Chapter 3

Just then, a woman’s voice cut in from the background.

“Jordan, can you check if my diamond ring is loose?”

Tilting his head over, Jordan replied, “Be right there.”

He shifted his attention back to me.

“Eve, is there anything else? If not, I’m hanging up.”

With downcast eyes, I stared at the man on the screen and asked the burning question, “Jordan, do you honestly want to marry me?”

Taken aback at first, Jordan proceeded to chuckle.

“Of course. We’ve been together for seven years.

“How many seven years does one get in a lifetime? I definitely want to marry you.”

I nodded.

My finger hovered over the group chat with Jordan’s family.

Three minutes ago, I typed, “By mutual agreement, our upcoming wedding in two days is officially called off.”

At the time, I wanted to save him from embarrassment.

Now, I deleted the sentence one word at a time.

“Got it.”

…

The next day, I shipped my bags back home.

A call from Jordan’s mother, Cece, came in.

“Eve, come to the house for lunch today. Jordan is back.”

After a pause, she added cheerfully, “He brought a friend with him. Her name is Molly Powell. It’s a great chance to introduce you two.”

Cece was very nice.

When Jordan introduced me to his family, Cece offered me a drink with a bright smile.

She complimented me on my looks and asked about my education, my family circumstances, and how good I was with household chores.

I responded to every question, my nerves more on edge than when I defended my thesis.

It was my wish to be the daughter-in-law Cece approved of.

Cece seemed thrilled, claiming that the family was lucky that Jordan found a girlfriend like me.

She turned around and called Jordan to the kitchen to help with refreshments.

I caught Cece sighing, her voice full of regret as she told Jordan, “It’s such a shame. Your ex was way better.”

Jordan’s last ex was Molly.

I knew even without Jordan telling me.

Since then, that name had lived rent-free in my head every time I dropped by Cece’s home.

Today was the day I’d meet Molly.

By the time I arrived, the living room sofa was packed.

Molly sat in the middle, with Jordan glued to her side. He was peeling a piece of grapefruit for her.

Never in those seven years did Jordan demonstrate such commitment.

As I stepped inside, Cece jolted to her feet.

“There you are, Eve.”

She pulled me closer and pointed at Molly.

“They used to go to school together. Molly is one fine lady. The moment she learned that Jordan was getting married, she came all the way just to attend the wedding.

“Molly, this is Eve.”

The double standard was evident even in the introduction.

Not calling Cece out, I simply looked for a spot to sit down.

Cece went on talking with Molly.

“Molly, did you take pictures of your wedding in Slandsdeca?

“Honestly, you should have told me about the wedding sooner.”

Molly smiled embarrassedly.

“Mrs. Harding—”

“Well, aren’t you formal?” Cece said cheerfully.

“Mom!” Jordan cried out of nowhere, his gaze darting toward me.

“Eve’s here.”

The tension in the air was palpable.

With reality catching up to her, Cece uttered sheepishly, “Oh, look at me, talking without thinking. I just adore Molly so much. She’s like a daughter to me.

“Here, Eve. Enjoy the wedding favor.”

She slid the box of chocolates toward me.

Cece even grabbed a handful of candy and stuffed it into my palm.

I unwrapped one and popped it into my mouth, only to be hit with the most bitter taste imaginable.

“Thank you, Mrs. Harding.”

I didn’t address her intimately.

She didn’t deserve it.

The fact that Cece was kept in the loop about Jordan and Molly’s wedding threw me off.

Still, I didn’t kick up a fuss.

It was pointless.

I bided my time, waiting for tomorrow to catch the looks on their faces when they learned that the wedding was off.

…

After lunch, I got up and went home.