1 The day before we were supposed to sign our marriage license, my fiancé took me to a bridal boutique, only to thrust a bridesmaid’s gown into my hands. I assumed someone had dropped out of the wedding party at the last minute and they needed a quick replacement. But then the fitting room curtain slid open, and my best friend, Vivian, stepped out wearing my wedding dress. Brent was leaning down, gently adjusting her veil. Seeing me freeze, he rushed to explain. “Vivian’s father has surgery tomorrow. He desperately wanted to see her in a wedding gown tonight.” “It is just a small family dinner to put his mind at ease.” “No registry, no public announcement. It won’t affect our wedding at all.” “Carol, you are still the one I love most.” “So please, just be understanding this once. Help us play along.” I looked at him and said nothing. Vivian clutched the lace hem of the gown, her voice trembling. “Carol, please don’t misunderstand. I am only borrowing Brent for one night.” “The moment my father goes into the operating room, I will give him back to you.” Brent frowned slightly, but his tone softened when he addressed me. “I know this is unfair to you.” “But a man’s life is on the line. Please don’t be petty right now.” A sudden laugh escaped my throat. I looked down and sent a message to the clerk at the city registry office. Please cancel tomorrow’s appointment. Brent. If you want to give her a night of dignity, then I will grant you a lifetime of freedom. After sending the message, I gripped my phone tightly in my palm. I looked up at him. “Should I still try on the bridesmaid’s dress?” Brent’s brow furrowed. “Carol.” He always used that warning tone whenever he felt I was being difficult. Vivian’s eyes welled with tears. “Carol, please don’t be upset. I know this is incredibly unfair to you. But my father goes into surgery tomorrow, and the doctors say the risks are high. His greatest regret in life is not seeing me walk down the aisle.” She slowly took a step toward me. The boutique assistant stood nearby, her polite smile entirely frozen on her face. “I have no intention of stealing your place. You and Brent are getting married tomorrow anyway. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t take him from you.” Her words were beautifully spun. I was the one getting married tomorrow, so I was expected to be magnanimous tonight. I held the official title, so she was allowed to borrow the man. I was about to win, so being stepped on shouldn’t matter. Brent finished adjusting the veil and walked over to us. “Vivian’s father mortgaged his own house years ago to help my family secure a loan. That is the only reason our business survived.” “He is so ill now. I cannot let him think his daughter has been abandoned, leaving him to pass away with a heavy heart.” I nodded slowly. “So you are throwing her a wedding.” “It is a family dinner.” “Wearing my wedding dress, standing by your side, and you call that a family dinner?” Brent’s throat cleared. “There is no minister, no marriage certificate, and no public announcement.” Vivian chimed in quickly. “It is true, Carol. I can hand my phone over to you right now. I promise I won’t post a single photo.” My gaze drifted to the diamond ring on her finger. I recognized that ring. Last month, when Brent took me to choose our wedding bands, I had mentioned that the diamond was too large, making it difficult to write on the blackboard during class. At the time, he had laughed. “My dear teacher, you won’t need to wear your wedding ring while grading papers.” But now, that exact ring was sitting on Vivian’s finger. The fit was perfect. I asked quietly, “Is the ring borrowed too?” Vivian instinctively pulled her hand back, hiding it behind her back. Brent stepped in front of her. “It is just a prop.” “My wedding ring is supposed to be a prop for her?” The entire boutique fell into a heavy silence. Vivian’s tears finally spilled over. “I will take it off. I am taking it off right now.” She tugged at the band with force, turning her knuckle a bright red. Brent grabbed her wrist to stop her. “That is enough, do not hurt yourself.” I had heard versions of that phrase so many times recently. Do not upset Vivian. Do not bicker with Vivian. Do not make her father worry. Each sentence seemed light, but accumulated over time, they were suffocating. I handed the bridesmaid’s dress back to the assistant. “There is no need to alter the size. I won’t be wearing it.” Brent’s face darkened. “Carol, do you really have to throw a tantrum right now?” Without another word, I grabbed my bag and walked straight out of the boutique. Brent chased after me, with Vivian running right behind him. The long train of the gown caught on her heel, and she nearly tripped on the pavement. Brent immediately spun around to steady her. I stood outside the glass doors, watching them. Vivian clung to his arm, tears streaming down her face like a tragic heroine. “Brent, don’t worry about me! Go after Carol! She must have misunderstood.” Brent didn’t budge. He only looked at me, a low simmer of anger in his voice. “Go home first. I will explain everything to you later.” “And tonight?” I asked. “I have to take Vivian back to the hospital.” “In a wedding dress?” Vivian sobbed. “My father just texted. He wants to see the photos first. I’m so afraid that before he goes into the operating room tomorrow…” Brent cut her off. “I know.” He turned back to me. “Carol, I will be at the registry office on time tomorrow.” I curled my lips in a mirthless smile. “With that ring on her finger?” His eyes fell on Vivian’s hand. Vivian flinched as if burned, frantically tugging at the diamond. This time, it slipped off. She held it out to me in her trembling palms. “Carol, I am so sorry. Truly. I only wanted to put my father’s mind at ease.” I didn’t reach for it. The ring slipped from her hands and clattered onto the pavement, rolling into the dark. Brent knelt to pick it up. I watched as he carefully wiped the dust from the band and slid it into his pocket. That moment brought back a memory from last Wednesday. My mother had a critical follow-up appointment at the clinic. Brent had promised to accompany us. I took half a day off work, waiting at the estate gates from six in the morning. At seven-twenty, a text arrived. Something came up with Vivian. Take your mother first, and I will meet you there as soon as I am done. My mother watched me put away my phone and offered a gentle smile to defend him. “Brent is a busy man. It is not easy building a career.” He never showed up that night. Instead, Vivian posted a picture on her social media. Under the warm glow of her garden lights, Brent was bent over, helping her prune her roses. Her caption read: When the right person appears, even the storms fade away. When I confronted him, he rubbed his temples in exhaustion. “Her father’s results came back terrible. She was having a breakdown. You were there to support your mother, but Vivian has no one but me.” Back then, I actually made excuses for him. The Sinclair family had fallen on hard times years ago, and Vivian’s father had saved them. It made sense for Brent to look after her. It was so normal that he forgot my birthday. It was so normal that he left me to handle my mother’s hospital visits alone. And tonight, it was normal enough that he expected me to wear a bridesmaid’s dress and watch him give Vivian a wedding. My phone buzzed in my hand. It was a message from Brent’s mother. Carol, I know you feel slighted. But do not make things difficult for Brent tonight. The Song family was incredibly generous to us. Followed immediately by another. You are a teacher, so you are sensible. Once tonight is over, I will personally make it up to you. The word “sensible” stung. I remembered a young girl in my class who had come to me crying this morning. She said her desk mate kept borrowing her pens and never returned them. When I asked why she didn’t just say no, she lowered her head. “Miss, everyone says I have such a good temper.” I had told her, “Even people with good tempers are allowed to say no.” Yet when it came to my own life, I seemed to have forgotten my own lesson. Brent helped Vivian into the back of his car. Before the door closed, she cast a glance in my direction. Tears still hung on her lashes, but the corner of her mouth pulled into a faint, triumphant smile. I stood there in the cold wind, my hands freezing to the bone. A message came from Brent. Do not be stubborn. Go home and wait for me. I deleted the message and hailed a cab. It was nearly eleven when I unlocked the door to our apartment. The foyer light was on. On the dining table sat the document folder for our marriage registration. I opened it. My birth certificate was there, along with my ID. But Brent’s ID was gone. In its place was a sticky note. Had to grab this quickly. Will bring it tomorrow morning. I sat at the table and called him. It rang for a long time before he answered. It was loud in the background. “What is it?” his voice sounded hurried. “Where is your ID?” “I will bring it straight to the registry office in the morning.” “So you will finish your family dinner tonight, and meet me there?” Silence for a moment. “Yes.” “Where are you right now?” “The hotel.” “Decorating your wedding venue?” “Marcus wanted something a bit more formal. I am just having them set up a backdrop.” “Brent, you are registering your marriage with me tomorrow.” “I know.” “Do you really?” Another silence. Then, Vivian’s soft voice echoed through the line. “Brent, should we take down the welcome sign? Carol might be upset if she sees it.” Brent whispered back, “Leave it for now. We cannot let my uncle notice.” My grip on the phone tightened. “What does the welcome sign say?” He didn’t answer. I hung up. A few minutes later, he sent a photo showing only a corner of the floral backdrop. Do not overthink this. I will give you a proper explanation tomorrow. I set the phone down and went to the bedroom to pack. On the hanger, the white silk shirt I had prepared for tomorrow was still pressed perfectly flat. Beside it lay a stack of small cards from my students. Happy wedding, Miss Carol! Mr. Sinclair, you must treat our favorite teacher well! Miss, even if you are getting married, do not forget to grade our essays! I took them down one by one and tucked them into a drawer. Inside the drawer, the jewelry box was open. The jade bracelet Brent’s late grandmother had given me was missing. Before she passed, the old lady had held my hand. “Carol, do not be afraid when you join our family. Brent has a stubborn mouth, but he truly loves you.” I had believed those words for seven years. The phone buzzed. Vivian had sent a photo. She was sitting in the hotel bridal suite, wearing the wedding gown, and on her wrist was the heirloom green jade bracelet. Carol, Mrs. Sinclair said I could borrow the bracelet for tonight. It will put my father’s mind at ease. You do not mind, do you? I looked at my empty jewelry box. Brent must have taken it when he swiped his ID. I called his mother. “Carol, dear, I was just about to call you about the bracelet,” she answered. “Who took it?” “Brent did. Vivian looked a bit plain without any jewelry, and her father asked about it. Brent did not want the old man to worry.” “That was a gift from his grandmother. It belongs to me.” “I know, dear, and we will return it tomorrow. Do not be so petty. Tonight is a special circumstance.” I let out a sudden laugh. On the other end, his mother went quiet. “Mrs. Sinclair,” I asked, “am I still getting married tomorrow?” Silence stretched. “Of course you are! You and Brent have been together for so long; no one can come between you. Vivian is just a young girl, and her family is going through a tragedy. Just let her have this.” I hung up. Half an hour later, I carried the empty jewelry box to the hotel. The banquet hall was on the third floor. The moment the elevator doors parted, a massive, crimson welcome sign greeted me. The Wedding Feast of Brent Sinclair and Vivian Song. Below it, a smaller line of elegant script: May they walk together through the years, hand in hand, morning and night. I froze. A waiter approached. “Excuse me, ma’am, are you a guest of the bride?” Before I could speak, a familiar voice called out behind me. “Miss Carol?” I turned. It was Mrs. Higgins, the head of my department, standing with several of our colleagues. They were having a staff dinner at the same hotel. Mrs. Higgins looked at the empty jewelry box in my hand, then at the welcome sign. Her face fell. “This… aren’t you supposed to get married tomorrow?” My mouth parted, but not a single sound came out. Someone whispered behind her, “Brent Sinclair? Isn’t that Carol’s fiancé?” I clenched my fingers around the box. Just then, the double doors of the banquet hall swung open. Vivian, draped in white, stepped out with her arm linked through Brent’s. Her father sat in a wheelchair, pushed into the center of the foyer. The old man’s hair was mostly white, and though he looked frail, he smiled warmly as he reached for Brent’s hand. “Brent, my boy. I know this was a difficult request.” “Vivian has loved you since she was a little girl. I used to tease her for being foolish, but seeing her stand by your side in a wedding gown… I can rest easy now.” Brent knelt beside the wheelchair. “Uncle, do not worry. The surgery tomorrow will be a success.” The old man looked at Vivian. “Be good from now on. Do not be stubborn, and do not always trouble Brent.” Vivian sniffled, tears welling in her eyes. “Father…” The old man sighed. “Tonight is like a beautiful dream for me. When I wake up, I will not burden either of you any longer.” Several onlookers wiped their eyes. Brent’s mother was sobbing softly into her handkerchief. Standing beside the welcome sign, I felt like the punchline of a cruel joke. Vivian suddenly spotted me. Her face turned pale. “Carol… you came.” Every head in the lobby turned toward me. My colleagues stood frozen by the elevators. I walked over and placed the empty jewelry box on the reception desk. “My bracelet. Give it back.” Vivian clutched her wrist. “Carol, right now? My father is right here…” Brent lowered his voice, anger flashing in his eyes. “Carol, do not make a scene!” I looked him dead in the eye. “You took my document folder. You took the heirloom his grandmother gave me. You dragged me to a shop to try on a bridesmaid’s dress, and then you made me stand in front of this sign. Brent, tell me, how exactly am I making a scene?” His expression hardened. “I will explain everything later.” “You have explained things plenty of times.” I held out my hand. “The bracelet.” Vivian’s tears began to flow. As she struggled to slide the bracelet off her wrist, she looked at her father. “Father, I am sorry. I shouldn’t have worn it. I only wanted you to be happy. It does not matter if no one wants me.” The old man frowned. “What do you mean, no one wants you?” Vivian sobbed harder. Brent immediately stepped in front of her, shielding her. “Uncle, do not worry. You have me tonight.” With those words, the lobby fell silent. I looked at Brent. He seemed to realize the weight of his words under my gaze, his lips parting slightly. “Carol, I only meant…” “No need to explain.” I took the emerald bracelet, placed it securely inside the box, and snapped it shut. Mrs. Higgins tried to step forward to comfort me, but I shook my head. As I turned to leave, Vivian suddenly grabbed my hand. “Carol, please do not go. If you leave, my father will think I ruined your relationship.” I pulled my hand back sharply. Losing her balance on her high heels, she slipped. Brent caught her in his arms, looking up at me with pure accusation in his eyes. “Carol, she cannot handle any stress tonight!” I nodded slowly. “Then I wish you both a wonderful wedding feast.” When I got back to our apartment, I packed a single suitcase. My textbooks, my lesson plans, a few changes of clothes, and a framed photograph of my mother. I left everything else behind. Before walking out the door, I placed the keys on the dining table. Beside them, I left a simple note: Brent, you owe me nothing. And I owe you nothing.
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