Love Trials

One night before our engagement, Darren Finch insisted on throwing a singles party aboard a cruise ship. He made it clear I wasn't invited.

But in the middle of the night, I got a call saying he'd fallen overboard.

Panic overtook me. Feverish and disoriented, I stumbled to the deck and dove into the sea without a second thought.

The night waters were icy, sapping the strength from my limbs. As I was pulled back onto the deck, shivering and soaked, I heard laughter ring out from the crowd.

Carrie Specter, Darren's childhood sweetheart, stood above me. She gave a soft, lilting laugh.

"Seeing how far you're willing to go for Darren... I can finally hand him over to you without worry."

At that, Darren wrapped an arm smugly around her waist. "Carrie, you really do know me best."

"I told you," she beamed, "Paula would pass your test."

I let out a cold laugh, slipped the engagement ring from my finger, and flung it at his face.

"No, thanks. I wish you two eternal bliss. Just don't ever drag me into your drama again."

"Damn, Darren's got his girl on lock."

"Seriously. A catch like Carrie as his soulmate, plus an obsessed girlfriend? Dude's living the dream."

"Yo Darren, drop the game—how do you train 'em so good?"

The laughter that followed was rowdy and indulgent.

Darren Finch, grinning smugly, pulled Carrie Specter closer by the shoulder. The two stood intimately side by side.

At a glance, they looked like the couple about to get engaged.

Meanwhile, I—the actual girlfriend—stood there soaking wet amid the glitzy crowd, looking nothing short of pathetic.

I was already unwell, and after half an hour in the ocean, my body was on the verge of collapse.

Carrie smiled sweetly and said, "Seeing how hard you're willing to fight for Darren, I can finally hand him over to you with peace of mind."

I let out a laugh. My head spun, but I forced myself forward a step, steadying my gaze on her.

"Are you his mother? What gives you the right to say that to me?"

Carrie froze, caught off guard. The contempt in her eyes deepened.

Darren's face darkened. Feigning patience, he reached out to pull me closer. "Paula, how could you say that? Carrie and I grew up together. She's just worried I might end up with the wrong person—"

The wrong person?

Heh. We've lived under the same roof for over ten years. What does that make me?

His voice trailed off, as if he realized just how ridiculous he sounded.

I stepped back, avoiding his hand.

Then, slowly, I pulled off the ring from my fourth finger and hurled it at Carrie's face with all my strength.

"No need to test me anymore. I wish you two everlasting happiness. Just don't drag me into your mess again."

The ring struck her cheek. She shrieked and clutched her face.

"Are you insane?!"

Darren quickly stepped in front of her, glaring at me.

My left hand trembled as I forced myself upright. Without another word, I turned and walked away, ignoring Darren's voice shouting my name behind me.

Once off the ship, I barely held it together long enough to flag down a cab and make it home.

I threw myself into the bathtub. Even the scalding water couldn't warm the chill that had seeped into my bones.

My phone, left carelessly on the sink, lit up with a message. It was from Carrie.

Carrie: [Paula, do yourself a favor and stop clinging to Darren.]

Carrie: [You saw it yourself. He'd gladly torment you just because I hinted at it.]

She even attached a photo of Darren, sleeping peacefully beside her.

I stared at the image, a wave of nausea tightening in my chest.

I didn't feel anger; just a bone-deep exhaustion that made me feel hollow.

I picked up my phone, blocked her, and deleted every trace of her from my contacts.

Silence, at last.

Not long after, the doorbell exploded into a frantic ringing.

I didn't need to guess who it was.

When I opened the door, Darren stood there, face still twisted with anger.

He barked at me, "Paula! What was that attitude back on the ship? Do you know how much embarrassment you caused me?!"

As if completely blind to his own actions, he had the nerve to blame me first.

"You threw the ring. What's that supposed to mean? You don't want to get engaged anymore?!"

I looked at him. My gaze was calm and expressionless.

"That's right. I don't. Darren, let me go."

"Let you go? Are you serious, Paula?"

His eyes widened in disbelief, his voice rising. "You're an orphan! If my father hadn't taken you in out of kindness, where would you be now, huh? Eating our food, living in our home—and now you think you've grown wings and can just leave? I'm telling you, not a chance!"