He Gave My Engagement Ring to My Sister

I love surprises.

That was why, during our three years of long-distance, Ethan sent a monthly surprise box to our house. He wanted me and my older sister, Natalie, to unbox them together.

The rule was simple: whoever unboxed the item got to keep it.

But for three whole years, my share was always cheap, dollar-store keychains.

Meanwhile, Natalie always seemed to unbox Cartier necklaces and Chanel bags.

I honestly thought I just had terrible luck.

Until yesterday, when I saw a pinned chat on Natalie's Snapchat.

It was a message from Ethan.

"For this month's box, make sure you choose numbers 1, 4, 5, 9, and 11."

"I put your surprises in those."

My breath caught in my throat.

I scrolled up through their chat history.

It turned out that for the past three years, on the exact day we were supposed to open the boxes, Ethan would text Natalie a list of numbers beforehand.

He made sure she would always get the luxury gifts he had meticulously prepared.

The truth hit me like a physical blow.

It wasn't that I had bad luck.

It was just that Ethan had given all of his luckand effortto Natalie.

If that was the case, then I didn't want any of it anymore.

Ethan's latest surprise box arrived.

As soon as Natalie brought the package inside, she FaceTimed Ethan.

When he picked up, Ethan smiled.

"Did you get the box?"

"The usual rule, then. Natalie gets to choose first."

Natalie sat down next to me on the couch, holding the box. She casually tossed out a few numbers.

"I'll go with 1, 4, 5, 9, and 11."

They were the exact same numbers I had seen on her phone the night before.

I bit my lower lip, my nose stinging with unshed tears.

No wonder.

Every single time we opened these boxes, Ethan insisted on Natalie choosing first.

He was terrified that if I chose first, I would accidentally take the surprises he had bought for her.

With her numbers selected, Natalie eagerly tore open the boxes.

Number 1 was a Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet.

Number 4 was a Bvlgari necklace.

Number 5 was a custom gold bangle.

Number 9 was a pair of Cartier earrings.

And number 11 was a classic Tiffany & Co. solitaire engagement ring.

I froze, staring at the ring. My heart felt like it was being squeezed.

When we were eighteen, Ethan had confessed his feelings to me using a metal tab he had pulled off a soda can.

Back then, looking at me with pure guilt and devotion, he had promised, "One day, Riley, I'm going to buy you the most expensive diamond ring in the world."

I had laughed and said, "Then I want you to propose to me with a classic Tiffany ring."

"Deal. I promise," he had replied.

I had waited ten years for that ring.

And now, Ethan had packaged it as a "surprise" for my sister to unbox.

I lowered my eyes.

I reached out, grabbed the remaining boxes, and opened them one by one.

With every box I opened, my heart grew colder.

Until they were all empty.

I looked at the pile of cheap mall-kiosk keychains in front of me and let out a self-deprecating laugh.

What was I even hoping for?

Hoping that Ethan would actually have a surprise for me?

Seeing my pile of plastic junk, Natalie let out a soft giggle.

"Riley, how is your luck always this bad?"

"It's been three years, and you always get these silly keychains."

I didn't answer her.

Instead, I looked directly at Ethan on the FaceTime screen.

"Ethan, didn't you promise you would buy me a Tiffany ring one day?"

The screen went quiet for a second before Ethan let out a helpless laugh.

"Riley, I did buy it. But you're the one with bad luck. Natalie was the one who drew it. You can't really blame me for that, can you?"

I went completely silent, staring coldly at his face on the screen.

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Natalie quickly took off the ring and held it out to me.

"Riley, here, take the ring. Please don't fight with Ethan. He just didn't expect your luck to be this bad."

"Why are you giving it to her?"

Ethan's voice through the speaker sounded impatient now.

"Riley, we agreed on the rules from day one. Whoever draws the item keeps it. You're seriously going to snatch Natalie's ring just because you had bad luck?"

"Stop being so spoiled just because Natalie always lets you have your way."

I let out a quiet scoff.

If I hadn't seen their Snapchat messages, I really would have believed this was all just bad luck.

But the reality was right in front of me.

It wasn't bad luck. It was just Ethan giving all of his love to Natalie.

I looked down at the ring Natalie was holding out.

Ultimately, I didn't reach for it.

"Forget it. I don't want it."

I stood up and walked away.

It was never meant for me anyway. Taking it now would be meaningless.

Back in my room.

I looked at the glass display case that was almost overflowing with cheap keychains. My eyes burned.

From age eighteen to twenty-eight, my feelings for Ethan had never wavered.

I had cherished every single thing he gave me.

Even if they were just worthless pieces of plastic.

But now I realized.

In Ethan's eyes, I was probably just like these keychainscheap and easily dismissed.

I took a deep breath, refusing to hesitate any longer.

I pulled all the keychains out of the case and threw them into the trash can.

Just as I finished, my phone buzzed.

It was a text from Ethan.

"I'm back in town. Come downstairs. I'm taking you to see the new house."

Only then did I remember that we had closed on our house two weeks ago. Ethan had booked a flight back to inspect the place and to take me to meet his parents to discuss a wedding date.

I had been helping him pay the mortgage for five years. That house was supposed to be ours. After a moment of thought, I decided to go.

When I got downstairs, I walked over to the car and opened the passenger door.

Natalie was already sitting there.

I looked up at Ethan.

He smiled casually.

"Forgot the rules already?"

"First come, first served. Whoever gets downstairs first gets to ride shotgun."

I clenched my jaw.

In the five years since Ethan bought this car, I had never sat in the passenger seat.

Natalie and I lived in the same apartment complex.

Every time we went out, Ethan would text both of us at the same exact time.

Whoever got to the car first got the front seat.

For five years, no matter how fast I ran down the stairs, I had never managed to get it.

I used to think I was just too slow.

Now I realized.

Ethan must have texted Natalie ahead of time.

Just like he had given her the numbers to the surprise boxes.

I didn't get into the car.

Instead, I stared straight at Ethan.

"I thought you were taking me to see our future house."

"Why is she here?"

Ethan chuckled, looking amused by my reaction.

"Natalie has the keys. If she doesn't come, how are we supposed to get in?"

I froze, my body going completely rigid.

Natalie acted as if she didn't see the shock on my face.

She teased, "Ethan, you should be embarrassed. You lost the keys only two weeks after we got them. When are you going to fix your forgetfulness?"

Ethan looked at her with pure tenderness in his eyes.

"I leave all my important stuff with you anyway. Why would I need to fix it when I have you?"

The two of them laughed and bantered, completely lost in their own world.

I watched them, my heart turning to ice.

When the house keys were delivered, since the deed was in Ethan's name, the agent had mailed them directly to him.

I had asked him for a spare copy back then.

He had merely shrugged and said, "It's my house. Why do you need a key?"

But the key I had begged for and never received...

He had given it to Natalie without a second thought.

I eventually got into the back seat.

I watched them talk the entire ride.

They talked about the sports games Natalie had watched with him, the video games they played together.

It was a conversation I had no part in.

When we arrived at the house and got out of the car, Natalie pouted and said she was thirsty.

Ethan gave her a fond, hopeless smile.

"Fine, fine. I get it, Princess. I'll go buy you a drink, okay?"

"Mango smoothie, right?"

"You've had it a million times, aren't you sick of it yet?"

Though his words sounded like complaining, he knew her preferences by heart.

When he came back, Ethan handed me a cup.

"Here, bought this for you."

I didn't take it.

I looked up at him.

"I'm allergic to mangoes."

Ethan rubbed the back of his neck, looking slightly embarrassed.

"Oh, sorry, Riley. I forgot."

"Just have some water then. I'll drink this."

Without waiting for my reply, he fell into step right next to Natalie, and they walked upstairs together.

I stared at his back for a long moment before slowly following them.

When we reached the apartment, the door was already unlocked.

As I pushed the door open, I was greeted by a floor covered in rose petals, glowing candles, and a group of Ethan's friends.

Before I could react, someone rushed over, pulled me into the center of a giant heart made of rose petals, and placed a white bridal veil on my head.

I finally snapped out of my daze.

Ethan was proposing.

But before the joy could even register, Ethan stepped forward and abruptly pulled the veil off my head.

He laughed, turning to the friend who had put it on me.

"Hey, you got the wrong girl."

"She's not the main character today."

The friend blinked, confused.

"Wait, isn't Riley your girlfriend?"

"Yeah, she is," Ethan said, still smiling.

"Riley is my girlfriend, but the one I'm proposing to today is Natalie."

With that, he gently placed the veil onto Natalie's head.

Then, he turned to look at me.

"Riley, don't blame me for this. You're the one who had bad luck and couldn't unbox the engagement ring."

"Since Natalie got the ring, she has to be the one I propose to today."

I stood frozen, my mind going entirely blank.

Right in front of me, Ethan dropped to one knee before Natalie. He held up the Tiffany ring, his eyes filled with intense devotion.

"Natalie, will you marry me?"

Tears welled up in Natalie's eyes as she choked out, "Yes, I will."

To anyone else, they looked like a perfect, beautiful couple.

I bit my lip so hard I could taste copper.

I watched as Ethan wrapped his arms around Natalie, pressing a tender, almost sacred kiss to her forehead.

The crowd erupted in cheers and confetti.

I stood there in the middle of the celebration, watching my boyfriend propose to my sister.

Whispers from the crowd began to drift into my ears.

"Man, Ethan is bold. Proposing to another woman right in front of his girlfriend, and she doesn't even dare to make a scene."

"Girlfriend? I bet Riley is going to get dumped soon anyway. Did you see the way Ethan looks at Natalie? It's totally different."

"Sucks to be Riley. She wasted ten years with him, and she doesn't even get a proposal..."

I couldn't stand it for another second.

I turned to leave, but Ethan grabbed my wrist.

He looked at me, a playful, uncaring smirk on his face.

"Oh, come on, Riley. It's just a joke. You're not actually mad, are you?"

I didn't say a word. I just stared at him.

Seeing this, Natalie hurriedly took off the ring and tried to hand it to me again.

"Riley, don't be mad. I'm giving the ring back to you. Just pretend Ethan was using me to practice his proposal..."

Her eyes turned red as she looked down at the ring, her face full of reluctance.

Ethan frowned.

"Riley, since Natalie likes the ring so much, let her keep it. I'll buy you another one later."

"There are so many people here today. Don't make things difficult for her."

I looked at him and said softly, "Okay."

Ethan blinked, seemingly surprised that I was being so cooperative this time.

He smiled and reached out to ruffle my hair.

"Good girl. You're being so sweet today."

"Tell you what, as a reward, I'll stay in town and spend a few extra days with you before I head back."

"Haven't you always hated long-distance? Didn't you want to spend more time together?"

"I'll grant your wish this time."

I shook my head.

"No need."

"I don't need you to stay, Ethan."

I looked down at the ring on Natalie's finger and said in a flat voice, "Since you've already proposed to Natalie, let's break up."

"From now on, I don't need your company anymore."

The smile on Ethan's face vanished instantly.

"Riley, are you seriously doing this right now?"

"It's just a ring. Do you really have to throw a tantrum and bring up breaking up?"

"Yes," I said.

Beside him, Natalie suddenly burst into tears.

"Riley, please don't fight with Ethan. This is all my fault. You two have been together for ten years and were about to get married. You shouldn't break up over something so trivial..."

"If you're really that angry, I'll apologize."

"I'm so"

Before she could finish, Ethan pulled her into his arms.

"Why are you apologizing to her?"

"You've spoiled her too much over the years."

He glared at me, his brow furrowed in anger.

"Riley, if you keep acting this childish, it only proves to me that you're too immature for marriage."

"Then we won't get married," I said coldly.

"Ethan, the engagement is off."

"We are done."

With that, I turned around and walked out of the apartment.

Behind me, one of Ethan's friends tried to nudge him.

"Dude, are you really not going after her?"

"Aren't you worried she's actually serious about breaking up this time?"

Ethan scoffed.

"She's been with me since she was eighteen. She's threatened to break up a hundred times."

"Has she ever actually walked away?"

"Don't worry. In a few days, I'll send her a couple of texts, and she'll come crawling back like she always does."

I walked out of the building and stood by the curb. I took a deep breath, forcing back the tears that threatened to fall.

Just as I calmed myself down, my phone rang.

It was my boss, Chloe.

"Riley, there's an opening for a Managing Director position at our branch in Paris, France."

"The board just finished their evaluations, and they think you're the perfect fit. Would you be interested?"

I gripped my phone tightly.

The image of Ethan proposing to Natalie flashed through my mind, making my chest ache.

I didn't hesitate.

"Yes, Chloe. I'll take it."