Chapter 3

My father’s test results came back, and the doctor said he needed surgery as soon as possible.

My mother sat on a bench in the hallway, clutching the hospital’s cost estimate in her hand, unable to say a word.

I took the estimate from her. I read the total twice, hoping I’d mistaken a digit.

I called Ethan. It rang for a long time before he answered.

“What is it?”

My voice was hoarse.

“My dad needs surgery. Insurance only covers part of it, and we’re still short on the deductible and post-op care. Transfer the emergency fund from the house account to me first.”

That account included the reserve money my parents had left after helping us with the down payment.

We had agreed that whatever remained after the renovations would be set aside for the wedding.

He was silent for two seconds.

My phone lit up with an alert from the couples tracking app.

“Claire Bennett’s current battery level is 48%, below the safe threshold.”

Ethan’s voice turned cold too.

“You’re in no state to handle a large transfer right now.”

I closed my eyes.

“Ethan, this is for my dad’s surgery. It’s money my parents put in!”

I could hear the irritation in his voice.

“Every time something happens, your battery just happens to be low. How do I know this isn’t another case of poor planning?”

I clutched the payment statement until my fingertips turned white.

“My dad is about to go into surgery.”

He answered calmly.

“Go charge your phone first. Stop panicking every time something happens.”

My stomach turned.

“Ethan, I’m not asking you for a favor.”

“I’m asking for my own money back.”

He paused for a few seconds.

“Vanessa’s dealing with something today too. Her family’s coming over, and she needs me there for support.”

Then the call ended.

I stood in the hallway, too numb even to cry.

In the end, I drained my savings and borrowed money from Emma to cover the estimated out-of-pocket costs.

My mother, eyes red, asked where Ethan was.

I told her he was busy.

She looked at me for a long time, then asked nothing more.

After my father was wheeled into the operating room, Vanessa sent me a message.

“Claire, don’t blame Ethan.”

“My ex-husband keeps harassing me, and my family is pressuring me to get back together with him. Ethan’s only pretending to be my fiancé to help me.”

I stared at the message. For a moment, my thoughts just stopped.

Then she sent me the hotel’s event setup plan.

Ethan and Vanessa’s engagement party.

There was a date printed below it.

Tomorrow.

I called him.

Ethan answered almost immediately.

“You saw it?”

My voice trembled.

“You’re throwing an engagement party with her?”

“It’s fake.”

He sounded completely calm.

“Her ex won’t leave her alone. I’m just going through the motions for her.”

“What about our engagement?”

He was silent for a few seconds.

“Your dad’s in the hospital anyway. We can’t hold ours right now.”

A bitter laugh nearly escaped me.

“So you’re using my venue to get engaged to her?”

His tone turned cold.

“Claire, don’t make it sound worse than it is.”

“It’s just for show. We’re not actually getting married.”

I heard Vanessa sniffle softly on the other end of the line.

“If Claire doesn’t want this, forget it. I don’t want Ethan put in a difficult position because of me.”

Ethan’s voice softened immediately.

“Don’t cry.”

Then he said to me,

“You should come tomorrow too.”

I couldn’t move.

“What would I be there for?”

“To help make Vanessa’s story believable.”

“You’re her friend. If you’re there, her family will be more likely to believe it.”

I could hardly believe what I was hearing.

My father was lying in an operating room.

And Ethan wanted me to attend his engagement party with another woman.

I asked him,

“You really think I’m going to go?!”

Ethan’s voice went cold.

“Then there’s no point in us getting engaged either.”

I didn’t answer. I simply hung up.

That evening, I went home to get clean clothes for my mother.

When I passed by the new house, I still stopped.

The code to the front door had been changed.

Eventually, the door opened from the inside.

Vanessa was wearing my slippers and the coat I had left in the closet.

When she saw me, a flicker of panic crossed her face.

“Claire, why are you here?”

I looked past her.

My framed photos had been packed into cardboard boxes, and her dresses were hanging on the balcony.

Invitations for tomorrow’s engagement party were spread across the table.

Beside them was the guest list my parents had originally written for my engagement party.

I picked it up, my fingers trembling.

“Who gave this to you?”

Ethan walked out of the kitchen.

“I did.”

He was still holding a glass of warm milk.

“Vanessa has a lot of relatives. I let her use your list as a reference.”

I stared at the guest list.

Every name on it belonged to a friend or relative my parents had carefully written down themselves.

Now all of them had become part of Vanessa’s celebration.

Ethan frowned at me.

“Don’t start acting crazy again.”

I put the list back on the table.

I didn’t say a word.

Before I turned to leave, I heard Vanessa ask softly,

“Will she really come tomorrow?”

Ethan answered casually,

“She will.”

“She’d never be able to leave me.”