3: 3

I had a long, long dream.

In the dream, I finally got the proposal I'd waited for from Nicholas.

But the ring went onto Cornelia's finger instead.

"Carina, you fool. Five years you gave up, and Nick chose me!"

Her smug smile stung my eyes.

I slapped her across the face.

The next second, I opened my eyes.

A white room, the familiar smell of disinfectant.

My mother had brought me to the hospital.

About Nicholas and me, she asked nothing.

She only said one thing:

"Carrie, whatever you decide, don't ever swallow your own hurt again."

The day I was discharged happened to be a Saturday.

Nicholas still didn't come home until after dark.

He didn't have many classes, and on the free days he'd been out with Cornelia around the university.

On her feed, Cornelia was posting happy photos of the two of them:

【To be this happy right now, five hard years of waiting were worth it.】

Nicholas came in dragging his exhaustion behind him.

The collectible toy he'd bought got tossed onto the couch:

"A gift for you."

Then he knit his brows and looked at me:

"Why didn't you go to Owen's parent-teacher meeting?"

Owen was his younger brother.

All these years, I'd gone to the Stephens family's parent-teacher meetings in the role of the older brother's wife.

Now there was no name for it, no standing.

Why should I still go?

My silence only deepened his displeasure:

"My parents work, I have class. You're the only one with time on Friday."

"Why can't you just be understanding and help us out?"

I hadn't actually had time on Friday.

I'd swapped shifts with a coworker on purpose so I could go to the meeting for him.

Nicholas dropped onto the couch, irritated.

He yanked the collectible toy out from under him and threw it in the trash:

"Carina, ever since I got in, you've been throwing these fits out of nowhere."

"What did I do wrong, that you'd treat me like this!"

I looked straight into his furious eyes:

"Nicholas, let's break up."

"Are you serious?"

He shot to his feet, shocked, and knocked into the table beside him without meaning to.

The clinic slip fell to the floor.

"Your gastroenteritis flared up again?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I called you. Cornelia picked up. She said you were in the shower."

Nicholas froze for a second.

The next moment, he laughed, mocking:

"So you want to break up because you're jealous of me and Cora?"

Then his tone turned put-upon:

"Someone spilled coffee on me by accident that day. Cora's place was right there, so I went to shower and change."

His explanation left me completely unmoved. I pointed at the box a little way off:

"I've packed all your things. Move them out as soon as you can."

His eyes went cold and grim:

"How many times do I have to say it, Cora's my adopted sister. What's wrong with looking out for her a little more?"

"Nothing between us ever crossed the line. Even if you took this to my parents, I'd be the one in the right!"

"From now on, you can look out for her all you want."

As I said it, I got up and went to the door for the delivery that had just arrived.

Fried chicken, soda, and burgers.

From now on, if I don't feel like cooking, I won't.

"I didn't order a portion for you."

Nicholas kicked the trash can over:

"Carina, words said are like water poured out, you can't take them back!"

"Break up for real, and I won't get back together with you!"

He stalked toward the door, cursing under his breath.

"Nicholas."

I stopped him.

Something like triumph flickered in his eyes.

My tone stayed flat:

"Take your luggage with you too."

4: 4

Nicholas walked out carrying all his anger with him.

He left the pile of luggage behind.

So I shipped every bit of it to his rented apartment, freight collect.

Without his things, the whole place felt a lot emptier.

Now I could finally decorate it any way I liked.

Nicholas reached out to me a week later:

【Carrie, let's get married.】

The proposal came out of nowhere, and I wasn't ready for it.

This was the very thing I'd once dreamed of.

Say yes, and I'd walk into marriage with the man I loved.

The hotel, the dress, the honeymoon spot.

I'd had all of it ready long ago, all for this moment.

But, Nicholas.

The timing was wrong, in the end.

I replied with a bitter smile:

【We're already over.】

【Save your proposal for someone who actually needs it.】

Saturday night.

I came back from picking up a delivery.

Nicholas was already sprawled on the couch, reeking of alcohol.

Cornelia was in the kitchen making hangover soup.

When she saw me, she came out smiling.

"Sis, Nick's had too much to drink. He absolutely insisted on coming here."

Nicholas heard the noise and grabbed my hand.

"Carrie, do you have any idea how much courage it took me to propose?"

"I don't get it. Why won't you just say yes?"

I pushed his hand away, then turned and saw the diamond ring on Cornelia's finger.

The diamond was bright and glittering, and very familiar.

My mind went back a long way.

Back then we were still sweet on each other.

Nicholas had taken me to the store to pick out a ring, had my size measured.

He said when the time was right, he'd slip that ring onto my finger himself.

Cornelia noticed where I was looking and hurried to take the ring off.

"I was only wearing it for fun. I'll give it back right now."

But the ring wouldn't come off, like it was glued to her finger.

She teared up, helpless, like an innocent child.

I let out a cold laugh.

"Cornelia."

"Could you stop with that pitiful little two-faced act?"

"It's honestly sickening."

Cornelia froze for a second, then the tears came rolling down, fat and heavy.

"Carina, you're going too far!"

Nicholas sobered up in an instant, his face going dark.

"Apologize to Carrie, now!"

I looked at him calmly.

"Why on earth would I apologize?"

Nicholas stood up to argue and accidentally kicked my delivery box.

"Wall Decor Kit..."

He looked around, stunned.

"You changed the whole layout of the place?"

"Yes. The study too."

"Who gave you permission to touch my study?!"

Nicholas stormed toward the study.

"Where's all my stuff?!"

"Why is everything gone off the walls?"

I walked over, unhurried.

"Your things were shipped to your rented place. Didn't you get them?"

"As for the photos, they made me sick, so I threw them out with the trash."

He clawed at his hair, agitated.

"I live here too. What gives you the right to throw me out?"

"The fact that I'm the one whose name is on the place."

"Damn it!"

Nicholas lost it completely.

"Carina, I had a really romantic proposal all set up down by the water."

"But the way you are now, you don't deserve my proposal at all!"

A proposal by the water had always been my wish.

At that moment, I couldn't put what I felt into words.

He was finally about to keep a promise.

Just after we'd broken up.

Nicholas took Cornelia's hand.

"Carina, today's the day I finally see exactly what kind of person you are."

"And you don't need to apologize to Cornelia either. She can't take it!"

"You wanted a breakup, didn't you? Fine, I'm giving it to you. Don't come crying to get back together later!"

And with that, Nicholas left.

He never contacted me again after that.

I kept decorating the place the way I liked.

The new company was good, and I settled into the work fast.

It was like starting a whole new life.

A month later.

I made plans to go out with a new coworker.

He lived in the faculty housing at a university.

Knowing I wanted to wander around the campus, he'd sent the invitation on purpose.

Owen Stephens sent me a photo of Nicholas and Cornelia together at their family home:

【Sis, why did my brother bring Cora home and not you?】

Cornelia was still wearing that ring on her finger.

I replied evenly:

【Stop calling me Sis.】

【Your brother and I have already broken up.】