Five Nos, One Better Bride

Only one word came from the other end.

"Okay."

After I hung up, that post stayed stuck in my head.

Seven years.

I wasn't waiting anymore.

I remembered the first time Sylvia postponed the wedding. She'd promised she'd make it up to me.

But once someone finds one excuse, they'll find a hundred more.

At three in the morning, the fingerprint lock beeped softly.

Sylvia walked in, carrying the night's chill with her.

A faint smell of baby formula clung to her clothes, mixed with Kenny's favorite cologne.

I'd had plenty of chances to expose her.

Six months ago, she suddenly claimed the company was expanding overseas and disappeared for half a year.

I'd tried more than once to visit her.

She stopped me every time.

Now that I think about it, that was probably when she hid away and gave birth to Kenny's child.

But I hadn't wanted to believe she'd betray me.

I sat on the couch in the dark without turning on the lights.

Watching her.

She spotted me and frowned. "Why didn't you turn on the lights?"

She walked over and wrapped her arms around me from behind out of habit, pressing her warm cheek against my back.

"There was a problem with the company accounts. We had an emergency executive meeting and worked until now. Why are you still awake? Didn't I tell you to go to bed earlier?"

Her voice was rough with exhaustion.

She sounded sincere.

But she didn't even notice my custom suit was gone.

I tightened my grip on the pregnancy report. "Where's the scarf I gave you?"

Her arms stiffened.

A flash of guilt crossed her face.

"I've been so busy lately. Maybe... I left it at the office."

She pulled a velvet box from her coat and shoved it into my hand.

"This is to make it up to you."

I opened it.

Inside was a gleaming Patek Philippe watch.

I recognized it immediately.

Kenny had posted that exact model last week.

[My wife's so thoughtful. Too bad I already have a similar one.]

So because he didn't want it, she brought it to me instead.

And she knew exactly who Kenny was to me.

My father's affair with Kenny's mother had destroyed my family.

My mom sank into depression and eventually died.

Half of our family's assets ended up in their hands.

Kenny and I had never gotten along.

Apparently, Sylvia had forgotten all of that.

I closed the box and tossed it onto the coffee table.

Then I pulled out the pregnancy report.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

The color drained from her face.

Panic flashed in her eyes.

"You... went through my bag?"

"Answer me."

My voice stayed calm.

"I was going to tell you when things settled down. It was supposed to be a surprise, but—"

I tossed the report onto the table.

One last chance.

"Are you sure you want to postpone the wedding? Since you're pregnant, we could—"

A flicker of impatience crossed her face before she smoothed it away. "There's no guarantee this baby will make it. Besides, the company's growing fast right now. I don't have the energy to raise a child. Postponing the wedding is for our future. Then we can have a bigger wedding. One everyone envies."

But I'd never wanted a grand wedding.

I said nothing.

Taking advantage of the silence, she slipped into the study.

Bang.

The door shut behind her.

Leaving me alone in the cold, empty living room.

I picked up my phone and opened Kenny's latest post.

A close-up of a necklace.

Beneath it was a caption.

[My wife's the best. She rushed over overnight with a watch I didn't like. Said she'll get me something truly one-of-a-kind next time.]

Sylvia had liked the post.