Petals in the Wind

I had a secret ability I never told anyone about. Whenever I was intimate with my boyfriend, I saw what he had been doing exactly one hour earlier. In the past, the glimpses had always been filled with love. I saw him standing in the rain, patiently waiting in line to buy my favorite muffins. I saw him gripping a small ring box with sweaty hands, nervously rehearsing his proposal again and again. Because of those moments, I believed that Eugene Shaw loved me with all his heart. Three days before our wedding, everything changed. The instant his lips met mine, a vision flashed before my eyes. In a dim lounge, he had Jeannie Rogers, my best friend, pressed against the door. Tears streamed down Jeannie’s face as she pushed weakly against his chest. "We cannot keep doing this. "Melissa paid for my education. She did everything for me. She has been nothing but good to me. "If she ever finds out, it will destroy her." Eugene did not answer. He lowered his head and kissed her. His voice sounded rough and unfamiliar. "She will never know. "And I am marrying her in three days. "Think of this as one last mistake." The vision vanished as quickly as it appeared. Back in reality, Eugene still held me in his arms. He brushed his hand across my cheek, his eyes warm with affection. "Melissa, we are almost married. "Are you happy?" I looked into his loving eyes and smiled faintly. The love I had seen in those visions had been real. His betrayal had been real as well. After seven years together, our story ended here. Chapter 1 After Eugene Shaw finished speaking, he lowered his head and kissed me again. His lips brushed against my cheek with the same gentle tenderness they always had. There was even a trace of quiet affection, the kind a man showed when he planned to marry the woman he loved. However, my entire body had gone stiff. In the next instant, another scene flashed before my eyes. Jeannie Rogers stood there with the hem of her dress wrinkled and the lipstick on her lips smeared. She was nestled in Eugene’s arms, pouting playfully. "Melissa’s so skinny. Do you think she will even fill out her wedding dress? "I went with her to try on the main gown today, and it just looked empty." Eugene let out a quiet chuckle. "She is too skinny. "Every time I hold her, it feels like I am hugging a bag of bones." Jeannie frowned at once, as if she were offended on my behalf. "How could you say that about her? "Melissa’s my best friend!" The moment she finished speaking, she smiled and leaned close to Eugene’s ear. Her voice turned soft and sweet. "What about me? "How do I feel?" Eugene swallowed. He did not answer. The hand resting against her soft curves tightened little by little. That silence was louder than any answer he could have given. Jeannie smiled. "Forget it. I am not going to steal you away from Melissa. "She has been waiting for you for seven years. It is kind of pathetic." The vision shattered without warning. I was back in the present, still wrapped in Eugene’s arms. A wave of icy nausea rolled through my stomach, and I could not take it anymore. I shoved him away. Caught off guard, Eugene stumbled back half a step. He frowned at me. "Melissa? "What is wrong?" I pressed my hand against my chest and slowly shook my head. My face had already gone pale. Just then, the electronic door lock beeped. A second later, the front door swung open. Jeannie walked in wearing a silky spaghetti‑strap nightgown that revealed the pale curves of her chest. She smiled as if nothing were unusual. "Melissa, the shower at my place is broken. "Since you guys live so close, I figured I would come borrow your bathroom." I stared at the nightgown she wore. For the first time, my expression turned icy. "Jeannie, do you not think it is inappropriate to come to our house dressed like that?" Chapter 2 Jeannie froze. Her eyes filled with tears, as though she never expected me to say something like that. Almost immediately, Eugene stepped in front of her. "Melissa, Jeannie has been living overseas for years. She is just used to dressing like this. "You are reading too much into it." I watched him shield her, and the whole thing suddenly felt absurd. Of course I knew Jeannie had studied abroad. I had been the one who sent her there. Back then, she could not gather enough money for her first year of tuition. I gave her every cent I had saved for two years so she could go. The day we said goodbye at the airport, Jeannie clung to me and cried so hard she could barely stand. "Melissa, you are the best friend I will ever have. "When I come back, I will be your maid of honor." Later, Eugene started traveling overseas for business all the time. I even asked him for a favor. "Jeannie is all alone over there. She does not know anyone. "If you have time, could you check on her for me?" Back then, Eugene ruffled my hair and laughed, telling me I was too kind. I laughed too. I honestly believed the only reason they knew each other was because of me. After that, every time Eugene traveled to her city, he stopped by to see her. At first, he always sent me photos so I would not worry. "The grocery store near Jeannie’s campus closes early, so I brought her a few things. "She has been stressed about her thesis lately, so I took her out for dinner." Before I knew it, Eugene started appearing in Jeannie’s social media posts all the time. He carried her luggage, and he accompanied her to the hospital. Even at her graduation ceremony, the person standing beside her in every photo was Eugene. It was not as if I never felt uncomfortable. Every time, I told myself the same thing. Jeannie was my best friend, and Eugene only took care of her because of me. Only now did I understand. Crossing the line never happened all at once. It happened little by little. Jeannie still stood in the entryway, her eyes red. "Melissa, if this bothers you, I will leave right now." She said she would leave, but her feet never moved. Eugene frowned. "It is already so late. Your bathroom is broken. Where else are you supposed to shower? "Just go ahead." I said nothing. My eyes landed on the diamond necklace around Jeannie’s neck. A few days earlier, I had seen the receipt for it in Eugene’s study. It had cost more than ten times what he paid for my engagement ring. At the time, I thought it was a surprise wedding gift for me. I looked forward to it for days. I imagined him fastening it around my neck on our wedding day, and every time I did, I knew I would cry. However, now the necklace was around Jeannie’s neck. I lowered my eyes to the engagement ring on my own finger. It was plain, inexpensive, and unremarkable. When Eugene slipped it onto my finger, he smiled and said, "A ring does not have to be expensive. It is the thought that counts." I had been deeply touched. I believed he cared more about meaning than flashy romance. Only now did I realize that thoughtfulness depended on who the gift was for. Jeannie lowered her head and walked into the living room. As she passed me, a faint perfume drifted through the air. It was the same scent Eugene wore. My fingers curled into a fist. She acted as though nothing had happened, confidently making her way to the bathroom as if she had done it many times before. Eugene opened a cabinet, took out a brand‑new bath towel, and handed it to her. It was one of the matching towels I bought for our life after the wedding. Soft ivory. A set for two. I imagined us using them together for the first time after we were married. Jeannie accepted it without a second thought. "You are always so thoughtful. Melissa trained you so well." Eugene smiled gently and said in a soft voice, "Be careful. The floor is slippery." The bathroom door closed, and the sound of running water filled the apartment. I stood alone in the living room. For some reason, I suddenly felt like the guest. That was supposed to be the new home Eugene and I would share. Yet Jeannie knew the door code. She walked in wearing a nightgown, she used the towels I bought, and she wore the wedding gift I believed would belong to me. Eugene did not think any of it was strange. He walked over to me, as if he finally had a moment to comfort me. "Melissa, do not overthink this. "You and Jeannie are so close. I am only looking after her because of you." I never looked up. After a long silence, I murmured, "Mm." Eugene seemed to let out a relieved breath. He probably thought he had smoothed everything over. The sound of running water continued behind the bathroom door. I returned to the bedroom and quietly closed the door. A new message from the wedding planner waited on my phone. [Ms. Smith, we need your final approval for the wedding poster tonight.] I lowered my head and typed. [Change the name.] The planner replied almost immediately. [Ms. Smith, do you mean the bride’s name on the poster?] The corner of my mouth lifted into a bitter smile as I typed my answer, one word at a time. [Yes.] [Change the bride to Jeannie.] Chapter 3 The next morning, when I walked out of the bedroom, breakfast was already waiting on the table. Eugene stood at the kitchen doorway with his sleeves rolled up, acting as though nothing had happened. "You are up? "Did you sleep well last night?" My eyes drifted to the mug of warm milk, and I froze for a moment. I always had a sensitive stomach. Eugene used to take the milk out half an hour early so it would reach the perfect temperature by the time I drank it. He always said milk that was too hot or too cold never tasted right. Back then, I always thought that if someone remembered something as small as the exact temperature you liked, how could they not love you. He still remembered every detail. I just could not tell anymore if it was love or simply a habit formed over seven years. Eugene slid a jewelry box across the table toward me. "Last night, I noticed you kept looking at Jeannie’s necklace. "You deserve a beautiful necklace too." His voice was gentle, and his eyes were still filled with affection. I looked at the necklace inside. It was not the same brand as Jeannie’s. The design looked almost identical, only the diamond was much smaller. Eugene walked behind me and gently swept my hair aside. His fingers brushed against the back of my neck. The instant they did, another vision exploded into my mind. The jewelry store was brightly lit. Jeannie sat at the display counter with a necklace in front of her. It was the same necklace Eugene was about to put around my neck. She picked it up and held it against her neck. After studying herself in the mirror for a few seconds, she frowned. "It is too plain. It scratches my neck a little. "I do not want it." She took it off without another thought and tossed it back onto the counter. Eugene did not tell the saleswoman to put it away. He stared at the necklace for a long moment before saying calmly, "Wrap it up." Jeannie blinked in surprise, then smiled. "For Melissa?" Eugene nodded. "She was not very happy last night. I will buy her this to cheer her up." Jeannie frowned, looking as though she genuinely felt sorry for me. "Do not brush her off like that. Melissa is my best friend." Eugene chuckled. "She will not mind. "As long as it is from me, she will love it." Jeannie picked up the necklace again and let it dangle from her fingertips. "That is true. Melissa is never picky. "I used to mail her the dresses I did not want anymore, and she happily wore them to work." In the vision, Eugene never denied it. He simply handed over his card. My breathing caught. During Jeannie’s first few years overseas, she was always short on money. I was terrified she would struggle alone in a foreign country, so I pinched every penny and sent my savings to her. Back then, I could not even bring myself to buy new clothes. Every once in a while, Jeannie mailed me the brand‑name dresses she no longer wore. I never looked down on them. I believed that was simply what best friends did. There was no need to keep score. Only then did I understand. I had gotten used to accepting the things Jeannie no longer wanted. The vision vanished. The cold necklace had already settled around my neck. It felt less like a gift and more like a circle of icy mockery. Eugene leaned close, his warm breath brushing against my ear. "Do you like it?" I took the necklace off and placed it back inside the box. My voice was barely above a whisper. "It scratches my neck a little." Eugene paused. He probably could not understand why I said the exact same thing Jeannie said. He dismissed the odd feeling, assuming I was still upset. Thinking I was pouting, Eugene reached over and ruffled my hair. "The wedding is only two days away. "Do not let yourself stay unhappy." I lowered my head with a faint smile. He thought I was upset because I was jealous. What he did not know was that I no longer had the strength to feel jealous. Just then, my phone lit up. A message from the wedding planner appeared on the screen. [Ms. Smith, we need your final confirmation of the wedding schedule tonight.] [Is there anything you would like to add to the ceremony?] I stared at the message for a long time before lowering my head and typing back. [Yes.] [I would like to say a few words before the ceremony begins.] Chapter 4 On the day of the wedding, I arrived at the hotel right on schedule. As the makeup artist finished my makeup, she smiled warmly. "Ms. Smith, you look absolutely beautiful today." I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I truly looked like a bride eagerly waiting to marry the love of her life. However, I was the only one who knew the truth. I was not there to marry Eugene. I had come to give him and Jeannie the greatest gift of their lives. The makeup artist reached for my veil, then suddenly stopped. "Ms. Smith, this veil..." I looked up. One corner of the veil was wrinkled. There was a faint smear of lipstick on it. My fingers clenched instantly. This veil had been sewn by my mother during the final days of her life. By then, she was already so weak she could barely hold a needle. Her hands shook constantly. Even so, she sat up in her hospital bed and spent an entire month carefully sewing every pearl and every tiny silk rose onto the edge of the veil. She had smiled and said, "I may not be here to walk beside you down the aisle. So let this veil stand in for me and stay with you every step of the way. "When you wear it, pretend Mom is still holding your hand." Not long afterward, she passed away. From that day on, I kept the veil stored in my wedding dress box. I could hardly bear to take it out, let alone touch it. Before the wedding, I sent it to the hotel ahead of time. I reminded the staff again and again to keep it stored separately. However, now it had been crumpled. It was stained with another woman's lipstick. The makeup artist looked embarrassed. "Would you like me to clean it up for you?" I stared at that glaring streak of red. Suddenly, even breathing hurt. After a long silence, I slowly shook my head. "No. Just leave it." The door opened. Eugene walked in wearing a black suit. His handsome face looked calm and gentle. If I had not already learned the truth, I probably would have fallen for him all over again. He stopped behind me and met my eyes in the mirror. "Melissa. You look beautiful today." He reached out to straighten my veil. Then he gently cupped my face, his eyes overflowing with affection, and leaned in to kiss me. The moment our breaths mingled, my vision went black. Another scene appeared before my eyes. It was a private lounge. Jeannie wore my veil. Her eyes were red, and the lipstick on her lips was badly smeared. "Eugene, have you lost your mind? "You are marrying Melissa in an hour." Eugene lowered his head to look at her, keeping his voice low. "That is why this has to be the last time." Tears rolled down Jeannie’s cheeks. "You say that every single time. "However, every time you see me, you cannot help yourself." Eugene did not deny it. He reached up and gently wiped away her tears. Jeannie slipped her arms around his neck. As they fell together onto the sofa, the veil slipped from her shoulders. It floated softly down beneath them. My whole body froze. In that instant, it felt as though something inside me collapsed with a deafening crash. They both knew that veil had been sewn by my mother with her own hands before she died. On the day my mother passed away, both Eugene and Jeannie stood beside her hospital bed. She had been so thin she was little more than skin and bones. Even then, she held Eugene’s hand tightly and pleaded with him again and again. "I will not be here to see Melissa get married. "Please love her for me." Eugene nodded, his eyes red with tears. "You have my word. "I will never let Melissa be hurt." Jeannie cried too as she held my hand. "Do not worry. I will always stay by Melissa’s side. "When she gets married, I will send her off for you." However, now they had taken the veil my mother left me and pinned it beneath their bodies while they did something so disgusting. The vision ended abruptly. Back in reality, Eugene was still adjusting my veil. A knock came from outside the door. "Mr. Shaw, Ms. Smith, the ceremony is about to begin." Eugene held out his hand. "Come on." I looked at the hand reaching toward me. Long fingers. Clean, familiar. It was the same hand that stayed up all night changing the cold towel on my forehead whenever I had a fever. However, now that hand had also caressed Jeannie’s body. It had taken all the love I gave him and crushed it into a joke. I placed my hand in his. Eugene led me out of the room. The doors to the ballroom slowly opened. Onstage, the emcee smiled and addressed the guests. "Before the exchange of rings, the bride has prepared a few words she would like to share with everyone. "Let us all listen to the words she wants to say to her groom." Eugene turned toward me, surprise flickering across his face. "When did you add that?" I smiled. "Last night." I reached into my clutch and took out a folded sheet of paper. In the front row, Jeannie sat with teary eyes fixed on me. She probably believed the wedding would unfold exactly as the two of them planned. However, neither of them knew that the words I prepared were not just words of love. They were also the beginning of their downfall. With every relative and friend Eugene invited watching from the audience, I slowly opened my mouth. "I would like to thank Eugene and my best friend, Jeannie."