Chapter 16 — Weddings Without Brides

I was fined 68,000 yuan according to the contract, and the hotel refunded the remaining deposit. The wedding dress shop compensated the cost of repairing the main dress, but the lace layer could not be reattached, so I did not keep it and asked them to give it back at a discount. Phung Diem sent me the braille sample of the original name. I opened the cardboard box, glanced at the names Tham Kieu and Luc Tram Chu placed next to each other, then returned it as it was. Just because the name is correct, it doesn't mean the right person was chosen. In the end, To Tinh could not organize the wedding. Aunt Luong asked her sister to take her to another place for treatment. Before leaving, she texted me to apologize once. I just told her to rest assured and recuperate, and from then on there was no more contact. Listening to mutual friends, To Tinh and the Luc family completely turned against each other. She blamed Luc Tram Chu for considering her as compensation that could be canceled at any time, and Luc Tram Chu was convinced that she had used her mother to cheat on his wedding. They continued to fight over who suffered more. It's just that no one will use my life to pay them anymore. A month later, I went to my old apartment to move the last of my belongings. Luc Tram Chu had already moved out, the living room was empty, only the wedding day countdown sign was cracked in half. He was sitting on the bare floor, next to a laptop. Seeing me enter, he immediately stood up.

“Kieu Kieu, I just made a new wedding invitation.”

On the screen, the groom is Luc Tram Chu, the bride is Tham Kieu. The cover photo was changed to the first photo we chose together, and the vow was also restored to "simple mornings from now on". Views show the number 1.

“I haven't sent it to anyone yet.”

He turned the screen towards me.

"I'm waiting for your approval. Just press the publish button, we can reorganize at any time."

“Luc Tram Chu, turn it off.”

“I'll finish watching it.”

He frantically scrolled down.

"The hotel has already contacted me, and I also asked the designer to order the right batch of lace fabric from France for the wedding dress. I keep an eye on the wedding registration appointment every day. As long as you nod, the nearest available date is next Wednesday."

“I said, turn it off.”

His hand froze on the touchpad.

“Are you really not going to give me another chance?”

“Already given.”

I picked up the cardboard box containing my documents.

"The first time To Tinh's name appeared on the wedding invitation, I had a chance. When I signed the dress repair paper, I had a chance. When I canceled the registration appointment, I also had a chance."

“But not once have you chosen me.”

Tears fell from his eyes.

“Now I choose you.”

“It's late.”

Those two words made him completely lose his voice. I manually logged into my old wedding invitation management system. The old project is still in the trash, on the cover are photos of Luc Tram Chu and To Tinh, the status bar shows "Event has been canceled". The system asked me: "Do you want to delete it permanently?" I clicked “Confirm”. The wedding invitation, version history, guest list and those 318 views... have completely disappeared from my account. Luc Tram Chu stood up.

“Kieu Kieu!”

I closed my laptop.

“Stop calling me bride.”

“That wedding no longer has a bride.”

I held the box of documents and walked out of the apartment. Painted marriage box I placed it solemnly on the bookshelf in my new home. Inside are still old photos of my grandmother, two handwritten letters and a pair of silver locks. It has never been included in any wedding, nor will it be a testament to anyone's happiness. The afternoon sun shines through the window, landing on the lid of the box. The old paint has tiny cracks and feels rough to the touch. But that's my stuff. The last time I tried clicking on the old link, there was only a single line of text left on the website.

“Event has been cancelled.”