Saturday arrived, and Edward picked Veronica up in his car. In the back seat sat a large cardboard box marked for donation, which Veronica paid little attention to.
The wedding venue was grand and opulent—flooded with oversized floral arrangements, white linen, free-flowing champagne, and elaborate chandeliers. For Veronica, the setting felt intentionally designed to project perfection. Max’s new bride, Claire, looked stunning in a tailored white gown.
When Max finally noticed Veronica standing beside Edward, his initial shock was palpable. For one fleeting moment, the quiet satisfaction Veronica had prayed for became a reality. But Max quickly recovered his composure, leaning into the cruel humor that had defined the end of his marriage.
Looking Edward up and down, Max actually laughed out loud, drawing the attention of nearby guests. “Him? Your boyfriend? I don’t believe it. No one would date you—especially someone like him. What did you do, pay him to come?”
The room felt suddenly thin. For a fraction of a second, Veronica was back in her bedroom watching Max pack his bags, feeling small and utterly exposed.
The Unboxing of the Past
Before Veronica could react, Edward stepped forward. His tone was remarkably calm, his voice carrying no anger—only steady authority.
“Actually, Max, I brought you a wedding gift,” Edward said.
Walking out to his car, Edward returned carrying the large cardboard box. He placed it squarely on an empty table near the center of the room, drawing a crowd of curious onlookers.
“Open it,” Edward instructed quietly.
Max opened the box, his smirk instantly fading as he pulled out an enormous pair of oversized trousers. Confused, Max demanded to know what he was looking at.
“They’re mine,” Edward explained clearly. “I used to be much heavier.”
Edward turned to face the growing crowd and recounted a memory from three years prior in their office breakroom. Back then, before Edward had changed his lifestyle, someone had offered him a slice of birthday cake. Feeling insecure about his weight, Edward had refused, saying, “People who look like me don’t need cake.”
