SIX ENGAGEMENTS, ZERO WEDDINGS

All five engagement parties I'd planned with Ryan Winslow were ruined by his childhood friend's asthma attacks.

For the sixth, I came prepared with an inhaler and rushed to help her—only to hear her laughing backstage. “She fell for it again!

Ha ha ha!” Ryan gently ruffled her hair. “Happy now?

Will you promise to take your medicine?” So Ryan had been canceling our engagement parties just to coax her into taking her medication.

I walked over as though nothing had happened. “Ryan, the guests will be here soon.

Let's get ready to start.” His expression soured. “Cassidy's in this condition, and you're still thinking about getting engaged? We're going to the hospital.

Let everyone know, then hurry over.” As he carried Cassidy Thornton past me, he said flatly, “We can wait until next time. Cassidy's illness can't.” I smiled.

There wouldn't be a next time. Chapter 1 “Ryan, are you sure you're leaving today?” He turned back, looking irritated. “Look at Cassidy.

Do you think she can attend an engagement party like this?” Cassidy lay weakly curled against his chest.

If I hadn't just heard her laughing, I might actually have believed her asthma was that severe. “I brought her usual inhaler.

A puff will help a lot.” “Chelsea, this is a matter of life and death.

A little medicine isn't enough to put my mind at ease.” He knocked the inhaler out of my hand and onto the floor. “Besides, who knows whether anything's been added to it?” I looked up at him. “You don't trust me?” My voice trembled a little. “You and Cassidy have never really gotten along.

It's only natural for me to worry.” We weren't close, that was true. But my boyfriend, the man I'd spent every day with for five years, didn't trust me. It hurt deeply.

And he knew perfectly well that Cassidy was faking the attack. He still said those hurtful things.

The guests scattered nearby began staring at me and whispering among themselves. “Next time, I promise I'll give you an even more lavish engagement party.” Before I could answer, Cassidy suddenly began gasping.

Looking frantic, Ryan rushed off with her in his arms. His parents glanced at me without a word and went after them. I was left to deal with everything alone.

Plenty of guests hadn't arrived yet. I had to stand at the entrance in my fourinch heels, telling them that today's ceremony had been canceled.

No one seemed the least bit surprised. “Cassidy had another attack?” I gave them a smile, letting that stand as my answer. “This is the sixth time.

What exactly are you two doing?” “Seriously, it's not as if we have nothing else to do. We don't have time to watch you put on a show.” “Don't invite us next time.

You keep wasting our time.” A lot of people had come to the first engagement party. As the cancellations piled up, many stopped coming. They thought we were playing house.

I took all their complaints and tried to soothe them, one by one. It was evening by the time I saw the last guest off. Chapter 2 Ryan hadn't called me once the entire time.

The hotel staff were packing up. I stared at the sign outside the main entrance—“Please Refrain from Smoking”—and felt a little dazed.

I'd been sensitive to cigarette smoke since I was a child. Even a trace of it would keep me up at night and give me a headache.

When Ryan and I first got together, he took me out to eat with some other people. After the meal, everyone started smoking.

I felt awkward asking them to stop, so I said I was going out for some air. Ryan's face darkened. When we got home, we had a huge fight. “Chelsea Webb, what was that about today?

Who were you giving attitude to?” “The smell of smoke keeps me from sleeping.” “So you can't sleep. It's hard enough for us all to get together. Just put up with it next time.

It's not a big deal.” I put up with it for five years. But before our engagement party, Ryan had personally called every guest, politely asking them not to smoke at the venue.

All because of Cassidy's illness. I knew smoke was bad for asthma, too. But Ryan never seemed to think about me.

Sitting in the car, I saw a post Cassidy had put up a few hours earlier. [Got a present!

So happy!] In the photo, she sat on a couch in a luxury boutique, yellow shopping bags scattered on the floor. On her wrist was the bracelet Ryan had promised me.

Lately, he'd kept saying he was too busy to pick it up. I'd been waiting. It looked as if I didn't need to wait anymore.

Ryan's friends were celebrating in the comments. [Ryan finally made Princess Cassidy happy again.] [Six engagement parties.

Ryan, you're ruthless.] [My favorite couple finally made up!] Not long afterward, Ryan liked her post. To me, that was an unspoken acknowledgment. I still hadn't heard from him.

It was ten by the time I got home. I opened the door and took off my heels. The backs of my heels had started bleeding.

I walked into the living room to find Ryan massaging Cassidy's feet. She was wearing the pajamas he'd given me, the ones I'd treasured too much to wear.

She lay on the couch eating fruit, as if she were the woman of the house.

Neither of them changed position when they saw me. “She stood for an hour at the hospital today,” Ryan said, still massaging her. “I'm giving her a foot rub.” I went to get the firstaid kit without answering either of them.

Taking out the iodine antiseptic and adhesive bandages, I sat on the couch and cleaned my wounds. Ryan glanced at me casually. “Oh, Cassidy says she's sorry about today.

She wants to take you out to eat tomorrow.” I finished tending to my heels, threw the used supplies in the trash, and stood. “You two go.

I'm a little tired.” I went back to the bedroom. Before long, Ryan opened the door and came in. “Chelsea, I know you're awake. Cassidy ordered takeout. Come have some.

What you said just now really upset her.

She thinks she did something wrong, so you need to come out and apologize.” I rolled over and sat up with an incredulous laugh. “I'm supposed to apologize to her?” Ryan sat on the edge of the bed and lowered his voice. “I know you're in a bad mood.

But Cassidy's out there crying, and I'm afraid she'll have an attack. Just go tell her you're sorry.

It's nothing.” “My feet really hurt today,” I said coldly. “I don't have the energy to look after her feelings.” His expression changed at once. “Chelsea Webb, it's just a minor injury.

Are you really that fragile?” Chapter 3 “Cassidy stood at the hospital for one hour, and your heart breaks for her.

What about me?” He stood, his voice impatient. “Cassidy's always been in poor health.

Do you really have to compare yourself to her?” Just then, Cassidy emerged from behind Ryan, her eyes red and her breathing rapid. “Chelsea, it's all my fault.

I won't come to your next engagement party.” She looked so fragile and pitiful. Sure enough, Ryan moved to support her a moment later. “I told you to sit on the couch.

What are you doing in here?” “I heard you fighting over me, Ryan. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have had an attack.

I'll apologize to Chelsea right now.” She took two steps forward, then suddenly dropped to her knees, clutching her throat. She looked as though she were suffocating.

For a moment, I panicked. I quickly got up to support her, but Ryan flung my hand away. “Look at her. Are you happy now?” With that, he carried Cassidy out.

I sat numbly at home for a while and called Ryan over and over. He didn't answer. I sat on the couch with my arms around my knees, feeling scared. Cassidy really did have asthma.

What if… What if she really… I sat up and rushed straight to the hospital they usually went to, still in my pajamas. I couldn't find them there.

Sitting alone in the corridor outside, I called Ryan again and again. The ringing sounded so clear in the night, each ring beating against my heart. I pulled up Cassidy's number.

After a long hesitation, I called her. She answered quickly. “Cassidy, are you okay?” I asked urgently. “Today was my fault. I shouldn't have upset you.

I hope you're all right.” There was a long silence on the other end.

Then someone burst out laughing, followed by several other people. “Sure enough, she gave in first.” “I told you Ryan wouldn't let anyone mistreat Cassidy.” I held the phone, stunned.

Cassidy could barely contain her laughter. “Chelsea, I'm fine. Ryan's here with me.” Ryan took the phone. “Chelsea, if you'd just done this earlier, everything would have been fine.

I'm not coming home tonight. Go to bed without me.” The call ended. The cool breeze chilled me. My heart felt cold, too. Back home, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

I picked up my phone and happened to see two videos one of Ryan's friends had posted.

The caption read: [Everyone, come swoon over these two!] In one video, Ryan held Cassidy's medicine, coaxing her to take it. His voice was as tender as could be.

I'd never heard him sound like that. Cassidy refused and said something. Ryan bent down and kissed her forehead. Everyone around them cheered and teased.

The other video had been filmed from Cassidy's point of view. Ryan was a little drunk. “Ryan, who do you love most?” “You.” “What about Chelsea Webb?” Ryan fell silent for a moment.

Cassidy pinched his cheek. Ryan said, “She'll never compare to you. You come first with me.” My hand shook, and I nearly dropped the phone on my face.

A second later, the video was deleted. I couldn't stop the tears. They fell onto my pillow. They hadn't gone to the hospital at all that day.

That was why everyone had laughed at me when I called. I should have understood long ago.

If he was willing to sacrifice our engagement party to make Cassidy happy, he was putting me beneath her. What was the point of a relationship like that?

Chapter 4 I sat by the window for a long time, letting the wind blow over me, thinking about so many things. Ryan did care for me. Just never as much as he cared for Cassidy.

What he felt for her might not have been romantic love, but the way he favored her was real. All the questions that had tormented me day after day seemed to blow away with the wind.

I opened my inbox and looked at the email that had been sitting there for so long.

I opened it and replied. [I'm willing to transfer out of town.] The next day, I went to the office to hand off my work.

The HR manager looked astonished when she saw my transfer paperwork. “Looks like you've finally got that head of yours screwed on straight.” I gave her a puzzled look. “You were so in love with him that I couldn't really say it before.

Now I finally can. My dad and Ryan's dad are fishing buddies. They often get everyone together for a meal when they've caught something, so I've met him a few times.

There was always a girl with him. They were inseparable, and he doted on her. I thought she was his girlfriend.

Then, not long afterward, I saw the two of you hugging outside the office.” She sighed heavily. “Thank goodness you broke up.

Otherwise, I'd have thought that girl came as part of the wedding package.” I laughed. Even an outsider could see there was something wrong with their relationship.

Ryan was the only one fooling himself. I felt relieved. Thank goodness we'd broken up. Married life would have been a circus. “You did try to warn me. I was being stupid.

Thank you.” She waved it off. “It's okay. Well, I wish you all the best out there.” I smiled happily and nodded emphatically. In three days, my new life would begin.

After finishing everything at work, I walked outside and ran into Ryan. He was leaning against his Maybach, smoking idly. I acted as if I hadn't seen him and kept walking.

He put out his cigarette and called to me. “Chelsea Webb, come here.” I ignored him and kept going. Ryan walked over and pulled me into his arms.

A soft laugh sounded beside my ear. “Chelsea, are you still mad?” “No.” He chuckled, the rumble in his chest vibrating against my ear.

Letting go, he pinched my cheek. “My Chelsea's so cute. Your cheeks puff up like a little hamster's.” I brushed his hand away. “Don't touch me.” He didn't get angry.

He gazed at me lovingly instead. “Chelsea, I've found a venue. Cassidy helped me pick it. This engagement party will be bigger than the last one.

I said I'd give you the best, and I'll keep my word.” I gave a bleak little smile. But you hadn't given me the best of your love.

Ryan took my hand and pressed it to his cheek. “No one's going to interrupt us this time.

Are you happy, Chelsea?” He nuzzled into my palm, eager to please, looking at me with doe eyes. Then his phone rang. It was Cassidy. His expression kept changing as he listened.

After hanging up, he said hesitantly, “It looks like we can't have the engagement party after all. Cassidy's family wants her to get engaged to someone else.

I have to help her.” I gave a dry laugh. “How?” “I'll pretend to get engaged to her, just to get her through this.” “But, Chelsea! This is only to buy some time.

Once Cassidy has everything sorted out, we'll call off the engagement