Chapter 1 Winter

• I pack my bags like I’m going to paradise, which, technically, I am. Thirty days of sun, wine, and couple-friendly activities at the Golden Retreat. I’m already picturing paddle-boarding, moonlit dinners, and maybe one of those couple spa sessions where they scrub your sins away.
• I step out of the house, glowing like a pre-honeymoon goddess in a sundress and lip gloss, only to find Mike at the car, zipping up the trunk with military precision and a face like I just told him I swallowed his promotion.
• He frowns. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
• I blink. “Um… packing? Dressing up? Getting ready to go to the annual Golden Retreat? The one your company Valcour International is hosting? The one themed around love and romance and bring-your-significant-other-or-you’ll-regret-it-for-life?”
• He sighs, long and deep, like I’m a toddler asking for cake before dinner. “Winter, are you seriously leaving your three jobs to go have fun for thirty days? That’s irresponsible. What if you get fired? What about your bills?”
• I smile like someone on the edge of violence. “Oh, that’s what you’re worried about? Relax, I planned for this. I worked overtime for months. All three jobs approved my time off. My bills are paid. My cats are fed. My soul is moisturized. I’m free, Mike.”
• He shakes his head slowly. “Yeah… no. I can’t take you with me.”
• I Pause.
• “What did you just say?” I ask, suddenly forgetting how to breathe through my nose.
• “You can’t come,” he repeats, avoiding my eyes.
• I feel my face twitch. “Okay. I saw the retreat post seven months ago on Valcour’s Instagram. It clearly said partners are required. That includes wives, girlfriends, fiancées, emotional support humans....whatever. I’ve been your fiancée for five years, Mike. If you're not taking me… who are you taking?”
• He rubs his temples. His anger flares like he’s the victim here. “So now you’re stalking me on social media?”
• “What? No. I follow Valcour because....hello...I want to work there as a fashion designer one day. That post was public! And you’re deflecting.”
• I cross my arms. “You promised, Mike. Two years ago, you said you weren’t qualified. Then you got promoted, but last year, you went alone. You said you’d take me this year. You promised.”
• His expression softens. For a second, I think he’s going to say sorry. Maybe even pull me into a hug. Instead, he does what Mike does best: disappoint creatively.
• He places his hands on my shoulders like I’m a child he’s about to send to boarding school. “You need to understand me, dear. I already promised to take someone else. I can’t break my word.”
• “Oh. But you can break your word to me?”
• “You’re my future wife,” he says, tone so rational I want to scream. “We’re getting married in six months. You should be understanding, Winter. Do you really want your husband to look bad in front of people?”
• I stare at him like he’s grown two extra heads. “Mike. Who are you taking?”
• He doesn’t flinch. “Your cousin, Olivia.”
• My mouth drops open. My ears short-circuit. I stare at him, waiting for the punchline.
• Nothing.
• “You’re taking Olivia?” I gasp. “Instead of me?”
• “She’s your cousin,” he snaps, suddenly defensive. “Can’t you be more considerate?”
• “I’m sorry....what?”
• He sighs again. “You know her health isn’t great....”
• My grip tightens around the suitcase handle. Here comes the pity Olympics. “Her parents died....”
• "Twenty-five years ago, Mike. They didn’t die yesterday."
• “She’s had a hard life, Winter. You have everything but she has nothing. Don’t compete with her. She’s been through a lot. And she... she needs this more than you do. You’ll understand someday. You always do.”
• My heart doesn’t just clench. It tap dances on broken glass.
• He checks his watch, like this emotional mugging is making him late. “I’m leaving, okay? I don’t want to miss the group photo. See you in a month.”
• And just like that, he kisses my cheek, gets into the car, and drives off... to a romantic retreat I was supposed to be on, that I basically discovered first.
• I stand there, in my best heels, with a suitcase full of unbothered outfits and a heart full of pain, watching the man I love disappear into the sunrise like my feelings didn't matter at all.