Running Away from Marriage, Leaving Deception Behind

“Since the office is quiet today, how about I take you out to choose a new ring? Something grander to reward you for all the effort you’ve put in these past days.”

Hazel frowned slightly, her instinctive response on the tip of her tongue. She was about to decline when his phone buzzed, its screen lighting up with a message.

Ambrose glanced at it without a second thought, his expression shifting subtly. He shot to his feet, already heading for the door. But halfway there, as if struck by a fleeting memory, he turned back. Leaning in, he pressed a kiss against her forehead.

“Sorry, love, I’ve been caught up with so much lately I haven’t had the chance to give you the time you deserve. I swear, I’ll make it up to you once this hectic stretch is behind us. I’ll make you the happiest woman alive.”

In the ten years they had been together, Ambrose had never spoken with such tenderness to Hazel.

He understood that women often craved sweet words, but Hazel had always been the exception. She was far too sensible, too independent, to need his coaxing.

Naturally, his efforts had always been reserved for Scarlett, the woman who thrived on attention, who could cry at the slightest slight and demand his comfort.

Yet now, guilt gnawed at him. The growing unease over his neglect of Hazel had prompted this sudden attempt to treat her better, hoping to ease the weight pressing on his conscience.

But Hazel gave him nothing in return, no smile, no frown. Her face was a blank slate, concealing any trace of emotion.

Once Ambrose left, Hazel walked to the bathroom, her footsteps steady but deliberate. Slowly, methodically, she washed her face, rinsing away every trace of Ambrose’s fleeting touch as if cleansing herself of his presence.

Belated love. Hollow compensation after betrayal. Hazel didn’t want any of it.

The days crept by, and soon, it was the eve of the wedding. The calendar had thinned to just two fragile pages, one hanging by a thread. Today’s wish read, “Have a family reunion dinner together.”

For over twenty years, Hazel had carried this hope silently in her heart. Yet, deep down, she knew it was a futile dream. Her mother would never forgive her father, just as she could never forgive Ambrose.

Refusing to linger on these thoughts, Hazel brushed on light makeup, slipped into her favorite white dress, and stepped out. She watched a movie alone, ordered a couple’s meal for one, and rode the Ferris wheel in solitary silence.

When the Ferris wheel reached its peak, the sun dipped low on the horizon. The golden hues of the sunset bathed the city she had known since childhood in a tender glow. A soft breeze kissed Hazel’s face as she stretched out her arms, feeling as though her memories were unraveling and scattering into the evening wind.

As night fell, Hazel bought herself an ice cream and left the amusement park. She sat on a nearby bench, savoring the cold sweetness while gazing up at the starry sky.

The stars above had always been her solace. On those countless nights when she was cast out of her home, it was a younger Ambrose who had held her hand, lying beside her on the grass as they stared up at the heavens.

But none of that mattered now. People came and went, but the stars never faltered. No matter where she went, those same shimmering lights would always follow her, unchanging and eternal.

After finishing her ice cream, Hazel stood and began walking home. The stars above twinkled softly as her phone buzzed with a message from Scarlett.

[Dad’s sweet-and-sour fish is amazing! You’ve probably never had it, right?]

Hazel opened the attached video. It captured a lively family dinner scene. Ambrose and Scarlett sat at the center of the table, surrounded by festive red decorations. Laughter echoed in the background as their families chatted about the upcoming wedding.

Scarlett’s petty provocation didn’t anger Hazel. She had endured countless jabs like this throughout her life. Instead, she found it absurd.

Wedding plans? Whose wedding were they truly planning? Hers or Scarlett’s?