Our New Place Without Me

On the day the renovations on our future home were completed, I discovered that the camellia painting on the master bedroom wall had been replaced with a painting of a sunflower. When I asked Edward Foxworth about it, he replied casually, "Victoria liked this one better, so I had it changed. Besides, you wouldn't understand these things anyway." But my mother had painted those camellias especially for me before she died. I stared at the wall for a long time, unable to say a word. Edward seemed to think I was about to burst into tears again, and impatience crept into his voice. "Don't make such a fuss over one painting. Victoria was just helping oversee the renovations. She has better taste than you, anyway." Only later did I discover that the painting wasn't the only thing he had changed. The closet shelves had been adjusted to suit Victoria Sonnier's height. The kitchen walls had been painted her favorite shade of milky white. Even the bedside lamp had been replaced because she'd complained that the old one was too bright for her to sleep comfortably. All this time, I'd thought we were building a home together. But now I realized I was merely someone he'd allowed to live there. When Edward saw me put the keys away, he finally frowned. "What are you trying to stir up this time?" I simply shook my head. Outside the window, the camellia trees were in full bloom. I suddenly remembered how camellia blossoms fell from their branches, whole and without a sound. Just as quietly, I was letting him go. Chapter 1 As I slipped the key into my bag, Edward reached out and pressed his hand against my wrist. His fingertips felt cold against my wristbone, but his voice remained patient, as though he were coaxing someone who simply didn't understand. "Camellia, the renovation's almost finished. If you make a fuss now, the workers will have to redo everything. There's no need for that." I glanced at the sunflower painting. "I never asked them to redo anything." Edward loosened his grip slightly, apparently satisfied that I was finally being reasonable. "Good. Vicky made a special trip here today to take a look. She thought hanging this painting here would brighten up the room." I gave a faint smile. "How thoughtful of her." "She has an eye for these things." Edward pulled out his phone to reply to a message, his thumb darting across the screen. "Unlike you, always clinging to the past." The past… The painting my mother had left me was nothing more than a relic of the past in his eyes, something he could replace on a whim. The designer stood nearby, visibly uncomfortable. She clutched her tablet and asked quietly, "Mr. Foxworth, should we still use the champagne-colored bedding Miss Sonnier picked out for the master bedroom?" Edward didn't even look up. "Yes. She's a light sleeper, so avoid anything too dark." The designer froze for a moment before casting a quick glance in my direction. Only then did Edward seem to realize what he'd said. His brow twitched, but he quickly regained his composure. "I mean, she helped test the lighting. She has a better eye for these things. Don't read too much into it." I nodded. "I'm not reading into anything." My calm response seemed to catch him off guard. He studied my face for a moment. "What's gotten into you today?" I didn't answer. Instead, I turned and walked into the walk-in closet. The shelves had been lowered, and the hanging rod had been adjusted to accommodate Victoria's long dresses. I'd mentioned before that I owned quite a few winter coats and wanted to reserve one tall section of the closet for them. Edward had dismissed the idea, saying our home wasn't a warehouse and that I shouldn't make it look like a rental property. Yet all Victoria had to do was mention her fondness for dresses, and the entire closet had been tailored to her preferences. I pulled open a drawer and found a small, milky-white ceramic deer inside. It wasn't mine. Edward came over. The moment he spotted the deer, his gaze lingered briefly before he casually picked it up and returned it to its place. "Vicky must have left it here. I'll tell her to take it home another day," he said. I asked, "How many times has she been here?" "It's a renovation. Of course she'd come by." His tone grew colder. "You're busy with work, so I asked her to keep an eye on things. I thought it'd save you the trouble." "Does she have a key?" Edward turned his phone facedown against his palm and let out a short laugh. "Camie, do you really have to make it sound like that? She's here to help, not steal from us." I met his gaze. "I'm just asking whether she has a key." Just then, I heard a key turn in the front door. Victoria stepped inside with a box of desserts, as comfortable as if she were returning to her own home. "Eddie, I got you that chestnut cake you like. I picked up a piece for Camie too, since I was passing by." She spotted me, but her smile never faltered. "Oh, did I come at a bad time?" Edward took the bag from her with practiced ease. "Not at all. Camellia was just saying how thoughtful you are." Victoria's eyes crinkled with amusement. "Camie, there's no need to be so formal with me. Your wedding home is a big deal, after all. Of course I want to help you two get everything just right." My gaze dropped to the soft-soled slippers on her feet. There had been only one new pair in the shoe cabinet, pale yellow and a size smaller than mine. Edward followed my gaze, and impatience finally crept into his voice. "They're just slippers. She comes by often, so I keep a pair here for her. It saves her the trouble of changing shoes every time." Victoria bit her lower lip. "Maybe I should take them home. I wouldn't want Camie to feel uncomfortable." "No need," Edward decided for her. "She's not that petty." I lowered my head, took the key from my bag, and placed it on the entryway cabinet. "Then I might as well leave this one here too." Edward glanced at the key, his expression darkening. "What's that supposed to mean?" "You two need it more than I do." He stared at me for several seconds, apparently trying to decide whether I was genuinely upset or merely attempting to force him to give in again. Victoria was the first to break the silence. "Camie, please don't misunderstand. Eddie and I have been close since we were kids. Some habits are hard to break, but we're really just friends." Edward immediately came to her defense. "You heard her. Stop giving her such a hard time that she'll be afraid to help us again." I picked up my bag. "Mm." Edward caught my wrist again, his grip noticeably tighter this time. "I'll have the driver take you home. I've got a dinner tonight. And don't go calling my mother to fill her head with this nonsense while I'm gone." I looked up at him. "What are you afraid I'll tell her?" "I'm afraid you'll blow things out of proportion." He lowered his voice. "The wedding is only three months away. Don't embarrass both our families." Three months… We'd been engaged for two years. When we finally set the wedding date, I'd been so happy that I'd circled it three times on my calendar. And now, everywhere I looked in the home that was supposed to be ours, I found traces of Victoria. The designer began packing up her things. As she walked past me, her tablet screen lit up. I caught a glimpse of a few words in the project name field. Chapter 2 [Victoria Former Home Concept] I stood in the elevator, the words on the screen still echoing in my mind. Edward caught up with me just as the doors were about to close. He thrust out a hand to stop them, his voice tight with anger. "Camellia Wright, you're making a fuss over one line in a project name?" My gaze fell to his cufflinks. "You saw it?" "So what if I did?" He stepped inside and pressed the button for the first floor. "Vicky's old place was tastefully decorated. It's perfectly normal for the designer to draw inspiration from it." "Why does our wedding home have to look like her old place?" I demanded. Edward rubbed his brow in frustration. "Do you have to be so particular about everything? I bought the house and paid for the renovations. Is there something wrong with choosing a style I feel comfortable with?" The elevator doors reflected my pale face. "No problem." My response only irritated him further. "Camie, this attitude of yours is worse than if you'd just argued with me." The elevator reached the first floor, and the doors slid open. Victoria's voice came from behind us. "Eddie, don't scold her. It's my fault." She held out the ceramic deer to me. "Please take this as an apology. I used to love it. Eddie said it would look lovely by the window in the master bedroom." Edward glanced at the deer, and his expression softened for a moment. I suddenly remembered my birthday three years ago, when he'd given me a camellia brooch. He'd said it reminded him of me: quiet, graceful, and content without being the center of attention. But after Victoria returned to the country, I never saw that brooch again. I made no move to accept the deer. "If you like it so much, you should keep it." Victoria's hand froze in midair. Edward took the deer from her, his tone turning cold. "She's offering it to you. Just accept it. Don't make things awkward for her." I met his gaze. "I don't need someone else's old things." Victoria's face went pale. Edward's expression changed instantly. "Camellia. Apologize." Workers were still coming and going near the elevator, and the designer hadn't gone far. Several people glanced in our direction. "Why should I?" Edward gripped my shoulder. "Because what you said was hurtful." His hold wasn't particularly forceful, but it was firm enough to prevent me from stepping back. "Vicky's been kind enough to help you, and this is how you repay her? With sarcasm?" Victoria spoke softly. "Let it go, Eddie. I don't want to make things difficult for Camie." Edward kept his hand on my shoulder. "I've spoiled her too much. She's forgotten even the most basic manners." I lowered my gaze to the deer. A corner of one ear had chipped off and been carefully repaired. A faint line remained in the glaze where someone had mended it. Victoria suddenly spoke again. "Actually, Eddie was the one who gave me this deer in the first place. I just thought it would look nice in the wedding home too." Edward frowned. "Vicky." She lowered her eyes at once, as though she'd accidentally revealed something she shouldn't have. "Sorry. I didn't mean it like that." A faint smile touched my lips. So this wasn't merely one of her old possessions. It was a gift Edward had once given her, and now they wanted to put it in my wedding home. As if afraid I'd ask any more questions, Edward shoved the deer into my hands. "Just take it. It's only a decoration. Stop making a scene." The hard edge of the ceramic dug into my palm. Before I could get a proper grip, the deer slipped from my hands and shattered into two pieces. Victoria let out a soft gasp. Edward's face darkened. "Camellia." I crouched to gather the broken pieces, but a sharp edge caught my fingertip. A bead of blood welled up. Edward noticed. His fingers twitched, but instead of reaching for me, he turned to Victoria first. "Don't look at it. You might cut yourself too." Victoria retreated behind him. "Camie, I know you don't like me, but you didn't have to do that." I gathered the pieces in my palm. "Tell me how much it's worth. I'll pay for it." Edward stared at my hand, his voice low. "This isn't about money." "Then what is it about?" He didn't answer. The designer cautiously offered me a tissue. "Miss Wright, perhaps you should tend to your finger first." Edward took the tissue from her, but just as he was about to pass it to me, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and answered immediately. "Yes, Molly. Vicky's with me. Don't worry." Victoria leaned closer to listen, and her expression softened at once. The voice on the other end was loud enough for everyone to hear. "Eddie, how's the new home coming along for you and Vicky? When I come back this time, I want to be the first to see it." I stood there with the broken pieces in my hand and looked up at Edward. He fell silent for a moment before he answered quickly, "It's almost done. I'll bring her over once it's ready." So it was their wedding home after all. Chapter 3 I didn't ask Edward who Molly Stone, the woman from the phone call, was. He offered no explanation either. … The next day, Elaine Cray, Edward's mother, arranged for me to try on wedding dresses. By the time I arrived at the bridal boutique, Victoria was already seated on the sofa with a white tulle shawl draped over her shoulders. Elaine smiled and waved me over. "Camie, you're here. Come take a look. Vicky has such good taste. She's picked out a few options for you." I glanced at the row of dresses on the rack. Every one of them had a high waist, a short train, and narrow shoulders. "These don't really suit me," I said. Elaine's smile faltered slightly. "When a girl gets married, it never hurts to listen to her elders and those with more experience. Vicky has attended plenty of weddings. She knows more about these things than you do." Victoria rose from the sofa and pulled another dress off the rack. "This one's pretty. Eddie should like it." "I'm the one getting married," I replied. "Why should his preferences matter more than mine?" Elaine paused with her champagne glass halfway to her lips. "Camie, marriage isn't about keeping score. Eddie has a lot on his plate. You should learn to accommodate him a little more." Victoria chimed in softly, "Eddie really does prefer clean, simple designs. If you wear something too bold, he might not like it." The shop assistant carried a dress into the fitting room, but I remained where I stood. Elaine finally frowned. "What's gotten into you lately? You've become so stubborn. First it was a painting, then some little ornament, and now a wedding dress. You always seem to find something to complain about." I met her gaze. "Did you know the painting had been replaced?" Elaine hesitated. "Vicky mentioned it. That painting was rather old. It didn't really suit the new place." I nodded. "My mother painted it." For a moment, silence settled over the room. Victoria's eyes immediately reddened. "Camie, I honestly had no idea. If I'd known, I never would have suggested replacing it." Elaine softened her tone. "I'll admit, that was a misunderstanding. But Eddie only wanted the place to look nicer. There's no point in holding a grudge over it." All at once, the entire conversation felt pointless. They both knew I'd been wronged. Yet they seemed far more concerned that Victoria might feel wronged instead. When Edward pushed open the door, Elaine looked at him as though he'd come to her rescue. "Eddie, you're just in time. Camie insists that none of these dresses will do." Edward glanced at the rack. "Vicky picked these out?" Victoria nodded. "I only made a few suggestions." "Then pick one of these." Edward approached me and brushed the hair off my shoulder. "Camie, don't keep everyone waiting." I looked up at him. "And what if I don't want to wear any of them?" His hand stilled, though his voice remained low. "The wedding isn't just about you." I let out a bitter laugh. "I don't get a say in our new home, and now I don't even get to choose my own wedding dress. So whose wedding is this, exactly?" Edward fixed me with a warning look. "There are other people here. Don't say things you'll regret just because you're upset." Victoria quickly tried to smooth things over. "Camie, don't misunderstand. Eddie just wants everything to go smoothly." Without another word, I turned and walked into the fitting room. As the shop assistant zipped up my dress, my phone buzzed with a message from the designer. [Miss Wright, I found out what happened to the camellia painting you asked about. Mr. Foxworth said there was no need to keep the original. Miss Sonnier didn't like the old frame, so he had someone move it into storage.] A photograph accompanied the message. My mother's camellia painting stood propped against the wall in the corner of a storage room. The canvas was creased, and dust had gathered along its edges. I stared at the photograph as a chill slowly spread through my chest. "Miss Wright, is the zipper too tight?" the shop assistant asked. "A little," I murmured. When I stepped out of the fitting room, Edward looked up. He seemed satisfied, and his tone softened slightly. "This one works." Victoria went still, her fingers tightening around the shawl. Elaine smiled. "If Vicky had gotten to have her own wedding back then, I imagine she would have looked just like this." Edward's expression changed. "Mom." Elaine seemed to realize she'd said too much. She hastily lifted her teacup to conceal her discomfort. "It was just an offhand remark." I turned toward the mirror. There I stood beside Edward, dressed in the gown Victoria had chosen. We looked like an old photograph in which someone had replaced the original bride's face with mine at the last moment. Just then, I noticed a folder protruding from the gap in the fitting room door. I bent down to pick it up. Printed across the cover were the words: [Wedding Run of Show] Chapter 4 [Bride Preference Reference: Victoria Sonnier] I put the folder back where I'd found it, my fingertips resting on the cover for a moment. Edward approached. "What are you looking at?" I looked up. "The wedding schedule. Why does it reference Victoria?" He glanced at the folder, his expression barely shifting. "The wedding planners got lazy and reused one of her old templates. I'll have someone correct it." Victoria immediately chimed in, "I sent them some materials to help with the preparations. They must have misunderstood. Camie, please don't be upset." I turned to Edward. "Are you sure it was just a misunderstanding?" His patience was clearly wearing thin. "What else could it be? Camellia, do you think the whole world owes you something just because you keep seeing Vicky's name?" I didn't press the matter. … That afternoon, I went to the storage room alone. After a lengthy search, the manager finally brought out the camellia painting. "Mr. Foxworth's assistant said it wasn't needed anymore. We didn't dare throw it away, so we've kept it here." A crease ran across the canvas, and the area around my mother's signature had worn thin. I took out a tissue and carefully wiped away the dust, bit by bit. My phone buzzed with a message from Edward. Edward: [Molly's coming over for dinner tonight. You should come too. And don't give anyone an attitude.] I replied with a simple [Okay.] … Dinner was at our future marital home. By the time I arrived, the dining table had already been set beneath the sunflower painting. Victoria stood beside an older woman, her arm linked through hers and a sweet smile on her face. Molly's eyes lit up when she saw Edward. "Eddie, Vicky, this new place of yours is wonderful! It feels just as warm and welcoming as Vicky's old home." Edward didn't bother correcting her. I stood in the doorway, my hands frozen halfway through changing my shoes. Victoria noticed me first. Her smile faltered slightly. "Camie's here." Molly blinked. "And who might this be?" Edward finally spoke. "Molly, this is Camie." He didn't introduce me as his fiancée. Molly glanced between the three of us before nodding with a friendly smile. "Oh, a friend, then. Come in, dear. Have a seat." Edward leaned closer and whispered, "Her health isn't good. She can't handle any shocks, so watch what you say tonight." I looked at him. "And what exactly am I not supposed to say?" His gaze hardened. "Don't mention the wedding or your relationship with me. I'll explain everything after dinner." I let out a quiet laugh. "Edward, did you invite me here just so I could pretend to be a guest in my own future home?" He lowered his voice further. "It's just one dinner." Victoria approached, her eyes full of apology. "Camie, Molly used to take care of Eddie and me. She's always believed we'd end up married. I was afraid the truth would upset her." I looked at her. "So I'm the one who's supposed to be understanding?" "It would be best if you could," Edward answered without hesitation. Throughout dinner, Molly kept serving Victoria food. "Vicky's loved this dish since she was little. You remember that, don't you, Eddie?" Edward carefully removed the bones from a piece of fish before placing it on Victoria's plate. "I remember." Molly clapped her hands, clearly delighted. "Eddie's always been so thoughtful. Seeing the two of you together really puts my mind at ease." Victoria blushed and stole a glance at me. "Molly, that's enough." Edward simply lowered his head and took a sip of water. He made no attempt to correct her. I sat at the far end of the table. The lamp beside me cast a dim glow, leaving even the dishes looking dull and dusty. Molly suddenly turned to me. "Tell me, dear, do you have a boyfriend?" The table fell silent. Edward looked up, a clear warning in his eyes. I calmly set down my spoon. "I used to." Edward's brows drew together. Molly seemed oblivious to the tension. "And now?" I met her gaze. "Not for much longer."