Chapter 2

Ethan Ward frowned, looking irritated by the delay.

Suddenly, Peyton gasped.

The next second, the red string in her hands snapped again.

A dozen tiny glass beads clattered onto the marble floor, rolling everywhere.

Peyton dropped to her knees, frantically grabbing at the floor.

"No, no... how could this happen? I was almost done," she whimpered. "Ethan, help me find them. I can't miss a single one."

My best friend, Mia, finally snapped.

"Are you kidding me, Peyton? Have you lost your mind?" Mia yelled. "Today is Diana and Ethan’s wedding day! We’re at City Hall to get their marriage license, not watch you do some weird arts and crafts project on the floor!"

Peyton froze. She looked up, her eyes wide and wet.

"A project?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Mia, how could you say that to me? These are lucky charm beads. I drove two hours to that spiritual shop just to get them blessed so their marriage would go smoothly."

"Diana, I'm just trying to look out for you guys. Is it a crime to want your marriage to be blessed?"

Even one of Ethan’s friends couldn't take it anymore. He sighed, "Peyton, just leave them for now. You can finish it after they sign the papers. We're seriously running out of time."

Peyton shook her head violently.

"It's not the same! She has to wear it while they sign the papers. That's how the blessing works. If she doesn't, what if their marriage falls apart?"

"I just wanted to bring them good luck. Why is everyone treating me like I'm ruining things?"

Hearing that, Ethan’s face darkened completely.

He stepped in front of Peyton, shielding her from the group. "That's enough. Peyton is just trying to do something nice. Stop backing her into a corner."

At 4:50 PM, my phone vibrated.

It was my mom.

Her voice was bright and excited over the speaker.

"Diana, honey! Did you get the license yet?"

"Your dad and I have dinner in the oven, and your uncle is pulling into the driveway. We're just waiting for the newlyweds to get home to celebrate!"

A heavy lump formed in my throat. I couldn't force a single word out.

Mia couldn't hold back. With red-rimmed eyes, she snatched the phone.

"Mrs. Carter... they haven't signed it yet. Ethan’s childhood friend broke her stupid bracelet, and Ethan is making Diana wait until she figures it out."

The line went dead silent.

Two agonizing seconds passed before my dad spoke. His voice was tight with suppressed anger. "Is Ethan there?"

Ethan frowned, but he leaned toward the phone. "I'm here, Mr. Carter."

My dad’s voice was heavy. "Ethan. My daughter has been with you for seven years!"

"She waited for you until she was twenty-eight, giving you the best years of her life! You keep saying you're going to marry her, and you keep delaying it for someone else."

"Do you think this is acceptable?"

My mom chimed in, her voice breaking. "Ethan, do you know Diana was up at 5 AM doing her hair and makeup for this?"

"Our house is decorated, the food is on the table, and all our family knows you're getting married today..."

She took a shaky breath. "And this is the eighth time, Ethan! The eighth time! Can't you just sign the papers first? What kind of bracelet can't wait?"

Ethan paused for a moment.

"Mr. and Mrs. Carter, I know you're frustrated, but Peyton had good intentions..."

"She went out of her way to get this lucky charm for us. The beads spilled everywhere. I can't just leave her crying on the floor. It wouldn't be right."

My dad was furious now. "And what about Diana? Is it 'right' for her to just keep waiting?"

Ethan went silent for a second, then promised, "I will take Diana to sign the papers. If we don't make it today, we'll do it next time. Don't worry, I'm definitely going to marry her."

Next time.

I had heard those two words so many times over the past seven years I had lost count.

Taking a deep breath, I pulled the phone back. "Mom, Dad, don't worry. I am absolutely getting married today."

I hung up.

Ethan glared at me, a deep crease between his brows. "Diana, do you really have to push me like this?"

I looked back at him.

He knew exactly what was happening.

He knew if he delayed any longer, the system would lock.

He knew my parents were waiting, and my friends were watching.

He knew how humiliating it was for me to be tossed aside.

But he still chose to make me wait.

"Push you?" I asked quietly. "You think getting a marriage license with me is pushing you?"

Ethan looked annoyed. "Diana, stop causing a scene!"

I didn't bother replying. I looked down at my phone. A text message popped up in a private chat:

[Walking up now.]

At 4:51 PM, the security guard poked his head out of the double doors.

"Are you guys coming in or not? You have exactly nine minutes before the system locks automatically. If you don't come in now, you can't get married today."

Mia was crying out of pure frustration now. "Ethan, did you hear him?! Nine minutes!"

His friends immediately chimed in. "Dude, just go inside. Don't make Diana wait for nothing again."

Ethan looked down at Peyton.

Peyton clutched the broken red string, her eyes red. "Ethan, it's okay. You guys should go in. I don't mind."

"I'm just an outsider anyway. My blessing doesn't matter," she choked out, looking down and searching for the beads again. Her shoulders shook pitifully.

Ethan immediately bent down to comfort her. "Don't talk like that. You're not an outsider."

The moment those words left his mouth, the hallway went dead silent.

Everyone looked at me. Their eyes were full of pity.

I calmly unzipped my purse, pulled out my government-issued ID and the marriage documents, and turned toward the City Hall doors.

Behind me, Ethan stood up sharply. "Diana, what are you doing?"

I looked up at the clock above the entrance.

"I told you, I am getting married today!" I didn't look back.

"So, I'm going in to submit my papers."