At Wedding We Drew Lots for Bride; Fiancé Rejected

Before the wedding, my fianc once again pulled out the role-drawing blind boxes we'd played with as kids, and had my sister and me each draw a role.

Whoever drew a role had to play it.

I stared at Jonah Carter in disbelief, but he gave my hand a squeeze.

Don't worry, the slip that's been iced is the bride. I set it up a long time ago, just to satisfy her wish to open a blind box one last time.

I let out a breath and was just reaching in to feel for it when my mother slapped my hand away.

"This is the very last time, and you still can't let your sister have it? Fighting her over it!"

I was long used to my mother's favoritism, so I stepped back.

After my sister drew hers, I felt around inside and found the coldest slip.

Just as I was about to feel relieved that I'd drawn the bride.

Melissa Maxwell happily clutched her slip and jumped onto my fianc.

"Yay! I got it again! A deal's a deal!"

Jonah looked helplessly at the passerby slip in my hand.

"Why is your luck always so bad? You lose, you accept it. It's just a wedding anyway. She's against marriage, so think of it as granting her wish to be a bride. In the end, we're the two who'll sign the marriage license."

Melissa reached out and took the wedding dress from my hands.

"Sis, getting married is exhausting anyway. I'll suffer through it for you!"

Grinning, she went off to change and put on the veil.

Watching the wedding dress fit her perfectly, I finally understood that this wedding had never, from beginning to end, been meant for me.

I didn't fuss and argue that it wasn't right the way I would have before.

Instead, I quietly turned around and accepted a five-year secret assignment.

From now on, I will no longer be a passerby in your lives.

Section 1

When I got home, the house was lively.

Their ceremony was already over.

My mother looked a little displeased when she saw me.

"You throw a tantrum at your sister's most important moment? Where did you run off to?"

The wedding photos sat on the coffee tableevery scene, every angle something I'd gone over with the photographer again and again.

We already looked somewhat alike, and with the makeup and veil on, it was even harder to tell us apart.

Jonah followed my gaze and started to explain.

"You weren't there when the photos were taken, so she stepped in to save the shoot. She thought they looked nice and wanted to keep them as a memento. Once they're sorted, she'll take them."

I gave a small reply.

"Whatever. There are plenty of photos of the two of you in this house anyway."

Jonah faltered.

"Here you go again. The three of us grew up together. Isn't it perfectly normal to have photos like these?"

When I said nothing.

He softened his tone.

"We'll take our own photos after we sign the licensejust the two of us."

Just the two of us. He'd said those words countless times.

But in the end it was always the two of them, without me.

I didn't respond, and went back to my room to pack.

Melissa pushed the door open, looking a little surprised.

"Sis, are you coming on our trip too?"

My hand paused.

Jonah rubbed his nose.

"She wants to come along, and since you already made that itinerary, one more person won't change anything."

But that itinerary was a couples' version I'd worked on for a long time, staying up many nights to make it, with a special, meaningful touch at every stop.

Back then, he'd said I was so thoughtful, that he'd absolutely give me an unforgettable honeymoon.

Before I could say anything, my mother came over, her tone unkind.

"I'm not feeling well, so she has to stay and take care of me. You two go enjoy yourselves."

Melissa smiled sweetly.

"Thanks, Mom. Take good care of Mom, sis!"

Steering me aside like this to make space for them had happened more than once.

My mother blamed me for catching my father cheating, blamed me for shattering the peace of our lives by exposing it, for causing their divorce and my father abandoning her.

So she hated me, felt I didn't deserve happiness. She let my sister change to her surname, while I was left carrying my disgraced father's surname.

After Jonah and I got together, she would swap out the love letters he wrote me and put my sister's name on them, and she would also imitate my handwriting to reject him.

At first, Jonah was furious when he found out and would argue on my behalf, and he'd keep his distance from my sister to set my mind at ease.

Later, seeing Melissa's hurt expression, he gradually began to feel guilty, thinking I was making a mountain out of a molehill, that I was jealous of how close my mother and sister were and was stirring up trouble.

By now, he'd grown used to dates without me.

He called it making it up to her.

As Melissa turned to leave, her gaze fell on a dress in my suitcase.

"This is gorgeous! Can I borrow it, sis? It's perfect for photos!"

It was a special edition I'd once mentioned liking in a magazine, and Jonah had begged and pleaded with everyone, waiting half a year before his order finally came through.

Back then I'd laughed and cried at the same time, telling him he was wasting money. But he'd said that my mother always gave the best things to my younger sister, and he was afraid I'd feel shortchanged, so he wanted to make up double for the love I never got.

I'd never been able to bring myself to wear it.

Seeing me hesitate, Jonah frowned slightly and took it out of the suitcase.

"She likes it, so lend it to her. It's just one wear, it's not going to hurt anything."

He was the one who'd once taught me to bravely refuse people who asked for the things I loved.

And now he was the one giving them away for me.

The day before we left, my mother finally relented and let me come along.

Probably because it looked improper for the groom to travel alone with his fiance's sister.

When I heard the charity in their tone, I wanted to refuse.

But then I thought, since the secret assignment meant five years away with no outside contact, I might as well treat this as a goodbye to the past.

The next day we set off, the two of them chattering away the whole time.

Same as always, I couldn't get a single word in.

After we boarded, Jonah looked at my window seat ticket and nudged Melissa into the innermost seat.

"She wants to look outside. Switch with her, okay?"

I froze for a second.

I've always been prone to airsickness, and I have to sit by the window whenever I fly.

As if he'd predicted what I would say, Jonah pulled a bottle of pills from his pocket.

"I got these ready for you. Take one and you'll be fine."

There were people standing behind me, and I didn't want to argue.

But once the pill was in my mouth, I realized it tasted sour.

Melissa saw my brows knit together and let out a little gasp.

"Sorry, sis, I mixed them up when I was emptying out the bottleI put vitamin C in instead."

I coughed.

"You can't just swap medicine like that, what if"

Jonah sighed, exasperated.

"You're fine, aren't you? Vitamin C isn't some pill you can't take. Don't make such a fuss. I know you're just using this as an excuse to vent your resentment toward her. Ease up. It's no fun when you take it too far."

For a long moment I couldn't process it.

But back when I'd taken the wrong medicine, had an allergic reaction, and ended up in the hospital getting my stomach pumped, he'd been so scared he couldn't even speak. After that, he memorized the shape and taste of every medicine we kept at home, terrified I might take the wrong one.

Something he'd once guarded more carefully than his own life had now become my excuse to make a scene.

I slumped back against my seat.

Bitterness churned in me, along with a nausea I couldn't hold down.

I couldn't help gagging.

Jonah pressed the call button.

"Could you bring her a cup of warm water, please?"

"Drink it and just go to sleep. Once you're out, you won't feel sick anymore."

His voice was as gentle as ever, but it felt like a stranger's.

I closed my eyes, shutting out the noise around me.

Just as I was about to drift off, my head instinctively tipped to the left and met empty air.

The moment I opened my eyes, I saw Jonah and Melissa asleep, heads leaning against each other.

In that instant, I suddenly remembered our budget trip during a college break, when we'd bought hard-seat train tickets for a ride over ten hours long.

To help me sleep well, he'd lowered his shoulder and held me close, and the moment I felt uncomfortable, he'd immediately adjust the angle, willing to let his own arm cramp and go numb rather than let me suffer.

And now he'd given that same special care to someone else.

There was no place for me on his shoulder anymore.

After we landed, he ordered a rideshare to the hotel, but when we reached the car, we found someone already sitting inside.

"You two picked a shared ride by mistake. There's probably no room for all this luggage, so it'll have to go on the seatsyou'll have to hold it, sorry about that."

Jonah frowned slightly as he looked at the small bag I was carrying.

"Why don't you grab a taxi and follow behind us? Her luggage is too heavy, she can't carry it."

For a moment I felt dazed.

Melissa quickly shook her head.

"It's fine, it's not heavy!"

Jonah chuckled softly.

"All right, you hold it, then. It's full of your precious thingsdon't blame me later if something gets bumped or scratched or crushed."

Melissa stuck her tongue out at me playfully.

"Sorry, sis, hate to put you out. See you at the hotel."

This wasn't a taxi stop.

By the time I found a spot and got a cab, they'd already been gone half an hour.

I read the location Jonah had sent me to the driver.

After I got to the hotel, I gave their names, but the front desk clerk frowned.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, the two people you mentioned aren't at our hotel."

I froze, then quickly called Jonah.

"The location you sent me is wrong."

He paused, and from the other end came Melissa's cry of surprise.

"Oh no, I typed it wrong, what do I do?"

Jonah sighed helplessly, but he didn't scold her.

"I told you to keep up, but you had to dawdle. Fine, just stay there. There aren't any rooms left over here anyway. I'll text you tomorrow, and you can wait for us once you reach the destination."

The words of explanation caught in my throat, choking again and again, and before I could get them out, the call had already been cut off.

I went upstairs in a daze, and it was nearly midnight by the time I finished packing.

Just as I was about to lie down, I heard the beeping of the lock at the door.

I hurriedly called the front desk.

The sound of the door opening turned into drunken cursing.

The phone still went unanswered.

Instinctively, I called Jonah.

Several calls in a row didn't connect, and the last one was simply hung up on.

I was about to send a message when his chat window popped up.

If I don't answer, it means I'm busy, stop calling. She's not used to the bed and she's having nightmares. I just got her to sleep.

The blood in my body felt frozen, so cold I was trembling.

Before, when I was away on business and he couldn't be with me, we'd talk on the phone all night long, because he was afraid something might happen to me and there wouldn't be time to call 911.

But now he wouldn't even answer my calls.

I dug my nails into my palm, held back my tears, and called 911.

Before long, the front desk and the police came and hauled away the drunk man who'd gone to the wrong room.

I checked out and moved to another hotel.

I lay in bed all night, unable to sleep.

The next day, dark circles under my eyes, I arrived at the antique market they'd mentioned.

Melissa was all smiles.

"I heard there's lots of pretty jewelry and antiques here. I wanted to come take a look. If there's anything nice, I'll buy it for you as a wedding gift."

I said nothing. Just then an ice cream vendor came by from the roadside.

"Hey there, handsome, how about an ice cream for your girlfriend? It's our new flavorif you don't like it, it's free."

Jonah glanced at me guiltily, cleared his throat, and was about to wave the vendor off.

Melissa took his arm.

"I want some! It's so hot!"

Jonah looked at her helplessly and spoke without thinking.

"Your period's always so irregularshould you really be eating this?"

Melissa ignored him and went off to pick a flavor.

He sighed.

"Three, then."

Just as he was about to pay, I said coldly,

"No. I can't eat that."

He remembered his sister's irregular periods, but he didn't remember that today was my period.

Of coursethe reminder he'd set for me on his phone had long since been deleted because it overlapped with Melissa's.

Jonah looked a little embarrassed.

"All right, I'll get you a hot one."

He walked off fast, giving me no chance to refuse.

When he came back out, he handed me the receipt.

"Go wait for it, it'll be ready soon. Melissa and I are going to look around."

I went into the shop. It was crowded, and I waited a good while.

Suddenly my phone chimed.

I opened it and looked.

Your account has been charged twenty thousand dollars. Remaining balance: $5.30.

I shot to my feet, wanting to go find Jonah.

The moment I stepped out, he came over.

"There was a twenty-thousand-dollar charge on your phone just now. You got it, right?"

I paused.

"You spent it?"

He nodded, looking over at Melissa, his tone as breezy as if he'd only spent a couple of dollars.

"She just took a liking to a bracelet but didn't have enough, so I paid for it."

She shook the jade bracelet on her wrist, shiny enough to glow, and smiled innocently.

"Isn't it pretty, sis? I loved it the moment I saw itit's the best one here."

I clenched my fists, my eyes turning red.

"Do you know that was the money to pay off the mortgage on our wedding home early?"

There wasn't a trace of shock or panic in Jonah's eyes.

"I know. We're still young, and our salaries aren't lowwe can just pay it back monthly. There's no need to make such a fuss. She's your own sister; can't you even part with this much?"

I stared at him in disbelief.

Back when we were living in that rented place, freezing in winter and sweltering in summer, he said that once he had money he'd definitely buy a house and make a warm home with me.

And now the money we'd finally managed to save for that house had been spent on someone else.

Seeing the mood between us go bad, Melissa yanked the bracelet off.

"I'm sorry, sis, I didn't know you needed this money. I'll give it back to you right now."

The guilt in Jonah's eyes vanished in an instant, and he pressed his hand over Melissa's.

"I said I'd give it to you, so it's yours. Keep it and don't worry. Think of it as a gift from your sister and me."

With that, he took her hand and walked deeper into the old back streets.

I drew a deep breath and forced back the tears in my eyes.

"Ten thousand dollars of that is my money. Transfer it back to me. I don't owe her anything."

He paused, but he didn't turn around.

I turned to leave when a gust of wind suddenly rushed past me.

Shouts came from behind.

"Somebody, catch the thief!"

The next second, the man beside me pulled a small knife from his pocket and yanked me in front of him as a shield.

"Get lost! Nobody come closer! Come any closer and I'll cut her throat. I just wanted to trade a rock for a little money to see a doctor! Don't push me, don't push me!"

My legs went weak instantly.

Jonah rushed forward, his eyes full of worry as he looked at me.

"Let's talk this out. Let her go!"

The vendor saw this and gritted his teeth.

"Let her go! I don't want the merchandise anymore!"

The man behind me panted heavily, the cold dagger trembling against my neck.

He dragged me slowly backward until we reached an open space, then let go and ran.

I was still shaking, just about to run over to them, when Melissa shouted.

"Don't let him get away!"

The shout enraged the man. His eyes went bloodshot and he hurled the knife at us.

"You bitch, die!"

The knife came flying straight at our faces.

Jonah shouted urgently.

"Look out!"

He spun around and threw Melissa, who was farther from him, to the ground.

By the time I reacted, my body was a step too slow, and the knife flew over and cut into my upper arm.

When I fell to the ground, Jonah was shielding her with his body.

Meeting my stunned gaze, his eyes were red, his face a mess of confusion.

It must have been the pain; the tears fell without my willing them to.

The man who used to pull me behind him even at the pop of a balloon was truly gone.

I woke again in the hospital.

Jonah looked at me anxiously.

"Are you okay? Does anything hurt?"

I shifted, and a sharp pain shot through my arm.

Melissa gripped my hand.

"Sis, I'm so sorry, it's all my fault for shouting like that. I just thought it isn't easy for a vendor to make a living. I didn't know he'd..."

Jonah patted her shoulder.

"It's not your fault, you're just kind-hearted. If anyone's to blame, it's me for misjudging things. Thank goodness it's nothing serious, just a cut artery and too much blood lost."

What a fine "too much blood lost."

As soon as he finished, his phone rang.

It was his mother.

"What happened? I heard you were held hostage. Are you all right?"

"We're fine, Irene. Ivy got her arm cut. Melissa's fine."

The other end let out a breath of relief.

"As long as you're all right."

I gave a bitter smile. She never cared about me. I knew that.

She went on.

"Come back right away, it's far too dangerous. That place she picked almost got someone killed."

Jonah shot me a guilty look, agreed hastily, and hung up.

The two of them sat at the edge of the bed, looking at flight tickets.

For some reason, Melissa's eyes were red.

"There's only one flight home left today, and only two seats."

"Sis is hurt so badly, you two should go back first."

Jonah refused at once.

"No! You get scared so easily, how could you stay here alone?"

He glanced at my arm.

"It's not convenient for you right now anyway, you can't fly. The hospital is safer, nothing will happen. I'll take care of your paperwork. Stay a few days, and once the doctor says you're doing better, I'll come get you."

He knew Melissa would be afraid, and forgot that I'd be afraid too.

He'd told me, clearly, that he would never leave me his whole life.

I gazed at the lone bird outside the window and pushed down the bitterness in my heart.

"Whatever you two want."

Jonah gently stroked my hand.

"I'll use these few days to get things ready for the marriage license. Once you're back, we can register."

I said nothing, just watched the two of them walk away, then called my advisor.

Three days later, the doctor said I could be discharged.

After going back and forth about it, I sent Jonah a message, planning to say goodbye in person.

He swore up and down that he'd be there and even sent me a plane ticket.

But I waited at the airport until every flight had let off its passengers, and he still didn't show.

Only then did a message come through on my phone.

I'm sorry, Melissa isn't feeling well and I really can't get away. Which flight are you on? I'll pick you up at the airport when you get back.

I let out a scoffing laugh. I wasn't all that surprised.

All these years he'd said he would come get me, and only a handful of times had he ever managed it.

Almost every time, Melissa would have some situation or other come up.

After a while, my professor's familiar voice came from behind me.

"Ivy, did the person you were waiting for finally come?"

I shook my head, blocked Jonah, and got a new phone number.

"Not waiting anymore. Let's go."

This time, I'm not going back.