grandmother."

"Have this cleaned up by the time I'm back from overseas."

The master bedroom door slammed shut, hard enough to knock the fake wedding photo off the wall.

Glass scattered across the floor.

I looked at the photo I'd hung there on purpose, forcing it up as a hint about the wedding.

Fake was fake, after all.

At six the next morning, he walked out dragging the suitcase he'd carelessly thrown together.

For once, he didn't find me waiting in the living room.

Philip stood silent for a long moment, then turned and left.

The door opened. The door closed.

For the first time in seven years, I hadn't gotten up early.

Just to send him off with a "safe travels."

4: 4

After he left, I made myself a bowl of noodles.

I ate them slowly.

Then I opened my phone and started canceling everything, one thing at a time.

The birthday cake I'd ordered for him every year for seven years. Canceled.

The courthouse appointment I'd booked so far in advance. Canceled too.

Looking back, the only joke here was me.

My phone lit up all at once.

It was my fiancé.

He'd sent a video, the picture bobbing and swaying.

"Fel, look at this." His voice came from off camera. "I'm not great at filming, so bear with me."

The cabinets in the new place were the natural wood color I liked.

The curtains were the hazy blue I'd mentioned once, in passing.

At the end, the camera turned toward the window.

Below, there was a flower bed.

"The gardener says they'll bloom next spring."

A video barely two minutes long.

I stared at the screen. Not a single sweet word in it.

And still it stung at the bridge of my nose.

So this was what it felt like, to be someone another person kept in mind.

No. Wait.

And I'd been ready for all of it.

I was just about to reply when another message popped up.

Philip Delgado had sent a photo.

A pair of glacial jade bracelets, tag facing up, six figures.

"These are a lot better than that old relic at home. I'll make it up to you when I'm back. Cool off."

A few seconds later, another one came.

"Send me your size."

I looked at the screen and froze.

He didn't know my wrist size.

But he knew, precisely, that Doris Winfield's wrist was slim enough to slip into Rose's bracelet.

I didn't reply.

Instead I scrolled to the nine-photo grid on Doris's feed.

Same jewelry shop. Same counter.

Her hand rested lightly against the glass, fingertips pointed right at that pair of glacial jade.

The caption: "Good taste needs a second opinion [smirk]"

So the bracelet meant to make up for me had been picked out with her along for the ride.

The whole thing was so absurd that even anger felt like a waste.

I tapped a like on it and moved on.

By the time the sky had gone fully dark, Rose called.

The old woman's voice was badly hoarse.

"Fel, Philip called the estate this morning and threw a fit."

"He's convinced this marriage is something I put you up to behind the scenes."

I held the phone and said nothing.

"I didn't argue with him."

Rose spoke slowly. "Fel, sixty years ago, before I put on this bracelet, there was someone who told me to wait too."

"I waited three years. Long enough for him to go and get engaged to some fine young lady."

"Later your grandfather came to ask for my hand. The betrothal papers, the auspicious date, the bridal sedan. He didn't make me wait for a single one of them."

"There's only one thing I've held to my whole life."

"A man who truly means to give you something never says the word 'wait.'"

"That Matthews boy. I had my old friends look into him."

Her voice was very steady. "He's worthy of you."

"The wedding's in a few days. Save your grandmother a seat."

"I'm going to drink to my granddaughter's happiness."

My granddaughter.

My tears finally came down and I couldn't stop them.

On the other end, she laughed softly.

The laugh was light, and sure.

"Fel."

"We won't be wearing the bracelet."

"My Fel deserves the bridal crown."