Chapter 1

It was the fifth year of our engagement, and Yosef Sherman still wouldn't consider marrying me.

He saw me as nothing but a small-town girl, too rough around the edges for his standards, never refined enough for his world.

What he really wanted was someone like Diana Pierce, a high-society girl: elegant, gentle, and refined.

For five years, no matter how hard I tried to win him over, Yosef never once gave me the time of day.

In the sixth year, Yosef's mother, Emily Sherman, asked me, "Nina, would you be willing to marry someone else?"

I hesitated for a moment before agreeing. After all, I wasn't getting any younger. If I didn't get married soon, I'd end up as an old maid.

But then, Yosef, who was always so dutiful to his mother, actually confronted her in front of everyone. "Mother, how could you promise my fiancée to Uncle Zack behind my back?"

*****

At the Thanksgiving Dinner, Emily brought up my marriage to Yosef again. "Yosef, you and Nina have been engaged for years. It's time to put your wedding on the schedule."

The courtyard, which had been buzzing with conversation, suddenly went quiet. Everyone's attention shifted to Yosef and me.

Most people were waiting for the show, curious to see what excuse Yosef would use this time to shoot me down.

Over the past five years, every time Emily brought up the idea of Yosef marrying me, he always had some excuse to turn her down.

The most ridiculous one was last year, when he said, "Nina's waist is way too thick. I'll only consider marrying her if she loses some weight.

"Otherwise, having someone like her as the lady of the Sherman family would be a total embarrassment for us."

Everyone at the table burst out laughing, and my face turned bright red with humiliation. I excused myself and left in embarrassment, feeling utterly mortified.

Even though Emily tried to stand up for me, the story about me being rejected by her fiancé for being too plump spread everywhere. People started calling me "Miss Chubby" behind my back.

After that, every time I went to a party or literary gathering, there was always someone who would eye my waist and make a snide comment. "Ms. Hart, your waist doesn't seem all that thick to me."

I was way out of their league, so I couldn't afford to offend these powerful people. All I could do was pretend not to care and take it in silence.

Today, all I could hope for was that Yosef wouldn't come up with another excuse to humiliate me.

I glanced across the table at Yosef. His lips pressed into a thin line, those signature eyes of his filled with rejection.

Anyone who knew him could see he was deeply displeased.

Without even realizing it, I gripped my fork tighter. All the voices around me merged into an irritating buzz. It was loud yet indistinct, as if it were swallowing me whole.

Yosef finally spoke up. "Mother, why are you always forcing me like this?"

Emily slammed her cup down on the table. "Forcing you? You've kept Nina waiting for years. Don't you think you owe her an answer?"

Yosef locked eyes with me, speaking each word with icy determination, "I'd rather be alone for the rest of my life than marry Nina. If anyone tries to force me again, I'll walk away from everything and become a priest."

He walked out in a huff, leaving me behind, with everyone staring at me in shock.

I could already picture how everyone would mock me once Yosef's words spread. Even if we did end up married, I'd never be able to show my face in front of the society ladies in the city.

After all, not many women could say their future husband threatened to become a priest to get out of marrying her.

Noticing how pale I looked, Emily hurried to reassure me, "Nina, Yosef's been pampered since he was little. He doesn't mean what he says. Just ignore his nonsense, alright?"

I nodded meekly and forced a smile, but the muscles in my cheeks were tight and twitching. It looked sadder than tears. "Mrs. Sherman, I'm really not planning on getting married anytime soon. Please don't pressure Yosef about it anymore."

As pain pierced my heart, I suddenly realized: all along, I had been the one clinging desperately to something between Yosef and me that was never meant to be.

He never cared for me, so no matter how much I tried to win him over, it was all pointless.

I finally understood this truth. And at last, I let go.