“Don’t worry, I’ll send a gift even if I can’t
make it.”
He stopped at the door, frowning.
“Don’t joke around.”
I smiled.
He hesitated for a moment, then quickly turned and left.
My professor texted.
[Plane leaves tonight. Are you feeling okay? Should I reschedule?]
I replied.
[No need, Professor. I’m coming to find you now.]
The wedding day arrived quickly.
<
The wedding day arrived quickly.
Quinn held the roses, waiting for Savannah to
emerge from the dressing room.
He had never wanted this wedding.
Yet, at this moment, he felt a sliver of
anticipation.
He didn’t know when the idea of this wedding
became less repulsive.
Perhaps it was after Scarlett had been saved
and admitted to the police that Savannah was
not connected to the men who had been
pressuring her.
He thought back to when he had pushed
Savannah into the rain. He’d been so focused
on Scarlett, he hadn’t noticed how badly
Savannah was injured. He tossed and turned
every night.
<
every night.
He kept imagining her unconscious, terrified
she wouldn’t wake up.
That was when he promised to take care of her forever.
Not out of love, but out of guilt.
If she wanted a wedding, she could have it.
If she wanted it at Martha’s Vineyard, she could
have it.
Even if she trapped him for life, he would
accept it.
The dressing room door opened, and Quinn
tightened his grip on the roses.
He caught a glimpse of the wedding dress, and
his heart skipped a beat.
<
“Quinn, darling…”
Scarlett’s coy smile appeared before him.
Quinn’s breath caught.
“It’s you?”
“Quinn, darling…”
Scarlett stepped forward, hooking her arm through his.
“Do you like the surprise?”
“Mr. Sterling!”
An assistant ran over, beaming.
“Ms. Song’s gift has arrived!”
Quinn spun around.
<
A line of Rolls Royces was parked on the street,
and as the doors opened, a torrent of roses spilled out.
“Ms. Song arranged all of this herself! And
there’s a card!”
Quinn looked down. The delicate handwriting
was like a punch to the gut.
[9999 roses, wishing Quinn and his sweetheart everlasting happiness.]
The card crumpled in his fist, startling the
assistant.
“Sir?”
Quinn’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His voice was
hoarse.
“Where is she?”
く
Life abroad was incredibly busy.
I ran into my old classmate, Luke Harrison,
whom I hadn’t seen in years.
Between experiments, writing papers, and
chasing investors, I didn’t realize I’d been here
for six months until I ran into Quinn.
“Quinn?”
Luke was with me at the time, and I looked
curiously behind him.
“What are you doing here? Where’s Scarlett?”
“Why did you make her marry me?”
Quinn’s voice was low and rough, and I realized
he hadn’t been sleeping well.
“Quinn?”
I frowned.
“You were the one who wanted me to marry
you, right?”
Seeing the redness in Quinn’s eyes, I finally understood.
“You didn’t know I swapped the brides?”
“How could I have known?”
I realized how much we’d misunderstood each
other.
“Quinn… I know you didn’t want to marry me.”
“Who said that?”
He grabbed my shoulders.
“I never wanted to run away from the wedding,
just like you!”
100
<
just like you!”
“Hey, buddy, take it easy…”
“Get the fuck away from me!”
Luke tried to pull us apart, but Quinn glared at him fiercely.
I held up a hand to calm Luke.
Quinn glared at Luke again, then looked down
at me.
“Wait for me to finish my three years of school. Then we’ll get married, okay?”
“Quinn.”
I gently pushed his hands away.
“We can’t be together.”
