Chapter 4

Thinking of this reminded me of the large, formal family dinner on my father's side happening in three days.

I remember in my previous life, Stephen had promised me that he would come with me.

For the occasion, I had carefully selected an elegant, appropriate dress and applied my makeup perfectly. My heart was full of anticipation to present us as a loving, harmonious couple in front of my family.

But then he called. "Gina, something's come up. I'll head to that dinner later. You should go ahead."

After hanging up, I felt a pang of disappointment. More than that, I was worried he would stand me up again, leaving me to become the subject of my relatives' gossip and a source of heartache for my parents.

Still, I couldn't help clinging to a shred of hope, wishing Stephen would actually show up.

Back in my previous life, by the time I showed up at the party, the whole family was already trickling in and settling around the tables.

I looked around eagerly, hope shining in my eyes as I tried to catch a glimpse of Stephen.

But even after all the dishes had been served, Stephen's familiar figure was nowhere to be seen.

My second aunt, Mary Lacey, and my cousin Cindy, sharp-eyed as ever, quickly noticed I was alone. A hint of schadenfreude instantly flashed in their eyes.

"Well, if it isn't our newlywed Gina! Where is your husband?" Mary said, her voice deliberately loud and dripping with fake sweetness, designed to carry.

It drew sidelong glances from the relatives around us, their curiosity piqued.

Cindy covered her mouth, suppressing a sneaky giggle, and added, "Mom, maybe he just didn't want to come. Probably finds our gatherings too boring and tacky for his taste."

I clenched my fists tightly, my palms damp with sweat, forcing myself to stay calm. Through gritted teeth, I replied coolly, "Something came up at the last minute. He couldn't make it."

"What could be more important than a family gathering? You two aren't fighting, are you?" Mary needled me.

She pressed on relentlessly, her eyes glinting with sly curiosity.

Cindy chimed in again, looking all too pleased with herself, "Cousin, you'd better keep a tight leash on Stephen. Don't let some other woman catch his eye. You know how it is. A handsome, wealthy man is quite the magnet."

All around, relatives huddled in small groups, whispering and speculating that Stephen and I were having marital problems.

I couldn't take it anymore. My composure shattered, and I raised my voice, "Stop making things up. My personal life is none of your business."

Just then, my mother stepped in, her face flushed with embarrassment. She lowered her voice, "That's enough, everyone's watching. We're becoming a spectacle."

My father's expression darkened. He shot me a sharp glare, as if blaming me for not knowing how to handle the situation gracefully.

In my previous life, that family dinner became the night I turned into the laughingstock of the entire family.

Back then, I forced a smile and tried to keep up appearances, but inside, it felt like a thousand knives were stabbing into me. The pain was almost unbearable.

After the dinner, I returned home like a lifeless shell, drained and defeated.

I opened the door to a dark, cold, and silent house. Stephen still wasn't back.

I made my way to the sofa and collapsed onto it, tears streaming down my face once again, completely beyond my control.

I felt utterly abandoned by the world. Loneliness and despair were like two giant hands, tightening around my throat, choking me until I could barely breathe.

Desperate to escape the suffocating weight of my emotions, I called my best friend, Wendy Hadley.

My voice trembling, I pleaded, "Sweetie, please come with me to a bar. I need a drink."

Inside the bar, the lights flickered hypnotically, and the music throbbed loudly.

I drank one glass after another, gulping recklessly, not even bothering to wipe the alcohol dripping from the corner of my mouth.

Between sobs, I poured my heart out to Wendy, "I really don't know what to do anymore. Can this marriage even be saved?"

Wendy's eyes welled up as she squeezed my hand. "Darling, don't torture yourself like this. Whatever you decide, I'll always have your back."

We drank until we could barely stand, then stumbled back to her place and passed out as soon as we hit the bed.

The next day, after work, I dragged my exhausted body home only to find everything exactly as I had left it. Nothing had changed. Clearly, Stephen hadn't been back.

I stood frozen in the middle of the room, my heart completely numb, as if I had fallen into a bottomless abyss.