Chapter 3
Ethan's expression darkened in a flash.
He took a few quick steps and grabbed my wrist.
"Diana, stop making a scene."
"If I don't go in there with you, who are you going to marry?"
I glanced down at his hand, then slowly pulled mine away.
"Then I won't marry you."
The moment those words dropped, a dead silence fell over the steps of City Hall.
Our friends exchanged awkward glances. Someone whispered,
"Diana must be seriously pissed."
"She's probably just trying to force Ethan to go inside."
"You can't really blame her. This is their eighth time trying to get this marriage license. Who could handle that? I would've lost my mind by now."
They thought I was just throwing a tantrum. They thought I was forcing his hand.
But only I knew the truth.
I just didn't want to wait for him anymore.
Just then, Peyton stood up, clutching that half-finished lucky charm bracelet. Her eyes were red as she looked at me.
"Diana, please don't do this."
"Getting married is between the two of you. How can you use something like this to threaten Ethan?"
"He's already here at City Hall. He just wanted me to finish making this charm so he could have my full blessing. If you push him like this, it'll only break his heart."
Ethan seemed to finally snap out of it. He looked at me with deep disappointment.
"Diana, when did you become like this?"
"You used to be so understanding."
I looked at him and suddenly found it hilarious.
"Understanding?"
"Does 'understanding' mean getting ditched at City Hall seven times, only to smile and say it's fine?"
Ethan's Adam's apple bobbed.
I kept going.
"Does it mean watching my parents prepare a celebration dinner time after time, only to be disappointed again and again?"
"Or does it mean standing out here right before the 5 PM deadline, just waiting for your childhood bestie to finish weaving some stupid lucky bracelet?"
His face completely froze.
"Ethan, it's not that I'm not understanding."
"It's that I've been understanding for way too long. So long that you forgot I can feel pain, too."
4:55 PM.
A clerk's voice echoed through the lobby of City Hall.
"Last call for marriage licenses! Bring your documents to the counter now. The system locks at 5 PM sharp."
I didn't look at Ethan again. I turned and walked straight into the lobby.
My best friend, Mia, immediately followed me.
"Diana..."
She wanted to comfort me, but I just shook my head.
Then, I slid my photo ID and the marriage application documents across the counter.
The clerk looked up at me.
"Here for a marriage license?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
She glanced behind me.
"Where is the groom?"
Before I could even open my mouth.
A flurry of footsteps sounded behind me.
Ethan was being pushed inside by his friends.
"Ethan, stop being stubborn!"
"You're already here. Just go sign the papers."
"If you keep stalling, Diana's really going to dump you."
Ethan stood behind me, his hand still tightly clutching Peyton's bag.
At that moment, I felt a wave of bitter irony.
We were right at the marriage counter, yet he was still holding another woman's belongings in his hands.
I turned around to face him.
"Ethan. I'm going to ask you one last time."
"Are you going to sign these papers with me or not?"
Everyone in the lobby was staring at him.
Even the clerk stopped what she was doing.
Ethan clenched his jaw, a flash of panic crossing his eyes.
But just as quickly, that panic was swallowed up by sheer irritation.
"Diana, we're out of time. Let's just do it next time."
"Once Peyton finishes making the lucky charm, we'll bring it here and sign the papers. It's good luck."
Hearing that, I suddenly laughed.
"I should have known. It's exactly the same."
Ethan frowned.
"What's the same?"
I didn't answer.
Because there was no point anymore.
4:57 PM.
The sound of hurried, heavy footsteps echoed from the entrance.
Everyone instinctively looked over.
A man in a sharp black suit strode into the lobby. He walked straight up to me, his dark eyes locking onto mine, and held out his hand.
"Diana, let's go."
"Let's go get married."
