Chapter 2 · The Property Deed Without My Name

Chapter 2

The wedding planner handed me the refund slip. "Ms. Scott, please sign here."

"Okay," I said.

"Sophia," James said in a low voice, "are you really going to throw away eight years because of Emily?"

"I wasn't the one who put her in the bridal suite," I replied.

"There's nothing between us."

"That's even better."

"How exactly?"

"If you two are clean, nobody will have anything to say when you get married."

I heard a door open on the other end, and Emily's soft voice came. "James, are you speaking to Sophie?"

James didn't dodge the question. "She's still upset."

"Go comfort her. I'll go change the pillowcases in the master bedroom," Emily said.

I hung up.

When the courier came to pick up the package, he asked if I wanted to insure it.

I looked at the ring and the seating chart in the box. "No, thanks."

I filled in James's company address. In the notes section, I wrote: [The wedding was canceled.]

"Ma'am, which unit are you looking for?" asked the property manager as he stopped me.

I was carrying two empty boxes. "The 26th floor of Building 16, James Lowie's place."

He checked the registry and glanced at me. "You're not on the resident list. The other owner, Ms. Emily Grant, is here often. You can contact her."

"The other owner?" I asked.

"Ms. Grant mentioned that you're always busy with work and not really into decorations, so she's been looking after the bridal suite for you," he explained.

I nodded and called James.

He picked up right away. "Changed your mind?"

"I need to grab something from the house," I said.

"I'll go with you after work."

"No need. Ask the property manager to let me in."

"Sophia, the place isn't ready yet."

"Emily's already slept in the master bedroom. What else is there I can't see?"

He paused. "She was tired from inspecting the place and took a quick nap."

"Tell me the password."

"6028."

"What's that date?"

"It was randomly set."

I let it go. I knew Emily's birthday was on June 28.

The lock flashed an error.

The property manager reminded me, "Ms. Grant always uses her fingerprint. Hers was the first one set up."

I called James again. "The password's not working."

"Guess I got it wrong," he said.

"You forgot the password to your own bridal suite?"

"I usually use my fingerprint."

"What about mine?"

"I was saving it for the day we moved in. I wanted to make it a special moment for you."

"So Emily didn't need a special moment?"

He let out a heavier breath. "She's been overseeing the decorations, so it's easier for her to get in and out. Sophia, don't make everything about feelings."

In the end, the property manager called Emily, and she remotely unlocked the door for me.

Emily also texted me: [Sophie, do you want me to go over and help you organize? James's stuff is a mess. Only I can find anything in there.]

I didn't reply.

There were two pairs of slippers by the door. One was a men's pair, and the other was a light green pair for a woman.

The pink slippers I brought were still in their delivery bag, shoved at the very bottom of the shoe cabinet.

The property manager helped me carry out a box full of my stuff.

I opened the master bedroom closet. James's shirts were hanging on the left, and on the right was the nightgown Emily wore on her livestream.

On the sink was her half-used face cream, and two toothbrushes were next to it.

I took a photo of this.

James called again. "Are you done getting your stuff?"

"Why is Emily's nightgown in the master bedroom?" I asked.

"She got her clothes wet once and grabbed a new one temporarily."

"What about the toothbrush?"

"She brushed her teeth after dinner and left it behind."

"And the skincare stuff?"

"Sophia, are you seriously going to keep grilling me like this? This place is meant for us. Emily's not moving in, so if you keep nitpicking about these tiny things, you're only hurting yourself."

Chapter 2

The wedding planner handed me the refund slip. "Ms. Scott, please sign here."

"Okay," I said.

"Sophia," James said in a low voice, "are you really going to throw away eight years because of Emily?"

"I wasn't the one who put her in the bridal suite," I replied.

"There's nothing between us."

"That's even better."

"How exactly?"

"If you two are clean, nobody will have anything to say when you get married."

I heard a door open on the other end, and Emily's soft voice came. "James, are you speaking to Sophie?"

James didn't dodge the question. "She's still upset."

"Go comfort her. I'll go change the pillowcases in the master bedroom," Emily said.

I hung up.

When the courier came to pick up the package, he asked if I wanted to insure it.

I looked at the ring and the seating chart in the box. "No, thanks."

I filled in James's company address. In the notes section, I wrote: [The wedding was canceled.]

"Ma'am, which unit are you looking for?" asked the property manager as he stopped me.

I was carrying two empty boxes. "The 26th floor of Building 16, James Lowie's place."

He checked the registry and glanced at me. "You're not on the resident list. The other owner, Ms. Emily Grant, is here often. You can contact her."

"The other owner?" I asked.

"Ms. Grant mentioned that you're always busy with work and not really into decorations, so she's been looking after the bridal suite for you," he explained.

I nodded and called James.

He picked up right away. "Changed your mind?"

"I need to grab something from the house," I said.

"I'll go with you after work."

"No need. Ask the property manager to let me in."

"Sophia, the place isn't ready yet."

"Emily's already slept in the master bedroom. What else is there I can't see?"

He paused. "She was tired from inspecting the place and took a quick nap."

"Tell me the password."

"6028."

"What's that date?"

"It was randomly set."

I let it go. I knew Emily's birthday was on June 28.

The lock flashed an error.

The property manager reminded me, "Ms. Grant always uses her fingerprint. Hers was the first one set up."

I called James again. "The password's not working."

"Guess I got it wrong," he said.

"You forgot the password to your own bridal suite?"

"I usually use my fingerprint."

"What about mine?"

"I was saving it for the day we moved in. I wanted to make it a special moment for you."

"So Emily didn't need a special moment?"

He let out a heavier breath. "She's been overseeing the decorations, so it's easier for her to get in and out. Sophia, don't make everything about feelings."

In the end, the property manager called Emily, and she remotely unlocked the door for me.

Emily also texted me: [Sophie, do you want me to go over and help you organize? James's stuff is a mess. Only I can find anything in there.]

I didn't reply.

There were two pairs of slippers by the door. One was a men's pair, and the other was a light green pair for a woman.

The pink slippers I brought were still in their delivery bag, shoved at the very bottom of the shoe cabinet.

The property manager helped me carry out a box full of my stuff.

I opened the master bedroom closet. James's shirts were hanging on the left, and on the right was the nightgown Emily wore on her livestream.

On the sink was her half-used face cream, and two toothbrushes were next to it.

I took a photo of this.

James called again. "Are you done getting your stuff?"

"Why is Emily's nightgown in the master bedroom?" I asked.

"She got her clothes wet once and grabbed a new one temporarily."

"What about the toothbrush?"

"She brushed her teeth after dinner and left it behind."

"And the skincare stuff?"

"Sophia, are you seriously going to keep grilling me like this? This place is meant for us. Emily's not moving in, so if you keep nitpicking about these tiny things, you're only hurting yourself."