Updated Mar 21, 2026 • ~8 min read
SUMMER – TUESDAY EVENING
Melody meets me at a wine bar in the Village.
Neutral territory.
Not Brooklyn. Not Manhattan. Somewhere in between.
Like my life.
She’s already on her second glass when I arrive.
“You look like hell,” she says.
“Thanks.”
“I’m serious, Summer. You’re falling apart.”
I order wine. Drink half of it immediately.
“Adrian suspects something.”
“Of course he does. You’re juggling two relationships. Living two lives. Lying to everyone. This was always going to explode.”
“I know.”
“Do you? Because you keep acting like you can pull this off. Like there’s a world where this ends well.”
“There isn’t?”
She laughs. Bitter. “You’re engaged to Theo. Dating Jax. In eight weeks, both of them are going to be at Rose’s gallery opening. You think that ends well?”
My stomach drops.
“I’ll figure something out.”
“Like what? Clone yourself?”
“I’ll tell one of them not to come.”
“Which one?”
I don’t answer.
Because I can’t.
“Exactly,” Melody says. “You can’t choose. That’s the problem. You want both lives. Both men. Both versions of yourself.”
“That’s not true.”
“Isn’t it? Theo gives you safety. Family approval. Financial security. Jax gives you passion. Freedom. Your authentic self. So you keep both. Consequences be damned.”
Her words cut.
Because they’re true.
“I’m trying to fix this,” I whisper.
“How? By lying more? By pushing off the inevitable?”
“By ending it with Theo. Before the wedding.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
“Summer. The wedding is in twelve weeks. The venue is booked. The dress is ordered. Invitations are printed. When exactly are you ending it?”
“I don’t know!”
I’m crying now.
The bartender glances over.
Melody lowers her voice.
“You’re hurting everyone. Theo thinks he’s marrying a virgin who loves him. Jax thinks you’re working up courage to tell your family about him. Your parents think you’re their perfect daughter. And you’re none of those things.”
“I know.”
“Then fix it. Tell Theo you can’t marry him. Tell your parents you won’t let them control your life. Tell Jax the truth.”
“He’ll leave me.”
“Maybe. But at least it’ll be honest.”
“I can’t lose him, Melody. I love him.”
“Then you should’ve thought about that before you got engaged to someone else.”
The truth hits like a slap.
I cover my face with my hands.
Sob.
MELODY
I hate this.
Watching my best friend self-destruct.
But she needs to hear it.
Someone needs to tell her how bad this is.
“Summer. Look at me.”
She does. Eyes red. Mascara running.
“You’re a good person. But you’re doing a bad thing. Multiple bad things. And I know why. I know your parents are controlling. I know the engagement was arranged. I know you felt trapped.”
“Then why are you judging me?”
“I’m not judging you. I’m trying to save you. Because when this explodes—and it will explode—you’re going to lose everything. Both men. Your family’s respect. Your own self-respect.”
“So what do I do?”
“Tell the truth. All of it. Today.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because everyone will hate me.”
“They’re going to hate you anyway, babe. At least this way, you choose when and how it happens. You control the narrative. You don’t get blindsided.”
She goes quiet.
Thinking.
Finally: “What if I break up with Theo first? Tell my parents the wedding’s off. Then tell Jax about the engagement after it’s over?”
“That’s still lying.”
“But it’s less lying.”
“Summer—”
“Please. Just… let me do it this way. I’ll end things with Theo this week. I swear. Then I’ll come clean to Jax.”
I want to argue.
But she looks so desperate. So broken.
“Fine. One week. You have one week to tell Theo it’s over.”
“I will.”
“And then you tell Jax. Everything. About the engagement. The lies. All of it.”
“I will.”
She won’t.
I can see it in her eyes.
But I can’t make her.
All I can do is be there when it falls apart.
SUMMER – WEDNESDAY MORNING
I’m going to do it.
End things with Theo.
Today.
I text him: Can we talk? It’s important.
THEO: Of course. Dinner tonight?
SUMMER: Yes. 7?
THEO: I’ll make a reservation. Love you.
Guilt crushes me.
I don’t respond.
JAX
Summer’s been weird all week.
Short texts. Distracted calls.
Something’s wrong.
“You think she’s pulling away?” I ask Felix at the shop.
He’s tattooing a dragon on some guy’s back. Doesn’t look up.
“Probably.”
“Helpful.”
“Jax, you’ve been complaining about this girl for two years. Either trust her or don’t. But stop torturing yourself.”
“I trust her.”
“Do you?”
I don’t answer.
Because I don’t know anymore.
“Marco thinks she’s married,” Felix says casually.
“She’s not married.”
“How do you know?”
“Because she told me.”
“And she’s never lied about anything else?”
I glare at him.
He shrugs. “Just saying. Girl who won’t introduce you to anyone? Who disappears five days a week? Who’s ‘not ready’ after two years? That’s suspicious.”
“Her family’s traditional.”
“Or she’s hiding you.”
“Why would she hide me?”
“Because you’re not who she wants to be seen with. Because you’re the secret. The rebellion. The thing she does when she’s slumming.”
The words hit like a punch.
“She’s not like that.”
“You sure?”
I’m not.
God, I’m not sure of anything anymore.
My phone buzzes.
Summer.
Miss you. Can’t wait for Friday.
Miss you too. Everything okay?
Yes. Why?
You seem off.
Just stressed. Work stuff. I’ll tell you Friday.
Tell me now.
It’s not a text conversation. Friday. I promise.
I stare at the phone.
She’s going to break up with me.
I know it.
I can feel it.
“She’s ending it,” I tell Felix.
“Good. You deserve better.”
“I don’t want better. I want her.”
“Then you’re an idiot.”
Probably.
But I love her.
Even if she doesn’t love me back.
SUMMER – WEDNESDAY EVENING, 6:45 PM
I’m supposed to meet Theo in fifteen minutes.
End things.
Call off the wedding.
Tell my parents.
Face the consequences.
I’m ready.
I can do this.
My phone rings.
My mother.
“Summer, there’s a family emergency.”
My blood runs cold. “What happened?”
“Your grandmother. She collapsed. We’re at the hospital.”
“Is she—”
“She’s stable. But she’s asking for you. Can you come?”
“Of course. Which hospital?”
She tells me.
I text Theo: Family emergency. Grandmother in hospital. Have to cancel. I’m so sorry.
THEO: Oh god. I’m so sorry. Do you want me to come?
SUMMER: No. Family only right now. I’ll call you later.
I grab my bag.
Head to the hospital.
The universe just gave me a reprieve.
But it’s only temporary.
I still have to end this.
Tomorrow.
THEO
Summer’s grandmother is in the hospital.
I feel terrible.
I send flowers. Call to check in.
But something niggles at me.
Adrian’s warnings. The weird behavior. The constant “family emergencies.”
I call my assistant.
“Find out which hospital Summer’s grandmother is at. Send a fruit basket.”
“What’s her grandmother’s name?”
I freeze.
I don’t know.
I’ve been engaged to Summer for a year.
And I don’t know her grandmother’s name.
What kind of fiancé am I?
SUMMER – THE HOSPITAL, 9:00 PM
My grandmother is fine.
Low blood sugar. Dehydration.
She’s scolding the nurses in Mandarin.
Classic.
My mother pulls me aside.
“The wedding coordinator called. She needs final numbers by Friday.”
“Mama, can we not talk about this right now?”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
Everything.
Everything is wrong.
“I’m just tired.”
She studies my face. “You look thin. Are you eating?”
“Yes.”
“Are you happy?”
The question surprises me.
“What?”
“With Theo. With the wedding. Are you happy?”
It’s the first time she’s asked.
In a year of engagement. Of wedding planning. Of being molded into the perfect bride.
She’s never once asked if I’m happy.
I could tell her.
Right now.
Tell her I’m not happy. That I don’t love Theo. That I’m in love with someone else.
She’s asking.
Finally asking.
“I’m fine,” I lie.
The moment passes.
She nods. “Good. Because this wedding is very important. For our families. For our business. You understand that, right?”
And there it is.
The truth.
This isn’t about my happiness.
It’s about alliances. Business. Appearances.
I’m not a daughter.
I’m an asset.
“I understand,” I whisper.
SUMMER – MIDNIGHT
I’m in a hospital bathroom.
Crying.
Again.
I was going to end it.
Going to tell Theo. Tell my parents. Tell the truth.
But I can’t.
Not with my grandmother sick. Not with my mother’s expectations. Not with the weight of two families’ futures on my shoulders.
Melody texts: Did you do it?
No. Grandmother in hospital.
Convenient.
It’s not like that.
Isn’t it?
I don’t respond.
Because maybe it is.
Maybe I’m using every excuse. Every delay. Every obstacle.
To avoid the inevitable.
Jax texts: Thinking about you. Hope your grandmother is okay.
She is. Thank you.
Can’t wait to see you Friday.
Me too.
More lies.
Building and building.
Until they collapse.
MELODY
Summer didn’t do it.
I knew she wouldn’t.
She’s going to keep lying. Keep stalling.
Until everything explodes at Rose’s gallery opening.
Both men. One room. All the lies exposed.
Public humiliation.
Social media storm.
Relationships destroyed.
I’ve warned her.
Multiple times.
But she won’t listen.
So all I can do is wait.
And be ready to pick up the pieces.
When her entire world comes crashing down.
Reader Reactions