Chapter 3Ask Not the Wine of Lost Years

The next morning, I still made my way to the Sanders' family home to return all the betrothal gifts to them. The door of the house was wide open, and it was filled with relatives. There were tea trays, snacks, and wedding lists on the table, and it did not look like a normal family gathering.

When I stepped into the house, I spotted Erica seated in the living room. She was dressed decently and sat obediently while Jake's mother introduced her to all their relatives. I stood where I was as I listened to everyone laugh and tease her.

"Jake has been doing well out there, and it's only right that we should be generous with the betrothal gifts. If their wedding has been confirmed, we'll pay 80,000 dollars for their wedding."

Eight thousand dollars.

I was stunned to hear the number because I was reminded of last year when Jake mentioned that he wanted a wedding reception in our hometown. Back then, his mother had casually told us that 8,000 dollars was enough for our wedding, and I accepted it.

Their relatives continued chatting as Jake's mother sat at the side without interrupting. She smiled and nodded at their conversation.

"It's only right that we show our sincerity when Jake would be marrying such a young and beautiful lady."

I clenched my fists as I felt bitterness in my throat.

For years, I had stayed by Jake's side as we left our hometown for a better future. We lived in the basement in the beginning, and we got through the toughest moments together. When his projects fell through, I stood by his side, and when he ran out of money, I used my savings to help him out financially.

Yet, in the end, I was nothing to his family.

When Jake saw me, he turned pale. He quickly came toward me and whispered, "Don't misunderstand any of this. The older generation just enjoys a little bit of idle chat."

I looked at him and smiled with tears in my eyes. "Your family is already discussing betrothal gifts with her. Is that considered a little bit of idle chat? Why didn't you tell me that you planned to marry two women?"

Jake frowned. "I just said that this is my mom's own doing. You shouldn't be so petty about everything. It's because of this that my mom isn't entirely happy about you."

He was still insisting that I was being petty at a moment like this. I had nothing else to say to him.

Erica stood up right away when she saw us, and she put on an innocent look. "Don't take this the wrong way, Cassie. I'm just accompanying Jake's mother. I didn't expect everyone to get so enthusiastic about this topic.

"Besides, if I really liked someone, it wouldn't bother me that he is poor. I would still want to be with him."

The more she acted this way, the more it made me look unreasonable.

Just as I expected, Jake's mother took the bait. "Erica's right. Some people are just greedy enough to want everything."

Everyone around us started to laugh tauntingly.

I walked over to the table slowly and picked up the wedding list. It was filled with things to buy and plans for the wedding. Everything was stated clearly, much unlike what I had years ago. All I had was one sentence, "Let's make everything as simple as possible. It's not easy for my son to make money."

This reminded me of how many stupid things I had done in the past years. The last tinge of unhappiness within me suddenly vanished because at this moment, I no longer wanted to feel like the victim.

Jake reached out to pull my hand and whispered, "Don't make a fuss here. I'll make it up to you later, all right?"

Make it up to me? He talked about making it up to me again, but I would not leave with him. I took out an old silver bracelet from my bag and placed it gently on the table. It was the betrothal gift his family had given to me years ago.

I looked at the silver bracelet on the table and said calmly. "I'm returning this to you."

Jake turned pale. "What do you mean by this, Cassie?"

I looked at him. "I meant exactly what I just said."

Erica's eyes turned red again as she spoke up anxiously. "Did Cassie misunderstand something because I'm here? I think it's best that I leave…"

She was about to walk out the door when Jake immediately reached out to stop her. "It's not what you think."

I finally saw things clearly. Every time Erica and I stood before him, Jake would always choose to protect her, not me. I was never his choice. Hence, I nodded. "It's just as well. We wouldn't want any trouble down the road."

With that, I turned to leave.

Jake could not hold back his anger as he shouted behind me, "When will you stop making such a fuss, Cassie?"

I did not look back.

When I returned home, my phone lit up with a text from my mother: [Take a look. Everything you see is from him. I think this boy isn't bad. He has manners and thinks of everything.]

She had shared a photo of a car trunk filled with presents. Every present was carefully picked out, and I even saw a design that was the same purse I had kept saved in an online shopping cart.

My mother had always been a good judge of character, and I trusted her.