Chapter 2
Before I could answer, my phone rang.
It was Lena Lewis from HR.
I answered and put her on speaker.
Lena was talking a mile a minute.
"Summer, I saw the overseas assignment application you submitted, but the system says you withdrew it ten minutes ago. Are you sure you're not going?" she asked.
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"I didn't withdraw it," I said.
There was a pause on the other end.
"Well, the system shows your account made the change. The note says 'getting married soon, not suitable for a long-term overseas post.
"This position closes at midnight tonight, and if you pull your application, you can't reapply for another six months."
I whipped my head around to look at Ryan.
Ryan's eyes flickered, giving him away.
Chloe whispered, "Summer, don't look at me like that. I was worried you'd do something rash.
"You're getting your marriage license tomorrow, and you're still applying for a three-year stint in Aetheria? Aren't you trying to piss Ryan off?"
I asked, "Did you mess with my company account?"
Chloe pouted, acting all innocent like she'd been wronged.
"I was helping you drop an option that didn't make sense. After you get married, you gotta focus on your family, right?" she said.
Ryan tugged her behind him.
"I told her to withdraw it. You're too worked up to make a decision right now," he said.
I looked at him, and suddenly, I didn't even have the energy to argue anymore.
"Ryan, who gave you the right to decide my life for me?" I asked.
He pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation.
"I'm trying to keep you from screwing up," he said.
Lena was still on the line; her voice went low, almost secretive.
"Summer, if you can prove it wasn't you who made the change, bring your paperwork to the office before ten tomorrow and submit an appeal. I'll make sure it gets to the review board for the overseas assignment," she said.
"But you're really short on time," she added.
"Got it. I'll be there," I replied.
After hanging up, I took off the ring Ryan had given me and set it down on the coffee table.
Ryan stared at the ring, his face going completely cold.
"Summer, if you walk out that door today, that's it for us," he said.
I grabbed my suitcase.
"Perfect," I said.
As I reached the door, Chloe suddenly burst into tears.
She sobbed. "Ryan, did I do something wrong again? I wanted you guys to get married."
Ryan didn't come after me.
He called after me, "You'd better not regret this."
Before I closed the door, I heard Chloe sobbing. "Is Summer being too harsh?"
Ryan replied in a low voice, "Let her cool off for a few days. She can't live without me."
As the elevator doors closed, I sent Lena the photo of the ring, the appointment record, and the withdrawal record for the overseas assignment.
Lena replied almost instantly.
Lena: [Bring your documents in the morning. As long as you still want to go, there's still a chance.]
I stared at her message; my eyes grew misty.
Yeah.
As long as I still want to go.
I didn't go back to Mom's place.
Mom's health hasn't been great these past few years, and Ryan always acted like the perfect son-in-law around her.
If I went home tonight, she'd be so scared she wouldn't get any sleep.
I booked a cheap hotel near the office, tucked my documents under my pillow, and barely slept a wink all night.
At five in the morning, my phone lit up.
Chloe had posted on her social media.
In the photo, she was leaning against the pink headboard in the master bedroom of our new home, her eyes red and puffy.
The caption read: [I put so much effort into planning a surprise, but got treated like the bad guy. Turns out some people can't take a joke.]
Our mutual friends were already commenting.
[Summer always looked so gentle. Why is she suddenly so snappy right before the wedding?]
[Don't cry, Chloe. Ryan's got your back for sure.]
Ryan's comment was at the top.
[She's really stressed out lately. Once she calms down, she'll come back and say sorry.]
After reading it, I muted her right away.
Then I removed my bank card, logged out of our couple's budgeting app, and closed our shared train booking account.
Ryan called me right after.
I picked up.
He jumped straight into questioning me.
"Did you log out of our train booking account?" he asked.
"Yeah." I replied.
"Summer, are you seriously going to split even these little things now?"
I stuffed my documents into my backpack.
"I'll keep everything separate from now on."
Chloe's voice came through the phone.
"Summer, you're not really going to make a scene at the office, are you? Ryan didn't sleep a wink last night. Can't you feel a little sorry for him?"
I said, "Let him save his sympathy for himself."
Ryan's tone went icy.
"Where are you?"
I didn't answer and hung up.
At eight in the morning, I got to the train station.
The company headquarters was in the next city, a forty-minute train ride away.
If I could turn in my appeal before ten, there was still hope to keep my spot for the overseas posting.