Four years together, and my boyfriend Merlin Fisher never brought up marriage, never once took me to meet his family.
The day before I planned to sit him down and settle it, my design studio landed a big job.
A full-floor unit in an upscale building.
The client, a woman old enough to be my mother, was practically glowing.
"This is going to be a marital home. No budget limit—as long as my son and daughter-in-law are happy."
"I bought this place for him a couple of years ago. Just been waiting for him to get married."
I smiled and made the right noises as she dug out her phone.
"Let me show you their wedding photos. Handsome boy, pretty girl. Perfect match, don't you think?"
The second I saw the picture, my smile froze on my face.
It was Merlin Fisher. And my best friend, Virginia Sullivan.
So this was Merlin's mother.
She was still going on.
"The wedding's set for six months from now. They'll move straight into the new place after."
It felt like all the blood in my body was running backward.
So it wasn't that he didn't want to get married. He just didn't want to marry me.
That night, I called my mother.
"Mom, that marriage prospect you mentioned. I'll meet him."
"Merlin and I are done."
1.
I'd barely hung up when a text came in from Merlin.
【Busy with a project at work today. I won't be home.】
I didn't reply. I opened the laptop he'd left at my place instead.
Four years and the password hadn't changed. Still my birthday.
The moment the screen lit up, the messaging icon blinked.
Virginia, of course.
【You worked things out with Carrie, right? Tonight we go buy the ring and have dinner at my parents' place—don't let her get suspicious.】
Even knowing everything now, that line still stung, like something jabbed into my chest.
My breath caught. I scrolled up through the messages.
Two solid years. Their conversation had never once broken off.
Even on those trips abroad when Merlin was supposedly out of reach for days, he'd never gone quiet with Virginia.
Even last month, when I was in surgery to have a stomach polyp removed, the two of them were discussing wedding dates.
【End of this year, then. My parents picked the day.】
【Okay. We'll do the wedding in the style you want. Let's shoot the photos in a few days.】
Only at the very end did my best friend toss off a question.
【Oh, right. Carrie's okay?】
【What could be wrong with her? Once the anesthesia wears off, I'll make up something about work and come see you.】
I stared at the screen, laughing until my eyes ran.
The two people I trusted most had been playing me for a fool.
Hands shaking, I exported all of it—the chats, the transfer records.
A message popped up from my assistant.
【Boss, you doing the measure-up tomorrow?】
I wiped the tears gone cold on my cheeks and typed back one word.
【Yes.】
By the time I got there the next day, Merlin's mother had already arrived.
She was frowning, and the moment she saw me the complaints started.
"Carla Finch, dear, come look at these two design drafts for me."
"I said the first one's better. My daughter-in-law insists the second one suits young people's taste, but to me it looks cheap."
The second draft was Virginia's taste, an obvious minimalist cream look—even done with the best materials, it would barely cost anything.
The first was all solid wood. The kind older people love.
I smiled and pulled out the drawings I'd stayed up making the night before.
Solid-wood paneling throughout, layered vintage tray ceilings, carved rosewood furniture.
Heavy. Dated. Expensive.
Merlin's mother lit up at once.
"Yes, yes, that's exactly the feeling I want. Grand, dignified, a home with real substance to it! Carla, you understand me perfectly!"
I coaxed her along in a soft voice.
"You have such long-term taste, Aunt Joanna Fisher."
"Those trendy looks are out of style in two or three years. Custom solid wood holds its value and never gets old. Relatives come over, it looks respectable."
"Put a few antiques and paintings around the place later, and it'll have real character."
The praise had her beaming.
"You're right, Carla. Let's go with this one."
"I always said this wife of Merlin's is small-minded. They're not even married yet and she already wants him handing over his whole paycheck."
She frowned. Clearly she wasn't thrilled with Virginia as a daughter-in-law.
I paused.
No wonder Virginia had been buying luxury goods for months, while Merlin couldn't even afford my skincare anymore.
I let the moment sit, then made myself sound reluctant.
"But this is a marital home, in the end. Shouldn't we ask your son and daughter-in-law what they think?"
Merlin's mother rolled her eyes and took out her phone.
"I bought this place with my burial savings. I already went along with them choosing this location—can't I at least decide the renovation?"
She dialed Merlin.
"Your wife's taste isn't grand enough. I don't trust it."
"You two keep saying you're swamped with work? Perfect. I'll handle the renovation for you."
Merlin hesitated, and through the speaker I heard Virginia's complaining voice.
"I said we should find our own designer. The stuff your mom picks is all…"
"Shut up!"
Merlin cut her off and rushed to smooth it over.
"Mom, Virginia didn't mean it like that…"
His mother let out a cold snort.
"Is there some other way to take it?"
"You tell her—once she walks through my door, she does as I say."
