chapter 3
Next, I called the wedding planning company. The person on the other end was cheerful.
“Ms. Chloe, your wedding plan has been revised according to your requests. When would you like to come in to finalize it?”
“No need,” I said blandly. “My wedding is canceled. I apologize for all your work. You can keep the deposit.”
From start to finish, Daniel had shown no interest in the wedding. Whenever I asked for his opinion, he’d just say a wedding was a meaningless performance. For Ashley, it was fulfilling a dream. For me, it was meaningless.
What a double standard.
Hanging up the phone, I let out a long breath. Letting go of a fixation wasn’t as hard as I thought.
Marrying Daniel had always been my dream. My family wasn’t well off, so I worked part-time in the campus cafeteria. During college, Daniel often came to my serving window. He said I was always generous with portions. I’d smile and give him extra rice and soup.
Later, Daniel told me to quit, saying he could work to support me. I laughed, calling him silly. We made a pact: every month after payday, we’d go out for a big meal, and the rest we’d save. Every time we saved a sum, Daniel would hug me and say, “Chloe, I’m one step closer to marrying you.”
Those days, though poor, were filled with sweetness and hope. Now we had money, but we hated each other.
Daniel sent me a message: Friends, dinner tonight. Ashley wants to explain things to you herself.
Explain what? To gather everyone to defend Ashley again? I wasn’t that desperate.
Can’t make it. Busy.
I wasn’t lying—I truly was busy packing my things. The apartment was Daniel’s pre-marital property. Since we were breaking up, I had to move out. We’d lived together for too long, accumulated too much. I needed boxes.
As soon as I stepped out, I ran into Daniel.
“Where are you going?”
“To buy some things.”
He grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward his car. “Stop being dramatic. All our friends are there tonight—you’re the only one missing.”