he words carefully, my thumb hovering ov

is engaged

s truly happy. The diamond on her finger caught the light from the lamp in my living room. I remember thinking it looked perfect on her hand.

lations from friends, family, and colleagues. My heart felt f

It was one of the things I loved most about her. Her quiet dedication. I had chased her relentlessly, a determined architect trying to brea

finally perfected. Our life together, bui

er phon

Ava looked at the screen, and a strange expression cr

ght. She stood up and walked toward the bal

ing in the background of Ava's life, a shadow I couldn't quite get rid of. I trusted Ava, but I didn't trust him.

to recapture the feeling from moments ago. But my eyes kept flicking to her silhouette through the glass. He

hour, she slid the door open and ste

g?" I asked,

eting my eyes. "She's... she's very sick.

followed by suspicion. "I'm sorry t

er voice trembling slightly. "She wants t

as heavy. I knew what was coming, b

re pleading. "Just for a few days. To his hometown. To pretend to be his f

pute. Pretend to be another man's fiancée. My fia

My voice was flat

an old woman who is dying. It's a

ting married. Our wedding is in less than two months. And you want to fly across the countr

admitted once, long ago, that she' d had feelings for him in high school.

ising. "This isn't about him, it's about his grandmother. Sh

der. "What about what you owe me? What about what you owe us?

w days. I'll be back before the weekend is ove

e woman who, an hour ago, promised to spend her life with me. That woman wouldn't even consi

am! You've always disli

an is in love with you! Ev

ed before. The beautiful future I had designed was crumbling into dust right in front of my eyes. All my

ld and resolute. "My mind is made u

isper. "I don't understand. I don't understan

hed as she pulled a small suitcase from the top of the closet. She started packing, her movement

to desperation. "Don't do this. If you walk o

er expression was hard. "I'm doing this for

do is to honor you

brand-new engagement ring on her finger. Slowly, deliberately, she pulled it off. T

g on the dark wood. It sat there, glinting unde

y, but the words were empty. T

ng at me again. I just stood there, frozen in the bedroom, listeni

le

into the living room. My phone was still on the coffee table, the scree

s shake. Three years. I gave her three years of my life, my heart, my absolute dedication. And she threw it all away for a manip

pain. Fine. You want to see a man settle

tions are designed. I am getting married on that day. She too

heartbroken anger. Who? Who would b

mischievous grin and eyes that laughed even when she was ser

e Mi

tree in the park. The one who helped me patch up my knee when I

ugh my contacts, my finger finding her name. I presse

up on the

llen off the face of the earth," her voice was exac

unding strange and distant. "I h

on me. I

ath. "Are you bus

bly no

ant to ge

of the line. I could almost hear her pro

ht sound. "Married? To you? What

I said, the words tasting like a

she spoke again, her voice had lost it

I have a wedding planned for October 8th, and I need a bride.

o tell me I was drunk or had lost my mind.

il back in her tone. "I'm in. But you're buying me

just proposed to a woman I hadn't seen in five years. My life, so perfectly plann

games. My weddi

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