Chapter 3

Hearing Jason disrespect my mother snapped my last nerve.

I snatched the phone back and hung up.

I yelled at him:

"Who do you think you are, yelling at my mom?!"

"She's your elder, asking about our marriage. What's wrong with that?"

Jason’s face turned icy.

"She shouldn't talk about Sierra like that!"

"Was she wrong? If you hadn't insisted on dragging Sierra along, we would've been married hours ago!"

Furious, I laid all my cards on the table.

"We are getting married this morning, or not at all."

"If you delay this one more time, we're over."

Jason stared at me, bewildered.

Then he scoffed, amused by my anger:

"You're threatening to break up with me?"

"It's just a marriage certificate! If not morning, then afternoon. If not today, then another day. Are you really going to throw a psychotic tantrum in public like a crazy woman?"

Right on cue, Sierra jumped in, fueling the fire while pretending to play peacemaker.

She grabbed Jason’s arm:

"Jason, don't say that. Chloe is just speaking out of anger."

"She’s literally at City Hall with you, how could she break up? Please don't fight. It's all my fault for upsetting her mom... Let's just sit down and cool off."

Jason sneered and took his seat.

I didn't bother saying another word. My fingers clenched the queue ticket until my knuckles turned stark white.

People moved through the hall, other couples laughing and whispering affectionately.

Only our corner was suffocatingly dead.

After a brief moment of quiet, Sierra stirred the pot again.

She nudged Jason's elbow.

"Jason, it’s almost noon."

"I'm starving. There's an amazing hot pot place right around the corner. Want to grab a bite first?"

Jason hesitated for a second.

He awkwardly reached out to take my hand:

"Want to come?"

I jerked away violently.

"I'm not hungry. And we agreed to go to my mom's house for lunch after this, remember?"

"She reheated the food twice."

Sierra chimed in with sickly sweet empathy:

"Chloe, Jason just had an argument with your mom. If he goes to your house right now, it’ll be so awkward for him. You have to consider his feelings!"

"Besides, it's too late to drive over. We should just eat nearby."

I remained frozen in my seat.

"This is the last batch of tickets."

"If we don't do it now, we have to reschedule."

Jason sighed with exasperation:

"Can't we just do it this afternoon? Right after hot pot?"

"I have a bridal fitting booked this afternoon. Tomorrow is the photoshoot, and the day after is catering tasting for the engagement party. With this schedule, when else can we take a full day off to sign papers?"

Left speechless by my schedule, Jason was about to give in and sit back down.

Sierra immediately hooked her arm through his and pulled him up.

"No matter how busy, Jason can't starve. How about this, Chloe? You wait here, and Jason and I will grab a quick bite nearby."

"When our number gets close, text us thirty minutes in advance. We won't miss it, promise!"

Jason nodded, finding the idea brilliant.

"Sounds good?"

I shook my head.

"No. If she's hungry, she can eat alone. Why does she need you to hold her hand?"

Sierra chuckled lightly.

"Jason is hungry too, obviously."

"Chloe, don't be like this. Getting married is supposed to be happy. Why do you look so miserable all day?"

Seeing that I wouldn't budge an inch, Jason lost his patience.

He grabbed Sierra’s wrist and started walking toward the exit:

"I don't care if you agree or not. Is eating lunch a crime now?"

"Just text me when our turn is coming up. Sierra, let's go!"