When I got engaged to Caleb, I wanted one thing: a quiet, intimate dinner with the people who mattered most. No flashy parties. No chaos. Just love, laughter, and a little magic under string lights. And for the first hour, that’s exactly what we had—until Nolan showed up. My stepbrother has a habit of making everything about him. Broken limbs during milestones, tragic news on birthdays—you name it. So I should’ve known he wouldn’t let our engagement dinner pass without leaving his mark.,

He arrived uninvited with his pregnant wife, Mia, and a booming voice that made the whole restaurant turn. I tried to stay calm. Caleb squeezed my hand. “Let it go,” he whispered. “Just for tonight.” Then Nolan stood, clinked his glass, and announced the gender of their baby. Cheers erupted. People toasted them. Waiters brought out a surprise blue dessert platter. And just like that, our night was gone—replaced by their impromptu gender reveal. Nobody asked about my ring. No one noticed Caleb and I hadn’t spoken for half an hour,