I Gave Her the World's Splendor, She Loved Another's Sunset

To go along on my fiance's pre-wedding trip, I pulled three all-nighters in a row to get the next week of work squared away.

But I only dozed off once at the campsite, and when I woke up there wasn't a soul beside me.

The calls wouldn't connect. No one answered my texts.

Afraid something had happened to Minnie James, I walked the road for three hours before I finally spotted the James family at the bed-and-breakfast inn at the foot of the mountain.

I was about to breathe a sigh of relief when I heard my mother-in-law say,

"Minnie, honey, once you're married you can't go soft on him either. Look at today, he got to the site and passed right out, no idea how to make himself useful. He deserved to be left there in the rain."

"Now Vincent Dickerson, that boy knows how to behave, running around helping with everything."

Vincent. Minnie's childhood friend.

My father-in-law nodded.

"Last time I broke my leg, he said a caregiver at twenty grand a month was more professional. Really he just couldn't stand me and didn't want to look after me himself."

"Vincent's the one who knows better. Stewed soup for me every single day."

Minnie's younger brother chimed in too.

"Sure, he's got all those cars, and he wouldn't let me drive a single one. Yeah, I don't have a license, but isn't he the Weiss heir? Even if something went wrong he could smooth it over. Bottom line, he's never treated me like family."

"Vincent's the man. Last time he let me have a real go, got it out of my system."

Minnie pursed her lips, not the slightest sign she meant to speak up for me.

"His gifts are always diamonds and jewelry. Never once did he knit me a scarf with his own hands, the way Vincent does."

"I don't really need a lot of money. I just want a lot of love."

Thunder cracked somewhere at the horizon, and the rain came down all at once.

Soaking through every last bit of the love I had in me.

I looked at that family inside the inn, all warm and happy together, and dialed the wedding planner.

"Cancel the wedding."

If all you want is love, then I'll take back everything I gave you, the money, the power, the name, the standing.

Only love will be left. Don't complain that it's too little.

"Marrying a man with no romance in him like that, I've practically turned into a hollow shell."

Minnie went on, brows knit.

"Then you'd be better off making up an excuse to put off the wedding, and enjoy the free life a while longer."

Vincent came out from the back kitchen carrying a coffee.

He was the owner of this inn.

Minnie's frown visibly smoothed out.

Whatever sourness had come over her while she talked about me vanished the instant she saw Vincent.

"That trick, putting off the wedding? I've tried it plenty of times."

Minnie took the coffee and launched into it, alive with delight.

"Him, he wanted to marry me three years ago already."

"I didn't want to, so I just said, offhand, 'When he climbs Mount Everest, I'll marry him.' And he actually went."

"Good thing I swapped his gear for secondhand stuff. His safety rope snapped, he got separated from the guide, and in the end he never made it up."

Rain and tears wound their way down my face together.

That time I nearly died of hypothermia, and the first thing I felt when I woke was guilt toward Minnie.

And all she'd wanted was to not marry me. She was willing to sacrifice my life for it.

"A year later he proposed again. I happened to be pregnant right then, so I just got rid of the baby and passed it off as a miscarriage."

"He saw how torn up I was and never dared bring up marriage again."

I clenched my jaw and forced my breathing to hold steady.

After that miscarriage, I hadn't dared to sleep. Every night I went to the temple to pray for Minnie and the baby.

I wonder if all those gods up in heaven were laughing at what a fool I was.

"This time there was really no getting around it, so I figured I'd just let him have his way."

My heart sank a little further.

If she didn't love me, why force it?

That was what I was thinking.

The people inside said it for me a beat later.

"Minnie, honey, why don't you just call the wedding off outright? You've got so much going for you. There are Scott boys and Vincent-family boys lining up for you. Why hang yourself on this one tree, Thomas Weiss?"

Minnie lowered her head and looked at the diamond ring on her ring finger.

A full American-cut square diamond, designed by hand by a French designer, worth twenty million.

She was quiet for a long moment, but in the end she didn't take it off.

"Come on, you all still don't get it? Thomas has been clinging to me for eight years. He can't do without me anymore."

"I'm sacrificing myself, taking pity on him."

She pouted, then turned and leaned into Vincent's shoulder.

"Good thing Vincent's against marriage. He can stay by my side forever."

I didn't catch what that line meant at first.

But everyone in the room wore the same knowing look, and then I understood.

Minnie came from an ordinary background. My family wasn't willing to let me marry her.

So I worked myself to the bone to earn the family a bigger say.

But all those nights I worked myself ragged for our future, her heart and her body were with someone else.

A fine, prickling ache spread slowly through my heart.

The moment before their lips could meet, I stepped through the door of the inn.

Thomas! What are you

Minnie reacted fast, shoving Vincent away.

Too obvious.

That was all I thought.

They'd always been this obvious in front of me, really:

the strange man's pants that turned up in the house now and then, the way Minnie's lips were sometimes red and swollen

But Minnie only had to throw out any excuse:

Those are Dad's pants. I've just got a cold sore

and I would believe her.

Even when she said nothing at all, I never suspected a thing.

The humiliation of being betrayed so carelessly rose up in me.

I said nothing.

I only edged away a little when Minnie stepped over to help me up.

I called you. You didn't pick up.

What are you doing?

Minnie looked guilty and couldn't get a word out for a long moment.

It was William who spoke first:

Son, it looked like rain, so we had to clear out in a hurry. In all the rush, we left you behind by accident.

Celine gave a cold snort:

It's because you got there and passed out like a dead pig. If you had any sense and pitched in with the rest of us, we wouldn't have forgotten you.

Minnie cleared her throat:

Enough. You got rained on for a while, so what? Is that any reason to pull a face at us?

Right. We know you've got that spoiled-heir temper. You didn't lift a finger all day and we put up with it.

Hudson chimed in.

It made me laugh from anger, and mostly it just felt pointless.

Tearing off the last thin cover and rolling around in a screaming match with them was beneath me too.

Seeing I still hadn't spoken, Vincent stood and gave my arm a tug.

Thomas, they didn't mean it. Why don't you go take a shower first? I won't charge you for the room.

He went over to the front-desk computer, clicked the mouse a few times, then said with a regretful look:

Thomas with the rain, every room's booked up. But there's a little cot in the storage room. Just make do for the night.

My brain, three days without rest, was strung so tight it ached.

For now I pushed everything to the back of my mind. I only wanted to sleep.

So I didn't waste any more words on them. I washed up quickly and fell asleep on the cluttered little cot.

When I woke the next day, listening to Minnie's family and Vincent laughing away outside, I messaged a friend:

Hack into a B&B's computer for me. Check the occupancy.

Ten minutes later, he replied:

Plenty of empty rooms. What's up?

Just what I expected.

Then it hit me that this mountain was one of the most famous camping spots in the whole city. There was no way Vincent, some guy from a small town, had the connections to buy land here.

Whose name he was leaning on wasn't hard to guess.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and called the developer directly.

The Weiss family has no shady relatives. Some people wave a big banner to pass themselves off. You'd better keep your eyes open.

I didn't spell it out.

A hint was enough. They'd understand.

When I walked out, Minnie was carrying a dish to the table.

Vincent, try this. I practiced this seafood porridge for ages.

I know your stomach's bad, so I got up at six to simmer it. They say online that porridge cooked down soft is good for the stomach.

My eyes darkened, and a bitterness spread through me.

My stomach was bad too.

But whenever a stomach attack woke me in pain in the middle of the night, all Minnie did was blame me for disturbing her sleep.

When she saw me, she took a big step back, covered her nose, and said:

Thomas, you're running a high fever, aren't you? Your face is bright red. Stay away from me, don't go passing it on.

For all that I'd braced myself, my heart still sank a little further.

She could get up at six to simmer porridge for Vincent, but wouldn't spend ten minutes dissolving a fever tablet for me.

Love or no love, it really was obvious.

I let out a breath, thinking of the wedding that was already called off.

Some things there was no point saying anymore.

The air was fresh after the rain, and Minnie's family went ahead with their camping plans.

Before I'd said a thing, they'd naturally left me out of it.

If you've got a fever, hurry up and go to the hospital. Don't drag the rest of us down with you.

Go get yourself treated. If you're still this sickly by the wedding, then let's just not get married.

Minnie said that last line to me and walked off.

She didn't stay to hear me say the wedding's already been called off.

Their car had barely pulled away when the Weiss family driver arrived.

As I got into the car, my grandfather called.

He'd gotten the message that I wanted to call off the wedding.

Thomas, you're my only grandson. I'm glad you came to your senses in time.

There's no need to call off the wedding, though. Just swap out the bride.

Just what I expected.

I gave a nod so slight it was barely there, and said:

Whatever you say, Grandfather.

Less than ten minutes, and the car reached home.

It hit me then why Minnie had picked this place the moment she saw it when we bought the house.

Because it was so close to Vincent's inn.

Even if it meant I had to wake three hours early to commute, she didn't care.

To her, I was a partner who only handed over money and never truly loved her.

No. She hadn't even treated me as a partner. A marriage business associate, at most.

I walked to the mirror and only then saw how bloodshot my eyes were.

There were dried tear tracks on my face too.

I must have cried in my sleep last night.

I'd dreamed of the first time Minnie and I met.

When I first joined the company, my grandfather hid my identity and had me start at the bottom.

The workplace was full of scheming.

Only Minnie, with no idea who I was, still treated me with kindness.

When I was too busy to eat, it was Minnie who brought two lunches a day, telling me that no matter how tired I was, I had to eat.

When I couldn't take the pressure from my family, it was Minnie who pulled me into the stairwell, held me, and said she believed in me.

Holding onto that old feeling, I drafted a breakup agreement.

The assets I set aside for her were generous, more than fair.

Just as I was about to sign, a call came in.

Thomas! My brother hit someone, driving without a license again, and the station won't release him. Get down here, now.

It was Minnie.

I stayed silent for only three seconds.

That was enough to set her off.

Thomas, are you deaf? Oh, are you still sulking about last night? Is it really worth this? My brother's about to be locked up and you're standing there fussing like an old woman.

My brother was right. You never treated us like family.

Fine. Then I won't show up at the wedding in three days. You can put on the one-man show by yourself!

Beep, beep, beep

The call cut off.

The old me would have rushed over in a panic.

But now, I only looked at the breakup agreement and deleted the three cars I'd meant to give her.

Still, there had been something between us.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and decided, in the end, to go.

One, to find her brother a strict sergeant so he wouldn't keep making the same mistakes.

Two, to tell Minnie to her face that our wedding was already off, and congratulate her on getting her freedom back.

The moment I stepped into the police station, my father-in-law stood up.

Since you're here, hurry up and have a word with them. Vincent's restaurant reservation is almost up.

There's no time to waste. If you'd come earlier we wouldn't be rushing like this.

I ignored him and told the sergeant why I'd come.

I'll cover the injured party's medical bills. But nail Minnie's brother with the harshest charge you can. Let it teach him a lesson.

My father-in-law's face changed on the spot.

Thomas, are you out of your mind? Playing this hard against your own family?

I gave him a cold glance and turned to the sergeant.

The car is Vincent's. Encouraging unlicensed driving is a crime too. If you're worried about lacking evidence, pull the surveillance footage around Aspen Ridge. I doubt this is the first time for them.

Vincent was completely stunned.

Finally, forcing down my impatience, I asked him.

Where's Minnie? I have something to say to her.

Vincent seemed to find his backbone all at once, and sneered.

You've still got the nerve to go looking for Minnie? She's in the restroom fixing her makeup with your mother-in-law. Go find her, then. Tell her exactly what you just did, and see if she still wants to marry you.

I said nothing more and headed for the restroom.

Just as I got close, my mother-in-law's voice came from inside.

What was with Thomas's attitude just now? Is it because you two are about to get married, and now that he's got what he wanted he's changing his face?

We can't have that! Dump him fast, land yourself someone better, and make him choke on it!

Minnie let out a careless little laugh.

Not a chance. I'm his first love, you know.

Back when he hid his name and worked his way up from the bottom, I was the one at his side the whole time. He loves me down to his bones. That just now is probably him still sore about last night, that's all.

My mother-in-law let out a breath.

Good thing you got lucky. Pick some poor kid at random and he turns out to be a rich young heir.

Lucky?

Minnie burst out laughing.

Luck wouldn't have been enough. The truth is, I knew who he was ages ago. His first day there, I heard every last word of the conversation he had with his grandfather.

Why else would I bother? Cooking for him, giving him all that emotional support.

And that's not all. Those first few big deals he landed, I was the one leaking the details to the rival side.

Minnie dropped her voice.

Otherwise everything would have gone too smoothly for him. How else was I going to make my loyalty stand out?

It was summer, yet I felt like I'd been dropped into ice.

I stumbled a long way off before I slowly loosened my clenched fist.

Every bit of that old feeling I'd been holding onto turned out to be a lie.

I opened my phone and looked at the breakup agreement I'd just drafted.

Then, without a moment's hesitation, I tapped Erase All.