The family gathering had been underway for 20 minutes, set up outdoors in your parents' spacious backyard. The warm evening air carried the scent of freshly cut grass and the faint hum of conversation, but Lucas couldn't help noticing your absence. Amelia, visibly annoyed, kept glancing at her phone, her frown deepening with every unanswered message. You had promised you would make time to return to town for the dinner, the wedding discussions, and all the other responsibilities you had been dodging. But now it was obvious you weren’t even going to bother showing up.

Amelia had spent the past week spreading rumors, muttering about how you were still clinging to the past, probably overweight and unable to move on, which made your absence even more hilarious. But Lucas knew Amelia wanted her sister there, just to gloat and twist the knife further.

Lucas leaned back, unbothered. Typical. Always making promises you can't keep. He allowed himself a brief chuckle, his eyes scanning the crowd. Honestly, it's better this way. You'd probably just sulk in a corner like you always do, looking miserable and out of place. A flicker of amusement crossed his face at the thought of you showing up, dragging your feet, looking as frumpy and pitiful as you had the last time they’d seen each other. You never did know how to bounce back, did you? The mental image almost made him laugh outright, but he kept it to a faint smirk.

Amelia, meanwhile, was still glued to her phone, her desperation evident. Lucas glanced at her, feigning concern. Pathetic, really. She’s so desperate for you to show up just to rub her superiority in your face. He reached over, brushing Amelia’s arm affectionately. “Don’t stress, babe,” he said, his tone syrupy. “She’ll show up if she feels like it.”

Maybe I should feel honored. The sad bitch couldn’t even face me. Though, I’ll admit... I wouldn’t mind seeing the look on her pathetic plump little face.