[Betty’s helping you by doing this, and you’re still not thankful? You get a baby without the pain—what more do you want?]
The comments section? A circus. Henry’s friends turned it into open mic night:
[You and Betty are sisters. Whether Henry marries you or her, it’s all the same family. Just share him—Monday, Wednesday, Friday for Betty, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday for you!]
Everyone thought they were hilarious.
I just sat there, staring at my screen while this sour, bitter feeling crept up and choked me. Tears slid down before I could stop them, splashing onto my phone.
They were so in the wrong. And yet somehow, they had the nerve to act like I was the problem.
How ridiculous.
People like that weren’t even worth my tears.
I wiped my face and scrolled through the chaos. Among the trash comments, one caught my eye:
[Can I be your groom?]
It was from Ray Regan.
Ray and I grew up together. After college, I stuck around Averton while he went abroad. When I started dating Henry, Ray stepped back, keeping his distance. We hadn’t talked in years.
As I stared at his comment, a call came in—it was Ray.
“Daphne, I’ve liked you for a long time. You know that.
“I’ve always hated Betty, so you don’t have to worry—I’ll never have anything to do with her.
“I don’t have vulgar friends, I’ve been focused on my career, and… I don’t even have an ex-girlfriend.”
While he spoke, a message notification popped up. I opened it and froze. It was a contract—a full transfer of his assets and shares.
Before I could wrap my head around it, Ray’s voice came back, nervous this time.
“Daphne, this is everything I have to offer. Will you give me a chance?”
A lump formed in my throat.
I suddenly remembered this one time when we were kids—our teacher gave Ray two of his favorite candies as a reward. He wanted them, I could tell, but he handed them both to me without hesitation.
Ray had always been like that—sincere.
Choking up, I whispered, “I will.”
Love had always felt like sand slipping through my fingers. The harder I held on, the more it cut and bruised me. For a while, I thought I’d be better off alone.
But my grandma’s dying wish had been to see me get married, to know I’d have someone by my side.
Henry didn’t deserve me.
But if the groom was Ray? Grandma would finally rest easy.
Ray’s voice lit up with joy. “I’ll wrap up my work and be back to marry you within two weeks. Daphne, you won’t change your mind, right?”
There was this tiny thread of insecurity in his tone, and it took me back to when we were kids. I’d promised him then that I’d marry him when we grew up.
“I won’t,” I murmured.
A rush of emotion hit me like a tidal wave, and I had to blink back tears.
“Ray, let’s seal it with a pinky promise.”
