My Wedding, My Choice novel Chapter 1

"Mom, Dad, I'm calling off the engagement."

My parents froze. For a long moment, they didn't say a word.

Then my dad let out a deep sigh.

"Honestly? Maybe it's for the best."

"If he's already stomping all over our dignity before the wedding, it wouldn't get any better afterward."

My mom, however, looked worried.

"I get that, but… what about the debt?"

Last year, my dad had needed an urgent kidney transplant, leaving us $300,000 in medical debt. The deadline to repay it was just a month away.

We hadn't been too worried about paying it off-my great-aunt had left me a $450,000 inheritance, with one condition: I had to be married to claim it.

The wedding was supposed to be in ten days.

If I got legally married, I could access the money immediately.

But now?

I wanted nothing to do with Elliot.

I reassured them.

"Don't stress. I've already arranged a contract marriage."

"We'll get the paperwork done, I'll inherit the money, and after a set time, we'll divorce."

"I'll pay him a fee, and that'll be that."

My mom's eyes welled up.

"We thought you'd found a good man, that we wouldn't have to worry about you anymore… but now this…"

No one had seen this coming.

Elliot and I had known each other since childhood.

We'd grown up together.

I'd always seen him as an older brother.

At least, until I started noticing… something different.

Every time I looked up suddenly, I'd catch him staring at me, his face quickly turning red before he'd whip his head away, leaving only his burning ears in view.

One day, in senior year, he awkwardly asked what colleges I was considering.

When I asked him the same, he looked at me like I was an idiot.

"When are you gonna get a clue?"

"Obviously, I'm going wherever you go. Why else would I ask?"

I froze.

A strange, unfamiliar feeling stirred in my chest.

Then, just as quickly, he shoved something into my hand, kissed me on the cheek, and ran off before I could react.

I looked down.

It was a woven bracelet-handmade with red thread, with a small golden charm attached.

He'd spent an entire semester tutoring just to afford it.

I never took that bracelet off after that day.

Elliot grabbed it, his face darkening.

"You seriously don't know she has a weak stomach?"

"She can't eat lotus root, it's too cold for her system."

I froze.

The soup in front of me suddenly tasted like nothing.

After that, I found Nova a new apartment and gently told her that with the wedding coming up, it was time for her to have her own space.

She teared up and whispered, "Alyssa, I know what you're saying."

"I know I shouldn't repay your kindness like this, but I can't help it. I love Elliot."

"I can't live without him."

She left behind a tear-stained letter, begging Elliot to forget her.

Then she quit her job and disappeared.

Elliot stared at me with raw fury.

"Alyssa, I can't believe you did this."

"You really forced her out? Are you happy now?"

He threw the letter in my face and stormed out.

I stood there, ice-cold from head to toe.

The man who once swore he'd love me forever… was he really the same person walking away now?