42
Brittany, who always looked down on him,
confessed her feelings.
He rejected her.
That’s when I finally argued with Brittany.
She laughed.
“You’re just trailer trash. You think you
deserve Jake Chen?”
I fired back.
<
“I don’t want Chen Industries. I want Jake. He
loves me. That’s enough.”
Her smile vanished.
That’s when she started hating me.
But my “true love” turned out to be a joke.
At the engagement party, Jake, Mr. “Only
You,” heard about the kidnapping.
Did nothing.
Then, he turned around and got engaged to
Brittany.
Said he wouldn’t change his mind.
He chose her.
Turns out, I really couldn’t compete.
She didn’t have to do anything.
Mom and Dad worshiped her.
She just had to bat her eyelashes, and she
got my boyfriend.
She was “winning at life.”
I was tired.
Over it.
く
Didn’t want to fight anymore.
She wanted it?
Fine.
I wanted nothing.
I wasn’t saying anything.
Just staring like a zombie.
Mom got mad again.
Kept yelling.
“You don’t like us talking to you? Who do you
think you are? We don’t owe you anything!
You can leave whenever you want! No one
cares.”
I said, flatly.
“Jake has been my boyfriend since college.
You know that. Just because he’s rich now,
you forced me to give him to Brittany. I did.
Why are you still yelling?”
I wasn’t looking for answers.
Just a useless complaint.
Biased people never think they’re biased.
く
They just think I didn’t do enough.
I should have encouraged their love story.
Made it a fairytale.
Mom was speechless.
Brittany started crying.
“You’re not even doing this because you want
- to. It’s a show.”
“What do you want me to do?” I asked her.
“You stole my boyfriend. I gave him up. I
blocked him. What more do you want?”
Brittany choked.
Her face twisted.
My phone rang.
Jake, calling from a new number.
“Mia, what did I do wrong? Why the breakup?
I can’t live without you. You’re supposed to be
Mrs. Chen! I won’t let you leave!”
The perfect love speech.
The “Mrs. Chen” title I always wanted.
It was going to Brittany.
<
You and Brittany are perfect for each other.
You’re a better match. Don’t call me again.”
I hung up.
Blocked the number.
Brittany exploded.
“What are you doing? Throwing me scraps? I
want real love, not your leftovers!”
I turned to my parents.
“What do I have to do to make everyone
happy?”
Dad avoided my eyes.
Mom looked less sure of herself.
But she still blamed me.
“Can’t you be a little nicer about it? You’re
hurting Brittany’s reputation. Jake will think
she’s forcing you…”
“Isn’t she?” I asked.
Mom froze.
I added.
“Brittany pressures you. You pressure me. I
く
gave in, broke up with him, and you’re still
yelling. I know my place in this family is
awkward. You don’t like me. So, whatever I
do, it’s wrong.”
My voice was soft.
Like a feather floating in the air.
Fragile.
