I turned off the reminder and began to return the items for decorating the wedding house, packing up what had already been bought, and arranging for returns. Items that couldn’t be returned had to be reluctantly discarded.
Two hours later, I packed away every item of mine from this house, as if I was packing away my love for Ethan. The apartment, now stripped of my presence, felt devoid of the life I had lived here.
Just as I was about to burn a beautifully crafted photo album, Ethan’s call came through.
“Samantha, you forgot to remind me about the wedding dress and venue. How could you?”
“I forgot too,” I replied.
There was a long silence on the other end, and then he urged me to hurry downstairs. He was waiting for me in the car.
When I finally descended and saw him in the car with Lily, my heart sank. She was sitting in the front seat, greeting me with a bright, seemingly natural smile.
I quietly slipped into the back seat. Both Ethan and Lily looked momentarily surprised. Ethan glanced at me through the rearview mirror, trying to explain.
“I thought Lily’s taste was impeccable. I asked her to help us choose quickly.”
“Lily gets carsick, so I put her in the front,” he added, attempting to make it sound casual.
I nodded, turning my gaze to the scenery outside the window. With the prospect of leaving the country soon, I took in the final views of the city.
As I idly glanced forward, I noticed Ethan’s hand squeezing Lily’s, and Lily’s fingers intertwining with his. Their hands engaged in a silent conversation that spoke volumes.
I closed my eyes and pretended to doze off until we arrived.
At the wedding planning company, Lily immediately settled into a chair by the computer, while Ethan stood close to her, hunched over as they discussed the details. They looked like a loving couple, lost in their world.
I sat on a sofa across the room, indifferent and detached.
Once the plan was finalized, Ethan finally noticed me. Seeing me sitting alone, detached, he frowned.
“Why are you sitting so far away? Come over and help us choose,” he said, irritation in his voice.
I glanced at the designer’s screen and replied with a smile, “I’ve seen it already. What you’ve chosen is great.”
Lily suddenly bit her lip, her eyes welling up with tears. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have come.”
With that, she rushed out of the wedding planning company.