Chapter 4

"You knew, and you still gave the mic to Ashley?" The friend was clearly surprised.

"What else was I supposed to do? The more she tries to corner me into making a statement like that, the more I refuse to let her get her way."

"Usually, when she throws a fit, I'll humor her. But with something like marriage, I need her to learn that throwing a fit won't always get her what she wants."

The friend sighed. "But seriously, Keira's been with you for eight years, it's understandable she'd be eager for a title."

Ethan was silent for a few seconds.

"Of course I'll marry her, but not because she's forcing me."

"When I marry her is up to me."

Another friend lowered their voice. "Honestly, Ethan, Keira just loves to make a scene. She always has to go for a big spectacle, making things difficult for you."

"Exactly. Ashley is so much more sensible and hassle-free, she never gives you any trouble."

Ashley spoke up, her voice a little coy. "Oh, don't say that about Keira… maybe she just loves Ethan too much."

"After all these years, she's not getting any younger."

That last sentence, "after all these years," carried just the right amount of pity in her tone.

Ethan said nothing, and a shared laugh of understanding rippled through the room.

Louise's hand reached over and tightly gripped mine. Her fingertips were trembling. I patted her hand, picked up my bag, and stood up.

"Louise, let's go."

I pushed open our private room door and walked past theirs. The sound of clinking glasses and Ashley's sweet laughter drifted out.

It was drizzling outside. The streetlights flickered on, one after another, illuminating a long, wet road. I walked forward, not looking back.

The invitation to the Walsh family banquet arrived in Ethan's hands. The wording was formal: "The Walsh family cordially invites you to an important family announcement."

He flipped the invitation over, flicking it. "Important family announcement."

Ha. The Walsh family had some connections in the circle, hosting a respectable banquet to publicly announce their daughter's engagement, forcing him to compromise in front of everyone.

Keira wouldn't do something like this, but her best friends and Keira's parents might.

Ethan carelessly set the invitation aside and opened his phone.

Five days. Keira hadn't sent him a single message.

In past arguments, she'd usually find an excuse to contact him by the third day, asking if he'd eaten or if his jacket had been dry-cleaned. This time, nothing.

An inexplicable irritation welled up in his chest, but he forcefully suppressed it. He wasn't worried. She could throw her fit. She was always the one to back down in the end, wasn't she?

His friends discussed in their SnapChat group: "Ethan, are you, the groom-to-be, going to the Walsh family engagement party? Lots of people have received invitations, it's quite the affair."

He scoffed, typing, "Yeah, I'll go. Just a little late. Let her feel what it's like to be waiting anxiously."

He imagined Keira waiting for him at the banquet, repeatedly looking at the door, trying to maintain her composure under the gaze of friends and family.

He even felt a hidden sense of satisfaction. She needed to learn a lesson. After all this fuss, he'd still be the one to sort things out.

On the day of the banquet, he didn't rush out.

First, he got a haircut and changed into a dark gray casual suit. Not formal attire, he wanted everyone to see that he was "just dropping by," not part of their plan.

Messages from his friends started coming in rapidly.

"Ethan, the Walsh family's setup is huge! Two rows of cars parked outside, flower arrangements everywhere."

"Keira is all made up today, absolutely beautiful."

Another added, "Keira's looking… Ethan, if you don't show up soon, I'm afraid someone might steal your wife!"

The group chat exploded with laughter.

He looked at the messages, a corner of his mouth twitching unconsciously. In his suit pocket was the invitation. He'd picked it up after reading it, not even realizing he'd carried it with him.

A friend urged again, "Ethan, are you coming or not? Things are starting here, Keira's parents are on stage!"

He slowly started his car and replied with a voice message: "What's the rush? What's the point of starting if I'm not there?"

His car had just pulled out of the parking lot. Another friend called, his voice clearly puzzled:

"Ethan… the Walsh family party doesn't seem to be an engagement. It's a farewell party."