What a Farce

Chapter 4

I threw away all the wedding supplies I had meticulously prepared. This house, which was never truly mine, was now devoid of any trace of me. In the end, only the tickets I had carefully kept as a diary of love remained. With a moment’s hesitation, I threw each one into the fire.

Each ticket consumed by the flames represented a part of me that loved Ansel. When the burning finally ceased, only a pile of ashes and acrid smoke remained. It was just like the love I had given over these ten years.

The next morning, the aroma of breakfast woke me up.

“Stella, hurry up and get ready. I’ve already made breakfast.”

“You go99 ahead and eat. I’ll take breakfast to Elara so you don’t have to.”

“Okay.

Ansel paused, his hand holding the thermal container.

“Don’t feel guilty. Elara doesn’t blame you.”

“After breakfast, let’s pick out a new engagement ring for the wedding. The custom one had some issues and won’t arrive in time for the wedding day.”

“Okay.”

He enjoyed playing the role, so I would just go along with it.

Perhaps sensing my lack of enthusiasm, Ansel hesitantly brought out the first aid kit and applied medication to my knee.

“Stella, we’ve been in love for years. Everything I’ve done is for your good. I don’t want us to have a wedding where you have no family present.

“You mentioned not finding a maid of honor? I’ve taken the liberty of asking Elara to be your maid of honor.

“Okay.

“”

Ansel spoke cautiously, but when he saw my quick agreement, disbelief filled his eyes.

He then took my hand and pressed a warm, lingering kiss on it.

After delivering breakfast to Elara, he didn’t come back.

As I scrubbed my palms with fervor, his call came in.

“Stella, finish eating and come down to the garage. I’ll be waiting in the car.”

When I reached the garage, I instinctively opened the front passenger door, only to find Elara already sitting there.

Without a word, I took a seat in the back.

Ansel glanced at me a few times and seemed quite pleased with my understanding.

“Stella, Elara designs jewelry. With her here, she’ll definitely help you pick out å ring you’ll love.” I nodded and closed my eyes, pretending to rest.

When I unconsciously opened my eyes, I saw Ansel gently pinching Elara’s cheek.

In the rearview mirror, our eyes met and he quickly started to explain.

“Elara had something on her face, so I was just helping her wipe it off.”

I closed my eyes again and kept them shut until we arrived.

As the three of us entered the jewelry store, the sales associate greeted Elara, who was standing close to Ansel, with great enthusiasm.

“What can I help you with today, sir? Are you looking for something special for your loved one?” Elara and Ansel both blushed.

Ansel swiftly pulled me closer.

“Why are you standing so far away? Come over and pick out a ring!”

The sales associate blushed deeply and quickly brought out the rings for me to choose from.

But Elara took the lead, inspecting each one with a critical eye.

“This one’s not big enough.”

“This one’s color isn‘ t right.”

None of the other rings measured up when compared to the one Elara was holding.

The sales associate glanced at me, visibly uncertain of how to proceed.

Elara, however, acted as if she hadn’t noticed and ultimately chose a rather plain ring.

“Stella, let’s settle for this one for now. It‘ ll work for the wedding. I’ll design a better one for you later,” she said.

The sales associate, clearly uncomfortable, awkwardly praised Elara for her “exceptional” taste. Elara, with a hint of pride, thrust her hand in front of me.

“It has to be beautiful. It’s custom–designed by my fiancé.”

Ansel stood quietly beside her, watching her flaunt the ring without stopping her or showing any sign of discomfort. His smile, however, seemed to bloom with the spring breeze.

“Then we’ll go with the one Elara picked!” he said.

Skipping even the try–on process, Ansel paid for the ring immediately.

He took out the ring and, with a blank expression, slid it onto my finger.

There was no kneeling, no roses, no proposal.

This time, the ring was small, barely fitting.

I knew, without a doubt, that Elara had done this on purpose.

As a jewelry designer, Elara could accurately gauge the ring size at a glance. Such a significant mistake was impossible.

I didn’t bother pointing it out and simply removed the ring.

The sales associate kindly suggested that I choose a different style, but I declined.

“Let’s just buy this one and get it over with. No need to make it more complicated.”

Ansel, hearing this, was clearly displeased with my tone.

“If you‘ re not happy with it, we don’t have to buy it. Elara can help you get a custom one later,” he offered.

I shook my head and refused.

“No, this one is fine.”

Elara, however, looked deeply remorseful, her eyes brimming with tears once again.

“Stella, I’m going straight to the studio to work on the design. I’ll make sure you have a perfect wedding!”

With that, she quickly left.

No matter how much Ansel shouted after her, she didn’t stop.

“Stella, what’s the matter with you? It’s just a ring–why are you making such a fuss?”

I was taken aback.

“What am I making a fuss about?”

He pressed his lips tightly together and pulled me out of the store,

“I have work to attend to. We can take the wedding photos later.”

“Or, you could take your solo photos first and I’ll have the designers Photoshop my suit onto them for the wedding.

“Okay.”

Ansel s explanations got caught in his throat.

He looked at me for a long moment before gently embracing me.

“Stella, once I’m done with work, I’ll take you on a honeymoon trip and we can do a travel–themed bridal photoshoot.”

To me, his dismissive promise of a honeymoon felt like an insult.

He had no time to visit me in Lunaria, but he had plenty of time to accompany Elara to Glaciara to see the penguins and to North Tundra to watch the northern lights.

Seeing his location and profile picture hurrying towards Elara’s studio, I went back into the store and returned the ring to the sales associate.

As I expected, Ansel didn’t come home for two days.

He was accompanying Elara to the seaside for their wedding photos.

And indeed, he had someone Photoshop our faces onto their wedding pictures.

Determined to avoid the wedding, he’ll probably only come back for my parents‘ anniversaries.

I went to the cemetery with two bouquets to visit them.

I also added the caretaker on TalkaTo to manage things in the future.

“I’ll cover the management fees for my parents from now on. Just refuse any payments from Mr.

Stormvale.

The caretaker was taken aback after checking the system.

“Miss, the management fees for your parents graves have been overdue for six months. We’ve tried contacting the family, but the phone has been unreachable.”

Realizing that I had changed my number after going abroad, I couldn’t help but feel frustrated with myself.

Ansel no longer cares about me; how could he remember my deceased parents?

I paid the outstanding fees and also prepaid for ten years, then left feeling dejected.

But just as I was walking out of the cemetery, I heard a voice I’d never forget in this lifetime.

“Ansel, it’s impressive that you remember today is Elara’s real dad’s memorial day! If the old man knew you came to keep him company for a drink, he’d probably be floating up from the grave.”

I turned around stiffly and saw Ansel, flanked by Elara and her mother, climbing the steps.

Auntie, this is what I should be doing.”

“Don’t be silly, call me ‘Mom‘ in a few days!”

Ansel chuckled heartily and, without hesitation, called her “Mom.”

With tears in my eyes, I quietly went to meet my friends.

I got straight to the point and fold them that the wedding was canceled.

They exchanged glances and then cautiously asked me,

“Stella, you already know?”

I was puzzled why they also knew.

In a fit of indignation, they pulled out photos of Ansel and Elara together at the hospital for their pre–marital checkup.

Stella, we support your decision to escape the wedding. I’d love to see what a wedding without a bride looks like–Elara showing up to steal the wedding will be a huge joke!”

Their words made me somewhat look forward to it.

The day before the wedding, Ansel came home with a brand–new pair of running shoes.

I asked him calmly, “Aren t you the one who hates running shoes?‘

He paused for a moment, then patted my head.

“Tomorrow, I’ll need to run fast with the bride on my back!”

The bride he mentioned isn‘ t me.

The smile that suddenly appeared on his face wasn’t because of me either.

It seems that making me the center of a public wedding theft to prove his love for Elara made him quite happy.

The next day, I had walked around the wedding venue.

Gigantic posters had magnified every trace of photo–editing on the wedding pictures.

I had pulled out a pair of scissors, cut out my youthful, radiant face and then took a cab to the airport. When the flight attendant reminded me to turn off my phone, Ansel‘ s calls had started flooding in.