I was scrolling through Reddit on my phone when a trending post caught my eye in the local community sub. “I’m an Uber driver. I’m looking for a woman named Natalie who lives at The Aspen Apartments.” “Just so you know, your fiancé married his childhood best friend seven years ago. They already have a son and a daughter together.” The comments were blowing up instantly. “Holy crap, this is wild.” “OP, give us more details! There are probably fifty girls named Natalie in that complex.” The original poster replied: “The guy has a distinctive birthmark right under his left eye. I didn’t get a good look at the woman because he was holding her close in his arms the entire ride.” Staring at the screen, a cold shiver ran down my spine. It took me a few seconds to process the words, but the realization hit me like a physical blow. The man they were describing… was Carter. My fiancé. My hands shook so violently I could barely hold my phone. No wonder. Every single time I brought up our wedding date, Carter would get annoyed and tell me there was no rush. It turned out he already had a whole other family waiting for him. Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a text notification. “Hi Natalie, this is the bridal boutique. Your wedding dress has been altered to your measurements. When would you like to come in for your final fitting?” I blinked, trying to force back the hot, stinging tears in my eyes. “Cancel it,” I typed back. “And process the refund.” If he couldn’t give me a real home, I would find someone else who could.
It was past 1:00 AM when Carter finally got home. Seeing me still sitting in the living room, he kicked off his shoes and asked casually, “The boutique called me. They said you canceled the wedding dress? What’s wrong with it?” I looked up at him, my voice completely flat. “I just realized I don’t want it anymore.” He frowned, instantly irritated. “You were the one begging me to get married, and now the wedding is literally next week. Can you stop acting on a whim?” “Didn’t you choose that dress yourself? What kind of drama are you trying to stir up now?” The mug of coffee in my hands had gone ice cold. Yes, I was the one who picked it out. But it wasn’t the dress I actually wanted. During our three fitting appointments, he had brought Chloe along every single time. I wanted a sleek, elegant satin gown. Chloe insisted that a puffy lace tulle dress was much better. So, Carter spent the entire time subtly and not-so-subtly pressuring me into choosing the tulle. I wanted a simple white-gold band. Chloe said she preferred a classic diamond solitaire. So, behind my back, Carter switched the ring order. I slowly set my coffee mug down on the table and looked him straight in the eye. “Carter, I hate tulle. I’ve always wanted satin.” His hands paused as he unbuttoned his coat. His face immediately darkened with impatience. “Are you seriously throwing a tantrum over a fabric?” “Yes. Over this exact fabric.” “Natalie, if you’re really that bored and have nothing better to do, I can ask Chloe to sign you up for a domestic etiquette class. They teach you how to actually support your husband instead of picking fights.” I stared at him. “Like how Chloe supports you?” For the past ten years, no matter what I did, Carter would always compare me to Chloe. My cooking was never as good as Chloe’s. My housekeeping skills were nothing compared to hers. He even had the nerve to say these things right in front of my parents. Once, my mom took me aside and quietly asked if I wanted to reconsider my relationship with him. But I refused. Because I could never forget the night I casually mentioned wanting late-night spicy wings, and he drove twenty miles through a torrential thunderstorm just to bring them to me. I still remembered when he only had $20 left in his bank account, but he spent $19 to buy me a box of organic cherries from Whole Foods because he knew they were my favorite. Carter sat down across from me, sighing heavily. “Is it really that hard for you to admit that Chloe is just more capable than you?” “Then why the hell are you with me?!” I screamed back, my eyes burning with tears. Carter seemed to realize he had gone too far. He let out a long breath, softening his voice. “I didn’t mean it like that.” “Fine. If you don’t like the dress, you don’t like it. Chloe knows a few high-end bridal designers. I’ll ask her tomorrow if she can rush a new one before next week.” I tried my best to swallow the bitter, suffocating pain rising in my chest. “Oh, perfect. So she can have another chance to design a dress she loves? Who knows, maybe she’ll just wear it herself.” Carter’s expression finally cracked. Underneath his sudden anger, I saw a flash of sheer guilt. “Do you really have to be this toxic tonight?” I almost wanted to laugh. Carter was always like this. The moment Chloe was involved, he could spin black into white. Wrong became right. And his protection was something I would never, ever receive.
The argument ended with him slamming the door and storming out. The next morning, when I woke up, the sound of children laughing and shouting echoed from the living room. I opened my bedroom door and found my neat, clean apartment in absolute chaos. The hand-woven throw blanket that Carter had supposedly custom-ordered for me was currently being trampled under the dirty shoes of Chloe’s young daughter. “Oh, Natalie, you’re finally awake!” Chloe chirped, looking up. Before I could say anything, she turned toward the kitchen and called out, “Carter! Natalie’s up. Serve another bowl of oatmeal!” Carter walked out of the kitchen, looking incredibly awkward. “Uh… I only made enough for the four of us.” “There’s some leftover peanut butter toast in the pantry. You want that?” I shook my head. “No, thanks. You guys go ahead.” He set his bowl down and walked over to me. “Are you still mad at me?” “Even if you’re mad, you shouldn’t skip breakfast. Especially with your sensitive stomach.” I looked at him. At that moment, my chest felt like it was packed with heavy, wet cotton. I could barely breathe. I let out a slow, cold breath. “Carter, do you even remember what I’m allergic to?” He froze for two seconds, a sudden flash of panic crossing his face. “Oh… right. Babe, I’m sorry. I forgot.” He didn’t forget. He just never cared enough to remember. He couldn’t remember that peanut butter could literally send me into anaphylactic shock. Yet, he never failed to deliver a warm cup of ginger tea to Chloe on the exact day her period started every single month. “If you don’t want to eat, then don’t. Why do you always have to make my mom and dad feel bad?” The little boy speaking was Chloe’s seven-year-old son, Mason. His presence was a loud, mocking reminder of how incredibly stupid I had been. I had once asked Carter why Chloe’s children carried his last name, Miller. At the time, he had told me: “Chloe and I made a pact when we were younger. We promised we’d be co-parents to each other’s kids if anything happened. Since their biological father walked out and they don’t have a dad, it’s only right they take my name so they don’t get bullied at school.” And back then, like an idiot, I believed him. Chloe gave me an apologetic, sweet smile. “Kids are just protective of their parents. Don’t take it personally, Natalie.” I didn’t say a word. I grabbed my purse and walked toward the front door. “Where are you going?” Carter grabbed my wrist. “I’m hungry.” His grip slowly loosened, and he didn’t ask anything else. “Come back early.” The only response he got was the sound of the door slamming shut. I drove to the local diner that Carter and I used to visit every weekend. I ordered a plate of blueberry pancakes, crispy bacon, and a hot mug of black coffee. “Carter came in a while ago,” Bob, the diner owner, said as he brought my food. “I was wondering why you weren’t with him.” “But hey, glad to see you today!” I swallowed a bite of pancake and forced a polite smile. “Your pancakes are the best in town, Bob. Of course I’d come back.” Bob grinned widely. “Then how come you didn’t join him last time?” “He was here with a woman and two kids. I honestly thought that was you…” Behind him, his wife, Mary, quickly tugged at his apron. Bob realized his mistake instantly, his face turning red. “Anyway! You need anything else, sweetheart? On the house!” I shook my head. “I’m good, Bob. Thank you. I have to run.” My schedule for the day was packed. 10:00 AM: Hair and makeup trial. 1:00 PM: Wedding photoshoot. And in the evening, I had to finalize the guest list and RSVPs. Fortunately, I wasn’t doing any of this alone anymore.
At 8:00 PM, Carter called me. The background was incredibly noisy, filled with the shrieks and laughter of children. “Where are you? My mom wants us to come over for Thanksgiving dinner.” Anticipating my refusal, Carter quickly added, “Mom specifically told me to make sure you come with me.” “I’m at the bridal salon.” “Send me the address. I’ll pick you up.” After a brief silence, I texted him the address. Carter arrived incredibly fast, almost as if he had already been waiting nearby. I walked up to the car and reached for the front passenger door. It was locked. As I reached for it a second time, the window rolled down. “I’m so sorry, Natalie,” Chloe said with a sweet, helpless smile from the passenger seat. “I get terrible motion sickness if I sit in the back. Do you mind?” I stood there, motionless. Carter cleared his throat. “Natalie, she gets sick easily. Just let her have the seat.” Let her have it? I hadn’t said a single word, yet somehow, I was the one being difficult. Carter frowned impatiently. “My parents are waiting. Just get in, quickly.” I turned and opened the back door. There were three seats in the back. Two of them were taken up by bulky child safety seats. The remaining middle seat was piled high with shopping bags and toys. Chloe turned around, looking embarrassed. “Carter took us to the theme park today, and the kids got a little carried away with the souvenirs.” “You don’t mind squeezing in a bit, do you, Natalie?” It was only then that I noticed all four of them were wearing matching family outfits. I didn’t say a word. I squeezed into the tight space, closed my eyes, and leaned my head against the cold window. During the entire drive, the two of them chatted happily about parenting styles and planning their next summer vacation. Not once was I included in any of those plans. The moment we walked through the door, Carter’s mother, Mrs. Miller, rushed over with a huge smile. “Chloe, darling! You’re finally here! Come in, come in!” “And look at my beautiful grandbaby boy and girl!” Mrs. Miller completely bypassed me, pulling Chloe toward the dining room. Carter followed right behind, carrying the kids. I was left standing at the entrance like an invisible ghost. At the dinner table, Mr. and Mrs. Miller sat at the head. Carter sat next to Chloe and the kids. I was placed at the very end of the long table, next to the kitchen door. “Chloe, try this. I made all of your favorites tonight!” Mrs. Miller said warmly. I glanced over the table. They had invited me under the guise of a family holiday, yet there wasn’t a single dish on the table that I wasn’t allergic to or that I actually liked. “Natalie,” Mrs. Miller suddenly spoke up, her voice dropping its warmth. “I heard you canceled the dress Chloe worked so hard to find for you?” I took a sip of my water. “Yes.” Mrs. Miller’s brow furrowed in deep disapproval. “How could you just cancel it like that? Do you have any idea how much time and effort Chloe put into picking that out for you? You are so ungrateful.” I set my glass down, my voice quiet but firm. “Because it’s my wedding.” Mrs. Miller pointed a finger at me, her face red. “You are such an stubborn, difficult girl!” Carter didn’t even look up. He was fully occupied cutting the steak on Chloe’s plate and feeding the kids. After the miserable dinner finally ended, Mrs. Miller immediately told me to clean up the table and wash the dishes. Meanwhile, Chloe sat comfortably in the living room, eating fresh fruit that Carter was peeling for her. Suddenly, my lower abdomen cramped painfully. My phone buzzed. A custom alarm went off, and Carter’s recorded voice played through the speaker: “Hey babe, your period is starting today. Remember to stay warm and don’t touch cold water, okay?” Carter had set that reminder himself years ago. He had said, “I have a terrible memory, so this way I won’t ever forget to look after you.” But now I realized it wasn’t about his memory. He just never kept me in his heart. He remembered Chloe’s favorite foods, the exact dates of her cycle, and every little preference of those two kids. He just couldn’t remember mine. “Let me take over. Go rest.” Carter suddenly appeared and took the dish towel from my hand. In the living room, Chloe and Mrs. Miller were playing with Lego blocks with the kids. Mr. Miller was sitting on the patio, peacefully sipping his tea. Only I stood there, feeling like an unwanted intruder in someone else’s perfect family. At 9:00 PM, a massive storm rolled in, rain lashing against the windows. “Chloe, you and the kids are staying here tonight,” Mrs. Miller announced. Chloe shot a quick, guilty glance at me. “But there’s only Carter’s room. Where will he sleep?” Mrs. Miller patted her hand reassuringly. “Natalie isn’t married into the family yet, so it’s not appropriate for her to sleep over anyway. Carter can just sleep on the couch.” Then, she turned to me with a fake, polite smile. “Natalie, it’s getting late and the storm is bad. It’s not safe for a girl to drive alone, so I won’t keep you any longer.” I nodded, grabbed my purse, and walked out without another word. Carter ran out after me, grabbing my arm in the hallway. “Natalie, don’t overthink this. My mom is just looking out for your reputation.” I violently shook his hand off and took a step back.
“Carter, do you really not see how differently your family treats me compared to Chloe?” “Or is the truth just that the daughter-in-law you all wanted was never me, but her?” A flash of pure guilt washed over Carter’s face, and his voice became stiff. “How can you say something so ridiculous? My mom just treats Chloe like her own daughter.” “Look, if we made you feel bad, I apologize.” He leaned down to meet my eyes, softening his tone. “I know you can be a bit sensitive and jealous. I’ll make sure to pay more attention next time, okay?” “Don’t frown so much. You’re going to be the most beautiful bride next week.” “Carter,” I said quietly, “I already canceled the entire wedding.” He chuckled, not taking me seriously at all. “I know. Didn’t you just book a different venue and dress today? I saw the charge.” But the groom wasn’t him anymore. I opened my mouth, but the words stayed trapped in my throat. I chose to stay silent. As Carter escorted me to my Uber, I called out to him just before closing the door. “Carter, come home early tomorrow morning.” He frowned. “Is something wrong? I promised Mason I’d take him to the arcade tomorrow morning.” I looked at him, a bitter taste filling my mouth. Mason had only mentioned the arcade once at the dinner table, and Carter remembered it perfectly. But the appointment I had reminded him of multiple times was completely wiped from his brain. “Tomorrow morning is my post-surgery checkup for my fractured wrist.” He froze, looking incredibly conflicted. “Can… can you reschedule it to the afternoon? I really don’t want to break my promise to a kid.” “Never mind. I’ll go talk to Mason tonight and see if we can go to the arcade later. I’ll text you in the morning.” But I never received that text. I waited until noon the next day, alone. I went to the hospital by myself, registered, and waited in line for an hour. After the examination, the doctor’s face was grim. “The bone isn’t healing well at all. Have you not been resting it?” I remained silent for a moment. “I’ve been busy… preparing for a wedding next week.” “Can’t the groom handle those things? Let me be blunt, if you keep straining this wrist, you’re looking at permanent nerve damage.” Holding my medical report, I sat on the hallway bench for a long time before finally heading back to the apartment. The moment I pushed the door open, a small white dog rushed out, barking aggressively at me. Having been severely bitten by a stray dog when I was a child, my survival instinct kicked in. I reflexively kicked the dog away. Mason was the first to run out of the bedroom. Seeing the dog whimpering on the floor, he screamed in rage and charged straight at me, slamming his body into mine. I instinctively raised my hands to protect myself. The next second, the color drained from my face. A sharp, white-hot agony shot through my newly set wrist. Carter was the second to run out. He didn’t even look at me. His entire focus was on comforting the crying boy. “It’s okay, buddy. Daddy’s going to take the dog to the vet right now.” He scooped up the dog with one arm and pulled Mason with the other, rushing toward the door. “Stop,” I gasped, holding my throbbing wrist. Carter turned, his face contorted in anger. “Get out of the way!” I didn’t back down. Instead, I stepped forward and pointed at the silver necklace dangling from the dog’s collar. “Give that back to me.” “Are you out of your mind?! It’s just a stupid necklace!” Carter yelled. Just a stupid necklace? I was raised by my grandma, and that necklace was the only thing she left me before she passed away. The day Grandma gave it to me, Carter was standing right there. He had sworn to her that he would love me forever and never let anyone hurt me. Yet now, the person hurting me the most was him. Carter violently ripped the necklace off the dog’s collar. The string snapped, and the silver pendant fell to the hardwood floor with a sharp metallic clink. As he turned his back to leave, I screamed after him with every ounce of strength I had left: “Carter! If you walk out of this door today, the wedding is officially off!” He didn’t even hesitate. He didn’t look back. For the next few days, Carter never came back to the apartment. And I used that time to pack up every single thing I owned and moved out of the home I had spent years decorating. The night before the wedding, Carter finally sent me a text. “I have to take Mason for his kindergarten physical tomorrow morning, so I might be a bit late. Just take the bridesmaids and go straight to the venue.” I didn’t bother replying. I blocked his number and deleted him from my contacts. The next morning, when the groomsmen arrived at my apartment to pick up the bride, no one answered the door. One of them eventually climbed through a window, only to find the entire apartment completely empty. Panic finally set in, and someone called Carter. “Carter, bro… Natalie is gone. She’s not here.”
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