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I was born with a developmental delay, and ever since I was little I'd trailed after the housekeeper's son, begging to marry him.
Lucas Sanchez promised he'd marry me when I turned twenty-two, on one condition: my parents had to put everything they had into lifting him up.
They couldn't say no to me, so from then on they poured in money and effort and groomed him into the heir of the company.
But I waited, three years and then three more, and every time I brought up marriage, he'd put me off.
"Selly, your mind is only sixteen. When you really grow up to twenty-two, I'll marry you."
On the day of my twenty-eighth birthday, I watched Lucas smiling as he fed cake to my tutor, Tessa Fox, and I couldn't stop myself from asking,
"Lucas, when are you actually going to marry me?"
The moment I said it, both their smiles froze on their faces.
Tessa's brow furrowed.
"Selly, your head's not all there and you need someone looking after you for everything. Marriage would only drag down Lucas's career."
Lucas didn't deny it. He pulled out a tissue and carefully wiped the cream from the corner of Tessa's mouth.
"Tess is right. When you grow up, I'll marry you then."
Before I could even react, the two of them went back to chatting about things I wasn't supposed to understand.
What he didn't know was that my mind had caught up to my age long ago.
And I understood, truly understood now, that "when you grow up" was nothing but his excuse for not wanting to marry me.
If that was how it was, then my family's fortune certainly couldn't keep falling into the lap of an outsider like him.
…
Neither of them noticed how low I'd sunk. They just moved the conversation on to what they dreamed of for a wedding.
Tessa propped her chin in her hand and looked at Lucas, her eyes full of longing.
"When I get married, I have to wear a custom Vera Wang gown, and Jimmy Choo shoes."
"And the wedding has to be up on a snowy mountain. That's the only thing that really shows how pure a marriage is."
Lucas laughed softly and picked it right up.
"All right. When you marry, I'll give you a one-carat diamond ring and put it on your finger myself. That's the proper way to do it."
At that, the cream cake in my mouth turned to sawdust.
I couldn't stop myself.
"Lucas, then what about our wedding?"
Lucas's voice caught for a second. Then he reached over and stroked my hair, doting.
"You're only sixteen and already thinking about getting married? You're still little. When your mind reaches twenty-two, it won't be too late to plan it."
I hurried to explain.
"The doctor said, my mind is already—"
Before I could finish, Tessa cut in.
"Lucas, can I make a wish on Selly's birthday cake? They say birthday wishes really come true."
Just a moment ago, only because I'd shown up two minutes late,
Tessa had used being hungry as her reason and opened the cake early to eat it.
And now she was asking to make a wish, and Lucas scolded her lightly.
"That's a kids' game, and you actually believe it?"
But then he stuck in the candles and set a birthday crown on Tessa's head.
"Selly, your Tessa is feeling playful. You're a little kid, so you can relate to her, right? Just let her have her fun."
Tessa pressed her palms together, closed her eyes, and made her wish with all her heart.
"I hope the person I love can truly see what's in his own heart, and stay with me forever."
Lucas's eyes flickered for an instant. "He will."
When the waiters saw the celebration, they came right over with a light-up sign and gifts.
They circled Tessa and Lucas in the middle and sang happy birthday with real warmth.
The whole restaurant lit up in a second, and the other diners joined in with their congratulations.
"Happy birthday, gorgeous!"
"And a long, happy life to you and your boyfriend!"
And I was locked away in the corner of the booth like an outsider, nobody paying me any mind.
Tessa first accepted everyone's blessings with a smile, then let a flicker of embarrassment show.
"Sorry, actually the birthday girl is her. I just borrowed her birthday to make a wish."
The crowd traded startled glances.
"What's this? The two of them are way better suited anyway. Look at that girl, dressed up like a Christmas tree."
"Look at those two, dressed like a tycoon and an heiress. It's like something out of a drama."
…
My fingertips clamped down hard on the lace hem of my Lolita dress. I had plenty more just like it back in my closet.
All of them gifts from Lucas.
"Selly, my little princess should wear pretty princess dresses. Don't copy your Tessa's style, it's too grown-up, it doesn't suit you!"
Looking at it now, the two of them really did make a matched pair, standing there together.
Lucas didn't correct the diners' mistake. He just gave one noncommittal answer, "Thanks."
Once the crowd drifted off, Lucas pushed a glass of orange juice in front of me.
"Little kids should drink juice!"
I took it on reflex and drank it down in one go, forcing back the bitterness in my chest.
When I looked up again I saw the two of them pressed close, taking selfies.
Tessa held up the cake and playfully smeared it against the tip of Lucas's nose.
My tears finally spilled over, and a thin, choked sob escaped me.
Lucas heard it and looked over, a flash of impatience crossing his brow.
"What is it now, my little princess? We were only taking a photo."
Tessa lost all her composure at once and fumbled to wipe my tears.
"I'm sorry, Selly. It's your birthday, and I stole your spotlight."
Lucas pulled Tessa's hand back, the irritation in his eyes impossible to hide.
"Selly, when on earth are you going to grow up?"
"You throw a child's tantrum every single day. Who could put up with you?"
In that instant, I couldn't hold back the hurt inside me anymore, and I ran crying out of the restaurant.
Lucas didn't come after me.
My phone rang. It was my mother calling.
"Selly, when exactly is Lucas going to marry you?"
"The doctor said your condition went back to normal a long time ago. He keeps dragging it out, and that's just—"
I drew a deep breath and cut her off.
"Mom, didn't you say before that the Gentry family wanted a match? I agree."
