Chapter 9: The Engagement Arrangement

The restaurant Harrison Whitaker chose was very quiet.

The place had white tablecloths and soft jazz playing in the background. I could see the city lights twinkling outside, reflected in the window.

When I arrived, he was already sitting by the window.

Seeing me, he stood up and smiled gently.

Harrison Whitaker was a gentleman, very gentle.

He brought me a birthday gift,

And prepared a delicate little cake.

Everything was perfect.

The cake had my name written in cursive, a tiny candle flickering on top. Harrison handed me the gift with both hands, careful not to rush me.

After the meal, he drove me home.

After I got out, he watched me go inside before turning his car around and leaving.

At that moment, I suddenly thought of Ethan.

Every time he took me home, he never lingered.

Maybe, it was because he didn’t like me.

I agreed to my sick grandma’s wish to fulfill the marriage contract my parents set up before they died.

To get married, have a child, not be alone in the world.

She would feel sorry for me, couldn’t bear it.

So, I stopped stubbornly waiting for that tree that never bloomed.

Before bed, I habitually opened Instagram.

Ethan rarely posted on his feed.

It was another photo of their group drinking at a party.

But this time, there was a strange-faced girl beside him.

Even though it was just a side profile, you could tell she was beautiful.

I looked for three seconds,

Until the dull ache in my heart slowly faded.

Then I exited.

I didn’t delete Ethan.

Just blocked everything related to him.

And faded out of all his circles.

I muted the group chats, hid his stories, and let myself disappear from his world. It felt cleaner, like closing a window in a storm.