Chapter 2

I walked out without hesitation, but my head was spinning.

I’d only been away from this small town for three days. The minute I got back to the neighborhood entrance, a neighbor told me Mom had "given" my boyfriend to Daisy—the sweet but developmentally challenged girl from downstairs.

I didn’t believe it at first. Ryan was a person, not some object Mom could just "hand over."

But when I got home and saw our living room decked out for an engagement party, I knew it was true.

When Mom saw me leaving, she hurried over and grabbed my arm:

“Scarlett! Where do you think you’re going?”

“You can’t leave now. Won’t that just prove to everyone Daisy stole your boyfriend? How’s that supposed to make her look?”

“If you had any sense, you’d stay, be Daisy’s bridesmaid, and even give a little toast.”

I stared at her, completely dumbfounded.

She knew Ryan and I had been together two years—we were practically engaged.

How could she only care about Daisy’s reputation and not mine?!

Ryan came over too, his voice low and placating:

“Scarlett, I’ll explain everything about the engagement tomorrow.”

“Today, for old times’ sake, please don’t cause a scene.”

He was stronger than Mom, that’s for sure.

He practically dragged me into the guest room.

Daisy was sitting on my bed, wearing the wedding dress I’d been eyeing for ages but could never afford, grinning foolishly at us.

Mom and Ryan lit up immediately.

Everyone seemed thrilled about this marriage.

Everyone got their version of happiness.

Everyone except me—red-eyed, pale, looking pathetic and absurd.

All my pent-up emotions erupted.

I swept everything off the dessert table by the door.

Wedding favors, fancy chocolates, stacks of gift envelopes, and presents they’d already collected went flying across the floor.

Mom jumped back, pulling Daisy behind her:

“Are you out of your mind? Don’t you remember I’m your mother? You wanna disrespect me on a day like this?”

That comment hit me like a knife through the heart.

I locked eyes with her, refusing to look away for even a second:

“Patricia, do *you* remember you’re my mother?”

“Ever since Dad died saving Daisy in that car crash, and you took over that charity, you’ve treated her better than your own daughter.”

“The community hails Dad as a local hero. Those monthly grocery vouchers they give you? You hand them all to her. She eats imported fruit while I’m stuck with stale bread and tap water. She wears designer dresses, and I get your thrift store hand-me-downs.”

The once lively engagement party fell completely silent.

Neighbors craned their heads through the door, hungry for gossip.

Mom tried to cover my mouth: “Okay Scarlett, stop it! Aren’t you embarrassed?”

“Embarrassed?” I wrenched her hand away, feeling totally unhinged, desperate to scream all my frustrations: “I could let all that slide. But Ryan is *my* boyfriend! How do you just give him away like he’s property?!”

“Aren’t you ashamed for making my boyfriend marry someone else?!”

That comment lit the room on fire.

I could hear the neighbor ladies outside exclaiming loudly.

“I told you Scarlett and Ryan were serious—you wouldn’t believe me. They’ve been dating two, three years now.”

“I don’t get what Scarlett’s mom is thinking, giving away her own daughter’s boyfriend.”

Mom and Ryan’s faces went rigid.

Ryan stormed over and pushed me hard:

“Scarlett, have you no shame? How could you say that in front of everyone?”

“Do you realize how much this is hurting Daisy? Now apologize to her.”

“Otherwise, you’ll never hear my side of the story.”

I crumpled to the floor.

A shattered wine glass had sliced deep into my palm, leaving it soaked.

I couldn’t tell if it was blood or the tears I couldn’t shed.

But I knew in that moment, it wasn’t Mom giving away my boyfriend.

It was me walking away from both of them.

I pushed everyone away, hauling myself up from the floor.

“Since you both care so much about Daisy, then Mom, let her be your daughter.”

“Ryan, who you marry and why is none of my business anymore.”