Chapter 3

"No."

"We handpicked that diamond together. I spent an entire month working with the jeweler on the custom band. And you’re just giving it away?”

“ Do you care about my feelings at all? What am I supposed to wear at the altar? Thin air?"

Chloe choked on her words, caught off guard.

Caleb grinned slyly, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a cheap trinket.

"Ashton, look! You won't be empty-handed."

"I picked this up at the dollar store earlier. See? It works out perfectly. Nobody will notice from far away anyway. You can just wear this!"

I glanced down at the plastic ring in his palm.

Flimsy plastic, with sharp, unpolished seams. Trashy, worthless.

Just like me—a complete joke.

Yet Chloe took it without hesitation and shoved it onto my finger.

"See? Caleb is much more considerate than you. He even planned ahead with a backup ring."

"It looks fine. No one will be looking closely anyway. Since Caleb loves the diamond ring so much, just let him have it."

Mom and Dad chimed in right away:

"Exactly! Don't ruin a special day over something so small. You're his brother, why can't you share? He's family!"

"Caleb is younger. You've given him so many things over the years, what's one more ring?"

"Alright, put your jacket back on and get out there. The guests are waiting. Honestly, you're getting so difficult lately."

Their voices blurred into a buzzing storm of noise.

I took a slow, deep breath, turning my gaze onto Chloe, offering her one final chance.

"Chloe, I'm asking you one last time."

"Am I really supposed to give up my wedding ring to him?"

Chloe caught the dangerous edge in my voice and hesitated.

But then Caleb gave her sleeve a gentle, pleading tug, and she caved instantly.

"Ashton, you're better than this."

"Caleb's finger is swollen. Just let him have it. I promise, tomorrow! Tomorrow I'll take you to get a bigger, more expensive one!"

I smiled bitterly.

Tomorrow?

Chloe, there is no tomorrow for us.

Before I could speak, another knock came at the door.

It was our wedding planner.

"Ashton, are you in there?"

"We were setting up the wedding favors, but something is wrong. The name printed on the boxes... it's your brother's!"

I swung the door wide.

The planner rolled in a cart of gift boxes. Embossed in gold on every single box were the names:

[Chloe & Caleb]

Caleb didn't expect to be caught red-handed.

He glared at the planner, muttering under his breath:

"Didn't I tell you to just hand them out quietly? It was a simple typo, why make a scene?"

Then he pivoted back to me, wrapping his arms around mine with a cheesy grin:

"Ashton, I'm sorry!"

"I really am! I accidentally gave the printer the wrong name, and they rushed production. I was scared you'd yell at me, so I just thought we could give them out anyway..."

A cold laugh tore from my throat as I shook him off.

"The printer requires three separate confirmations before production. Are you telling me you accidentally submitted your own name three times?"

"Do you really think I'm that stupid, Caleb?"

Seeing that his lies were useless, Caleb resorted to his usual theatrics.

"Fine, if you don't believe me, what do you want me to do?"

"You just want to believe I'm evil! We can't reprint them now anyway! If you're going to keep attacking me, I might as well just jump! I'll pay with my life, happy now?"

With that, Caleb lunged toward the open window of the second-floor dressing room, threatening to throw himself out.

"Don't stop me!"

"Ashton wants me dead, so let me die!"