«And now the bride will gift her business to the groom!» — the emcee announced at the mother-in-law’s request, but instead of the deed, I played the video and the mother-in-law had to flee through the back door…….

Anna slowly lowered her gaze to the microphone, which was now pointed at her. The spotlight beam hit her eyes, highlighting her face from the semi-darkness of the stage. Everything seemed unreal, as if someone had rewound the tape of her life and pressed «stop» on the most unexpected frame.

Next to her, at the table, her mother-in-law sat with perfect posture and that same look, in which there was no longer any surprise or doubt, only satisfaction. Her fiancé, Ethan, turned to Anna and raised his eyebrows, as if playing along with a joke. — Or is this not a joke? He waited.

Everyone waited. Even the waiter with the tray froze two steps away, as if sensing that something had gone off plan. Anna felt her palms sweating.

— What? — she exhaled, barely audible. The emcee, still smiling, repeated a bit louder, at the request of the groom’s mother, the bride has prepared a special gift, handing over the business as a gift to her husband. The applause was weak, but it was there.

Someone clapped mechanically, someone looked around, searching for whose face to understand if this was a prank or the truth. Anna felt something tightening in her throat. She didn’t know about this.

No one had said anything. No consent, no discussion, just an announcement. Like a sentence.

Next to her, the mother-in-law leaned toward her and whispered, without looking into her eyes, «Don’t start, Annie.» Everything is already agreed upon. The documents are ready.

Documents. Anna took a step back from the table, not taking her eyes off Ethan. He said nothing.

He just smiled slightly, as if waiting for her to play along with the script. As if he knew. For a second, everything from the past eight years flashed through her head.

A small coffee shop, then a second, then a franchise. Night shifts, a loan at a terrible interest rate, the first profit. Her choices, her mistakes, her pain and victories.

All hers. Not his. Not theirs.

Anna. Her friend’s voice somewhere behind her, concerned. Everything okay?

She didn’t answer. She looked at the table. At the ring on her finger.

At her hands. At the glass of champagne. In it, bubbles slowly rose up, as if floating through viscous silence…