But cooking and caring for Roberta, that came from love.

I no longer had any reason to give anything to him.

Looking straight ahead, I went back to the bedroom and packed my bags.

In three days, I would leave this city, and leave Dana behind.

As I wheeled my suitcase out the door, my phone rang. It was Ursula Delgado.

"Cordelia, what is wrong with you? Not even married in yet and already putting on airs? Everyone's here. We're all waiting on you!"

Same as always. She opened her mouth and led with an accusation.

I knew Ursula's birthday dinner was tonight. I'd logged it in my planner long ago, and I'd already bought a gift.

I'd figured that since things were over with Dana, there was no need to go and put up with her moods.

Then I reconsidered. We'd gotten as far as talking marriage, so calling it off deserved at least a word to everyone in the Delgado family.

So I went to the Delgado family's old house.

Dana, of all things, was waiting for me at the door.

I looked over, surprised, and his expression was serious too.

"Cordy, there's something important I have to tell you."

"My mom still doesn't know Bertie's terminally ill. She loves Bertie so much. Let's just not bring it up for now."

So he'd waited for me on purpose only for Roberta's sake.

I'd actually arrived a good fifteen minutes early, yet inside, the meal was already underway.

Roberta sat beside Ursula, her voice apologetic. "Cordelia, your aunt saw how hungry I was, so she said we should start. Don't be upset."

She pointed at her own bowl.

"Dana shelled a whole bunch of shrimp for me. Want me to give you a few to tide you over?"

There wasn't a trace of apology in her tone. Only a taunt.

Ursula shot me a sour look. "Not much talent, but plenty of temper. Put your things down and sit."

As she spoke, she eyed the suitcase with distaste.

"Last year's gift wasn't to my liking, so this year you just bought a whole trunk of it? Is the house not messy enough for you? Now you'll waste that much of my space too..."

I cut in flatly. "You never like anything I buy anyway, so this year I didn't get you anything."

Last year I'd given her a gold bracelet, forty grams of it. Ursula took one look and called it tacky.

Yet she couldn't stop praising the little trinket Roberta bought for ninety-nine cents.

The year before, I'd given her bird's nest and fish maw. Ursula said she didn't care for that sort of thing.

Then she raved about the crate of peaches Roberta brought, so sweet and fresh.

All those times I'd offered a warm face only to have it met with a cold shoulder, it was just because I didn't want to make things hard for Dana.

But there was no need for that anymore.

The cordyceps I'd bought this year, I'd keep and take myself.

"You didn't buy anything?"

Ursula's eyes went round, and she jabbed a finger at me. "You think you're marrying in soon, so you've dropped the act?"

"Let me tell you something, Cordelia. My son is the most devoted child there is, and if I don't give my blessing, don't even dream of setting foot in the Delgado family!"

Her gaze slid between Dana and Roberta, and she sighed.

"He won't pick the girl we know inside and out, from a family that matches ours. No, he has to go for some small-town nobody from out of state."

Instinctively, I waited a few seconds.

Dana, just like every time before, didn't say a single word for me. He only gave me a look.

It was the look that said, She's my mother after all. Don't take it to heart.

In the past, time after time, I'd caught that look and let it settle me.

This time I calmly turned my eyes away.

I spoke. "You're right, our families don't match. I only came today to say one thing. Your son and I have broken up."

Roberta's eyes lit up at once.

Ursula was overjoyed too. "If you can really break up with my son, that counts as the birthday gift I've always wanted!"

I walked all the way out of the Delgado house, and to my surprise, Dana came after me.

At some point along the way, he'd stopped coaxing me when we quarreled.

Probably because he knew I'd always be the one who couldn't help but bow my head first.

This time, though, he gripped my hand tight.

Nerves washed through his eyes. "Cordy, is 'breakup' something you just throw around? It's not like today's the first time my mom's been this way. Why let it get so ugly?"

"You never once peeled a shrimp for me."

I hadn't expected that to be the thing that slipped out of my mouth.

There was a hurt in my voice I couldn't hide.

Dana blinked, then looked at me, worn out.

"I already told you, Bertie's terminally ill. I'm just helping her fulfill a last wish. A man owes a little more to his first woman."

His lips curved slightly, and there was a certainty in his tone. "And a woman always leans on her first man more, trusts him more, doesn't she?"

I didn't nod the way he wanted me to.

Instead I asked, "Could you, even once, choose me first over Roberta?"

What I was really asking was simple: between me and Roberta, which of us did he actually love more.

If I left without knowing, I'd never make my peace with it.

Dana was silent for a beat.

Then he frowned. "Bertie doesn't have much time left, and you're still keeping score over this. Is it really worth it?"

Is it really worth it.

That same deflecting, blame-shifting little phrase again.

I'd asked it on behalf of the woman who'd loved him for nine years, and he couldn't even spare me an answer.

Never mind. It didn't matter anymore.

I didn't even have the will to speak. I turned and walked away.

"Cordelia, I'm warning you, that's enough!"

Dana's voice came after me, edged with anger.

"Playing hard to get like this will only push me further away!"

I didn't look back.

I found a hotel and checked in.

Once I'd settled, I carefully took out a sandalwood box and opened it.

Inside was the heirloom jade bracelet my late mother had left me. I'd always treasured it, never willing to wear it.

I'd planned to put it on the day Dana proposed, so my mother could witness my happiness too.

But the box was empty.

The color drained from my face.

I'd taken it out to look at it just yesterday, and the only person who'd been to my place lately was Roberta.

Just then, I saw Roberta had posted something new online.

【Thank you to my knight, who loved me all over again in the very spot where he confessed to me twelve years ago.】

【He said I'll always be his princess.】

The photo showed her and Dana in an embrace, gazing into each other's eyes.

My bracelet was on her right wrist.

I swallowed my fury and rushed over, following the location she'd tagged.

When I pushed open the door of the private room, their mutual friends were egging them on.

"After all these years, the couple I shipped is finally back together, both of them!"

"Since you're loving each other all over again, how about a kiss?"

Dana looked hesitant, as if he were about to refuse.

But Roberta rose onto her toes, hooked her arms around his neck, and kissed him.

His body stiffened for a moment. He didn't push her away.

The kiss only deepened.

Until someone spotted me and cried out, "Cordelia's here!"

A flicker of panic crossed Dana's eyes.

Then, as if something had occurred to him, he smiled. "Cordelia won't mind. She's the one who brought up the breakup anyway."

He looked over at me.

Waiting for my reaction.

Waiting for me to get angry and jealous, to stake my claim, to back down and take back the breakup.

But I didn't give him a single glance. I walked straight toward Roberta.

She scrambled to hide behind Dana.

"Dana, get her under control. What is she losing her mind over now?"

I spoke coldly. "Give me back the bracelet."

"Oh, this thing? Just let me borrow it a few days."

Roberta let out a soft laugh, then suddenly stretched out her right hand and waved it at me.

"And this ring. Dana said it was meant to propose to you. Let me test-drive it first."

"You don't mind secondhand, do you? After all, your man is something I used long before you did."

She was still trying to provoke me, but I only looked at her, cold.

"I only want the bracelet. Give it back."

Roberta pursed her lips and deliberately swung her hand behind her back.

I couldn't stand it another second and lunged to snatch the bracelet back.

Before my fingers could touch her, Dana's grip closed around my wrist.

"Just the bracelet? What about the ring?"

Something dark and angry sat at the bottom of his eyes.

I drew a deep breath and shook off his hand.

"That bracelet was my mother's keepsake. You know that!"

"As for the ring, we've already broken up. Whoever you give it to has nothing to do with me."

Dana stared at me for a long moment.

Then he laughed, pushed past fury into something colder. "Broken up, is it? Fine. I accept! We'll see which one of us ends up crying and begging to get back together."

I couldn't be bothered with him anymore. I only wanted the bracelet back.

But Roberta made a face like she'd touched something foul. "Something a dead woman wore? Ugh, disgusting. So unlucky. Here, take it back."

She slipped the bracelet off fast, and then her hand jerked.

With a sharp crack, the jade hit the floor and shattered into pieces.

The last thread of reason in me snapped clean through, and I swung my hand and slapped Roberta hard across the face.

"You did that on purpose!"

Dana rushed to shield her, snarling at me. "Cordelia, you've gone too far! Bertie's sick. So she lost her grip, so what?"

"It's just a cheap bracelet. Fine, I'll pay you ten times over. Now stop giving Bertie a hard time."

"Keep losing your mind and I really will break up with you!"

My eyes burned red as I raised my hand and slapped him too.

"I really regret ever loving you! And you'd better keep your word!"

Both the breakup and the tenfold payment for that priceless jade bracelet.

I crouched down and began picking up the shards of jade, one by one.

But my breathing had turned ragged.

A moment ago all I could think about was getting the bracelet back. Only now did it register.

The air was thick with the scent of lilies.

And I was severely allergic to lilies.

I lifted my eyes and met Roberta's triumphant smile.

Each breath came harder, my hands trembling and useless, without even the strength to unlock my phone.

All I could do was force out a plea for help.

"Hospital. Ambulance…"

Dana's brow twitched, and he instinctively moved to help me up.

But Roberta clutched at his sleeve, her voice quivering. "Dana, my chest hurts so much."

Dana swept her up into his arms at once. "Don't be scared. I've got you."

Before he strode off, he dropped his gaze to me.

There was a knowing mockery in his eyes.

"Bertie's sick so now you're sick too? Cordelia, I think you really are sick. Sick with jealousy!"

Their mutual friends jeered along. "So it's envy, huh? How do you even cure a disease like that?"

Dana sneered. "Don't bother with her."

Roberta leaned back to flash me a victory sign.

My vision blurred by degrees.

Dana.

So in the very end.

It was your back, walking away with another woman in your arms.

Before I lost consciousness, a kind waiter found me and got me to the hospital.

I slept for two days and two nights.

When I woke, I found his reply.

【Cordy, I'm out on a construction aid project in Africa, the signal's terrible and I just got your message.】

【I'm flying straight back to marry you and take you on our honeymoon. You have to wait for me!】

The message had been sent twelve hours ago. By now his plane should be about to land.

Smiling, I checked myself out and went to meet the man who had waited nine years for me.

Meanwhile.

Dana and Roberta arrived at the airport.

Before boarding, he checked the World Cup tickets one last time.

Only to find that the pair of tickets had vanished into thin air!