My Wedding Night Ritual

On the night of our wedding, after three years of dating Julian, my new mother-in-law, Eleanor, walked into the bedroom with a porcelain plate of brightly colored dumplings and a tight, pleasant smile.

"Vivian, dear," she said softly. "It’s a tradition in the Miller family. The bride must pick the right dumpling on her wedding night to secure a lifetime of happiness. Go ahead, choose one."

In my first life, I picked the red one, thinking it symbolized celebration and love.