They Voted I'd Beg. I Left.

At my engagement dinner, my fiancé announced that the woman he was going to marry was my sister. Mom pressed my hand down, keeping me in my seat. Dad stood beside my sister and raised a glass of champagne for her. It wasn’t until I took off the ring that they all burst out laughing. My sister pulled out her phone from behind the flower arch. “Surprise! We just wanted to see how much you really love him.” On the screen, my mother had voted “She’ll get down on her knees and beg.” My fiancé had voted “She won’t be able to walk away.” I opened my phone and pulled up the invitation from the university’s School of Architecture. They wanted me to join next year’s research project. I hadn’t replied because I’d been busy planning the wedding. My fiancé was still laughing. “Come on, sweetheart. Put the ring back on. Everyone’s waiting.” I tapped “Accept Invitation,” then emailed Noah, the project lead. “I can join the team on schedule.” The wedding had taken up my calendar for a whole year. Now that day could finally be mine. Chapter 1 After the email went out, Lily turned her phone sideways and aimed it at me again. “That last part doesn’t count. Let’s get a better ending.” She pointed at the ring on the table. “Put it back on and give Rowan a hug. Otherwise, when people see the video, they’ll think you two actually broke up.” “Then don’t post it.” Lily’s smile froze for a second. “I spent all afternoon setting this up.” Mom adjusted her shoulder strap for her. “Everyone knows it was a joke. You’re the only one taking it seriously. It’s embarrassing.” I picked up my napkin and wiped a bit of cream off the back of my hand. There were still nail marks where Mom had held me down. Rowan pulled out the chair beside him. “All right, no more filming.” I looked up at him. “She’s pissed right now. It won’t look good on camera,” he went on. “We’ll shoot it again at home.” Lily finally put her phone down. “Then you’re in charge of calming her down.” “Got it.” Rowan picked up the ring and held it out by my left hand. I pulled my hand back into my lap. “Put it away for now.” He let out a laugh, put the ring back in its box, and shoved it into my purse. “There. I’ll hold on to it for you. Stop throwing a fit.” The waiter brought dessert. On top of the almond cake were chocolate nameplates with our names. Lily reached over and snapped off my name. “This one’s too long. It’s blocking my picture.” She popped the half piece of chocolate into her mouth and raised her phone. “Rowan, move a little closer.” He got up and went over. The cake in front of me was left with only his name. As the dinner broke up, Dad handed the car keys to Rowan. “You take Lily. She can’t walk well in heels.” Mom handed me a few gift bags. “Come back with us and carry these.” I was wearing heels tonight, too. To match the dress Rowan had picked, they were half a size smaller than my usual. I set the bags back on the table and changed into the spare flats in my purse. Rowan saw and frowned. “The party isn’t over yet.” “My feet hurt.” “Can’t you hold out for ten more minutes?” I stopped a waiter and asked him to call me a car. Mom lowered her voice. “We have a car. Why are you making a fuss?” “I want to go back first.” She was about to say more when Lily called her over to look at photos by the door. Mom let go of my arm and went. In the car, Noah replied to my email. “Glad to have your confirmation. The on-site residency prep starts in three days, and you’ll need to arrive that day. Does that work for you?” I stared at the last line, then typed, “Yes.” Back in my room, I took the document pouch down from the top shelf of my closet. My passport was tucked next to my School of Architecture diploma. After the engagement, I’d put all that away and cleared off my desk for wedding sample books. There was still a half-edited menu on the desk. Rowan didn’t like fish, Lily didn’t eat mushrooms, and Dad wanted the soup changed. I’d filled the margins with revision notes. I closed the menu, put it in a drawer, and made room to go over the project materials. A little before eleven, Mom pushed the door open. “Dress fitting tomorrow. Meet at the house at eleven. Don’t make everyone wait.” She saw the passport on the desk. “What are you looking for that for?” “I need it.” “The honeymoon isn’t for a while. Focus on the wedding first.” After the door closed, I sent my ID photos to the project assistant and filled out the housing application. The last question asked whether any family members would be accompanying me. I checked “No.” Then I opened the transit page and looked up the northbound train for three days from now. Chapter 2 The next day at ten fifty, I went downstairs to wait for them. The living room was empty. I called Mom. No answer. Lily didn’t reply either. At eleven ten, she posted a photo. She was in a white gown, standing between our parents. Rowan leaned against Dad, holding the bouquet I’d ordered. All four of them were smiling. The caption read: “Everyone’s here.” I stared at the photo for a few seconds, then called the bridal shop. The clerk sounded surprised. “Miss Claire, your sister moved the appointment up to nine. She said you knew. We thought something came up.” “They’ve already left?” “Just left. Your sister tried on two dresses for you. She said she’d show you the photos when she got back.” “What about my dress?” “It’s still here. When would you like to come in?” I looked at the appointment slip on the table. It had the time I’d confirmed three times. “No need to reschedule. I’ll reach out later.” At noon, Mom came back carrying a gift bag from the bridal shop. “Why are you still home?” “You said we’d leave together at eleven.” “Lily said it’d be less crowded earlier, so we changed it.” “Why didn’t you tell me?” Mom set the bag down. “She thought you knew. And it’s not like your dress is missing.” Dad came in behind her. “You can try it on next time. No need to make everyone unhappy over something so small.” Lily peeked out from behind him. “Did you see the photos? Rowan said that dress looks amazing on me.” As she spoke, the pendant on her chest swayed. It was the moonstone necklace Rowan had given me last year. “You went into my room?” “Just borrowing a necklace.” She touched the pendant. “You haven’t worn it in forever.” “Give it back.” “I have a date tonight. I’ll take it off and give it back after.” I reached for it. She stepped back behind Mom. Mom blocked me. “Don’t yank it and break it. It’s not like she said she won’t give it back.” Rowan came in last and put the car keys on the table. I asked him, “Do you remember this necklace?” He looked at it for a few seconds. “Which one?” Lily pinched the pendant and showed him. Then it came back to him. “Oh, that one from last year. Let her wear it for a day. It goes well with her dress.” When I got it last year, I took a dozen photos and set the best one as my phone background. He’d even said he’d never seen me love a gift so much. I pulled my hand back. “Put it back where it belongs tonight.” Back in my room, the official project onboarding documents had arrived. I signed my name, booked a ticket for two days later, and pulled my suitcase out from under the bed. Documents, my work laptop, and my sketchbook went in first. While sorting winter clothes, I found a scarf. I’d originally planned to wear it on my honeymoon. The tag was still on. I cut off the tag and rolled it into my luggage. Mom pushed the door open. When she saw the suitcase, her expression softened. “Getting ready to move in with Rowan?” I was double-checking the housing address and didn’t answer. She took the never-worn beige coat off the rack. “Give this to Lily. She’s been needing this color lately.” “Give it to her.” “That’s more like it. You’re sisters.” She draped the coat over her arm and reminded me not to forget a gift for Rowan’s family. After the door closed, I put the housing confirmation into a folder. The move-in date was two days from now. The location was Northhaven, over six hundred miles away. I tucked the folder into my carry bag and opened the other half of the closet. Chapter 3 When Rowan showed up with breakfast, I was taking the engagement photo off the wall. He steadied the frame. “You don’t need to bring that. I have one at my place.” I turned the frame face down and put it in the box. “Still mad?” He handed me a coffee. “Lily was scared you’d really cut her off. She kept asking me what to do last night.” “Scared of what?” “That you won’t talk to her.” “She’s not the one whose fiancé got swapped out in public.” Rowan sighed. “She likes to mess around. It’s not like this is news to you. You’re not going to hold it against her forever, are you?” I looked at him. “Before the dinner, did you know what she was going to do?” “I had some idea.” “How much?” He set the coffee down. “She asked me how to get a reaction out of you. I said the wedding was your weak spot, so that was the surest way in.” The corner of the frame dug into my palm. “Because I spent a year planning it?” “Yeah.” He answered fast. “What’s the point of joking about something you don’t care about?” I looked down at the photo. On the day of the shoot, he was two hours late. I was afraid he’d be tired, so I didn’t even mention the extra set of photos I wanted. “Did you know about all those other jokes, too?” Rowan didn’t answer. Then Lily’s voice came from the doorway. “Of course. He’s the one who told me you were wearing that white dress last year.” “Lily.” Rowan’s voice dropped. She leaned against the doorframe. “What? She’s asking, isn’t she?” That time we went to Rowan’s parents’ house for dinner, I wore a dress I’d saved up two months to buy. Lily drew a heart on the back with lipstick. No one told me until I was already at the table. Later, I hid in the bathroom. Rowan coaxed me through the door, saying Lily was too immature and that he’d protect me next time. “You even helped me wipe it off that day.” I looked at him. “You said you didn’t know who did it.” He avoided my eyes. “I just didn’t want you two to fight.” “So you watched her do it, then came to comfort me?” “Claire, do you have to make it sound so ugly?” Lily cut in. “See? I told you she’d bring up old stuff.” I put the last photo in the box. “I won’t bring it up anymore.” Rowan let out a breath and reached out to hug me. “That’s better. I’ll reshoot the wedding photos with you. And stop going after Lily all the time.” I pushed his hand away and handed the coffee back. “Take it with you. I need to pack.” He glanced at the suitcase. “Let me know before you move in tomorrow. I’ll save you a parking spot.” After they left, I called the wedding planner. “Cancel everything—the venue, the photography, and the reception.” She confirmed it again. “You’ll lose part of the deposit if you cancel. Are you sure?” “I’m sure.” I’d always managed the wedding planning account. Rowan had signed the authorization once at the beginning and then couldn’t even be bothered to remember the password. I submitted the cancellation forms and removed our couple registration from the account. The page said the orders would be verified in twenty-four hours and cancellation confirmations would be sent to both parties. I signed. Then I put his spare key, supplementary card, and engagement ring into a paper bag. There was a necklace by the desk. Lily had returned it at some point. The silver clasp was bent out of shape. I put it in a jewelry box by itself and packed it in my suitcase. Her voice came from outside the door. “We’re having barbecue tonight. Mom bought your favorite beef ribs.” “Okay.” “And no going out tomorrow night. I’ve got a new thing planned.” She ran downstairs without waiting for my answer. I sealed the paper bag and wrote Rowan’s name on it. My phone lit up with a ticket reminder. Ten a.m. tomorrow. Departure. Chapter 4 On the day I left, Lily was already setting up her phone in the living room. “Claire, six o’clock tonight. Nobody’s allowed to be late.” She blocked the box on the table. “Round two of the surprise. Even better than last time.” Mom came out with fruit. “Don’t go too far this time. Your sister was really mad the other day.” She started laughing before she even finished. Lily spun the phone mount. “Relax. When has she ever stayed mad for more than two days?” Dad turned a page of the newspaper. “When she was little, she said she’d run away. She got to the end of the street and came back.” I was nine that year. They took Lily out for her birthday and forgot me at home. I had no key and no money, so I waited by the door until dark. All he remembered was that I came back on my own. Rowan came over to take my suitcase. “Come on. I’ll drive you to drop your stuff off.” “No need. I called a car.” Mom checked the time. “Moving in is fine, but remember to come back for dinner tonight.” “Before six!” Lily added. I set the paper bag on the cabinet by the door. “Rowan, this is for you.” He was watching Lily adjust the camera and didn’t even turn his head. “Leave it there.” As the car pulled out of the neighborhood, Noah texted. “When you get to the station tonight, take the east exit. I’ll pick you up. I’ve got your dorm key.” I replied, “Thanks. See you tonight.” Mom sent a voice message right after. “On your way back, pick up the pumpkin pie your dad ordered.” Lily added another message. “And an apple pie. Rowan likes it.” I closed the chat. Before I got on the train, Rowan called. “Where are you? I’ve been home for a while and you’re not here.” “I’m not coming over today.” “Still mad?” The announcement started calling for ticket checks. “You’re out?” He heard it, and before I could answer, he went on. “Getting some air is fine. Just come back early tonight. Lily’s been working on this all day. She’ll be disappointed if you don’t play along.” I handed my ticket to the attendant. “Remember to grab the paper bag on the cabinet.” “What’s in it, anyway?” “You’ll see.” I hung up and found a window seat. As the train started moving, a poll popped up in the family group chat. “What time will Claire give up and come home tonight?” Rowan picked seven. Dad picked seven thirty. Mom picked eight. I didn’t say anything. I left the family location sharing. All the orders were processed. The shared planning account had been unlinked. At the same time, at the top of Rowan’s phone screen, a wedding cancellation confirmation email popped up.