EXCERPT FROM FICTIONAL NOVEL: ELLORY
Written by Ellen Effy Su. July 27, 2025.
For more, SUBSTACK: EllenEffy
“Hey, I've been looking at rings for Bethany, and I would love your advice. You know jewelry and how women think,” Kellen sounded jubilant and excited as he tried to tell his younger cousin about his proposal idea.
“Are you considering cubic zirconia because she won't know the difference? After 6 months, you can upgrade to a real one,” Ellory flatly replied. She was browsing the aisle for a book to read.
“You think Beth can't tell white gold from sterling silver?” Kellen responded in a lower voice.
“Beth didn't grow up wearing jewelry. She will be delighted to receive any ring from you. I'm sure she would be happy with a paper one,” Ellory quipped without thinking of Bethany's perspective.
“What about after she finds out it's cubic zirconia?” Kellen asked with a hint of curiosity.
“Look into her caramel doe eyes, and say this sentence softly: I thought you loved me for me; I didn't know you loved me for my money. And lift the end of the word money to sound higher-pitched. You want to guilt-trip her into thinking she was in the wrong for questioning the ring,” Ellory persuaded.
“If she doesn't bring it up that it's a fake, upgrade it secretly in six months? Break it off if she doubts me?” Kellen was new to the world of manipulation.
Kellen was a pure-hearted man with naive, sweet intentions of marrying his girlfriend. He saw the best in people, while Ellory saw the truth.
Ellory became pessimistic due to the life-altering events she had survived. Her wariness toward potential members entering her family was justified.
All is fair in love and war. Ellory and Kellen lived by a hard boundary to remain loyal to the family, no matter what.
“Is Beth allergic to nickel or any metals? It would be quite obvious if her skin reacts to the ring. I'm allergic to non-pure metals, so I only wear solid gold jewelry. That's why I am asking,” Ellory contributed.
“No, Beth isn't allergic to any metals. She can wear a fake without getting a rash. I like her. I think I love her. You honestly believe we should test her loyalty like this?” Kellen felt torn between being logical and following his heart.
“It doesn't hurt to test her before you're married and tied together legally. Divorces are messy. You and I both know how difficult life is, growing up in broken families.”
Ellory cautiously approached the main topic of distrust.
“Okay, I hear you, loud and clear. I plan on designing a real ring at Harry Winston. You're going to help me with that because you have a good eye for detail. I'll keep it in the safe at the bank, and I'll propose to Beth with a moissanite. Beth and I won't announce anything either. I'll inform our family about our engagement in a few months, if it's still on track,” Kellen countered.
“You are kinder than I, K. I would not bother with investing in potential. I'd rather find an equal to fall in love with,” Ellory acquiesced.
“Well, Ella, not all of us want the same things in life. Beth makes me happy. I could have fallen in love with a girl like you and never felt good enough to meet her standards. Beth would be grateful for anything. She's not from our world, but it's what sets her apart,” Kellen gently reminded Ellory.
“You think I'll ever get married? I've reread The Prince and the Pauper, and I don't think it could play out in reality. Paupers are expected to contribute unpaid labor. They cannot contribute a paycheck. The unpaid labor transforms into resentment, which decreases romance and the likelihood of bedroom activities,” Ellory replied.
“Ella, Beth is not a pauper. She is from a low-income family and makes 60k a year working in social services. She's an ordinary person, and I love her optimistic attitude. She's carefree, unlike your scheming giant brain, constantly plotting. I'm glad we don’t live in caste systems anymore. I'm tired of placating uppity people. Beth doesn't judge me at all. She accepts me for who I am. You could let yourself fall in love, if you tried,” Kellen expressed his thoughts calmly.
Kellen and Ellory got along because they shared a similar background of generational bankruptcy and rebuilding wealth. Their calm temperaments aided their communication.
Kellen understood why Ellory was petrified of losing money and status. The child version of Kellen saw his mother sell her jewels to pay utility bills. Ellory grew up craving more of everything. A taste is never enough. L’amour n’est pas suffisant. Love is never enough. They were both intrinsically connected in grievances, yet hopeful for the future.
“Promise me you'll be nice to Beth when you meet her. She could use a friend in our family. Don't say anything she can't relate to. I want her to feel comfortable expressing herself. You're keeping this secret of the ring swap,” Kellen urged.
“Yes, alright. I'll be nice to Bethany. What does Beth like? I have to prepare myself to curate a persona she will like,” Ellory rolled her eyes flippantly, as she placed a novel back onto the shelf at the main branch of the New York Public Library.
“Beth is into jazz, fondue, hiking, vintage shops, and cafe hopping. You can talk about cheese. Don't go overboard. You sometimes come off as a know-it-all. Beth likes cheese, but she doesn't know gruyère from fontina. Beth's idea of vintage is thrift store finds, not Y2K Pucci dresses. Be gentle with her,” Kellen instructed Ellory.
“I see. I'll do some research before meeting her. It was good talking to you. I have some work to do. Congratulations on maybe finding the one! I do hope Beth doesn't get scared off. She sounds like a sweet girl,” Ellory hesitantly concluded.
“I'll let you get back to it. Stay on track in school! Love you, bye,” Kellen ended the call after Ellory said “Love you, bye.”
The entire conversation took 6 minutes. 6 minutes that changed the trajectory of both of their lives.
2 days later, Ellory met a handsome banker at a restaurant, and he was everything she was. They fit like fusing pieces of an elaborate puzzle. It was easy to relate to him, almost as if she had found herself in another person. They understood cross-cultural references: pop culture, classical music, philosophical heroes, art, and literary figures. They got each other on a higher wavelength that Ellory never permitted herself to be truly perceived.
Kellen's girlfriend broke up with him shortly after the proposal. He didn't have the heart to tell Ellory she was right and give her an “I told you so” moment.
The conversation consisted of “Why did you get me a fake ring? It's too sparkly to be a diamond,” “You think I need to be tested?,” and “I think you should find someone who's on your financial level, so you don't feel the need to outmaneuver your girlfriend.”
Kellen realized his mistakes, but he also saw how Bethany was as vain and shallow as they were. She was only better at concealing it. Bethany loved the idea of Kellen as a man who could lift her or save her from turmoil. Kellen wanted someone who understood him beyond surface level.
Kellen met Ellory's boyfriend before Ellory ever met Bethany.
“Hey, Kellen, this is Elliot,” Ellory piped cheerfully outside of Sarabeth's.
“Hi, Kellen, I'm her boyfriend. You two look very similar, for cousins. You both have beautiful hair,” Elliot sounded nervous as he shook Kellen's hand. He rarely complimented other men.
“Hi, it's nice to meet you, Elliot. You have great hair, too. Let's go in,” Kellen pushed the door in and greeted the hostess.
“Hi, reservation for 3 under Arnold. Thank you,” Kellen took the lead. He was always the responsible one, next to Ellory's dramatic mental health trapezes to Spanish islands.
The questioning began after the trio received their food at their table in the center of the restaurant. The male server laid out the appetizing spread: Ellory’s Smoked Salmon Benedict and quiche, Elliot’s Farmer’s Omelette with a side of pork and apricot sausage, Kellen’s Spinach and Goat Cheese Omelette, and a pitcher of Four Flowers Juice.
“How is Bethany? I forgot we were supposed to meet last month. You didn't follow up with me, and I've been busy,” Ellory tentatively mentioned Beth’s name.
Ellory blinked slowly as she sipped juice from her glass. She had no idea her cousin and his girlfriend were already separated.
“Oh, we're not together anymore. It's not happening. We realized we were too different, and we wanted different things,” Kellen solemnly said.
“I was rooting for her. I liked her bravery. It takes courage to pursue a relationship with someone from the Arnold family,” Ellory remarked.
She pensively sliced her salmon benedict and quiche into chewable bites. She didn’t lift her fork while waiting for Kellen to say more. She disliked touching her food. Finger bacteria lingered in Ellory’s mind, although she traveled extensively across East Asia.
“Ella and I met at a club,” Elliot playfully changed the subject.
Ellory cut her quiche in half and shifted it to a clean plate. She knew Kellen would like to try the quiche. If Kellen didn’t want it, she’d take it home for a lunch snack.
“That's a lie. Ellory hates clubbing,” Kellen looked up from his omelette at Elliot's piercing seafoam crystalline eyes. Kellen smiled genuinely for the first time that evening. Elliot knew how to read a room, a skill Ellory possessed, but didn’t utilize now.
“We met at a bar, on a rooftop. Ellory looked so pitiful, sitting by herself, sipping on her third lychee martini, staring at the view. I said hi, and the rest is history,” Elliot chimed in.
Elliot kept their actual story private. He didn't want to reveal too much, and he didn't know Kellen at all. He was primarily there for moral support.
“Elliot is an avid fan of Voltaire, like me. He's a serious nerd. Under that tough exterior is a literary genius,” Ellory grinned as she reframed the situation. Nothing offended her anymore.
She never reacted in respite and kept her cool amidst frustration. She didn't want to be pressed to explain why she was drinking alone on a Wednesday night.
“I love that you've met your match, Ellory. You let him call you Ella, and it's only been a month. Aren't you two moving things a little fast?”
“It's new. Sometimes, you feel a soul tie to a stranger. Sometimes, we act on it. Oftentimes, we choose to let it go. I don't need Elliot. I want Elliot. If Elliot found somebody else, I could find a second soul tie. I'm not going to be hung up on it. Right, Elli?” Ellory teased.
“Absolutely. I have enough on my hands with your twenty personalities. I don't need or want to find another girl to fill my plate,” Elliot reassured Ellory.
“I think young love is divine. I wish you two all the best!” Kellen reprised after listening to their interaction.
The waiter wrapped up Ellory’s leftover quiche in a paper box and placed it into a Sarabeth’s bag, prior to handing it to her.
Kellen paid the bill because he was the oldest and took care of Ellory like a little sister. 160 USD on a brunch near Central Park– a minuscule number to Kellen, Ellory, and Elliot, but a tiny fortune to the houseless, psychotic, substance-abused man on Bowery and to Bethany, his former lover.
Kellen pondered the unanswerable question of “Why did Ellory find true love before I did? She's ten years younger and not wiser than I am. Is it because she knows what she wants and she is not afraid to ask for it? She expects the best, and she always receives the best. She works harder than most girls her age, and indulges in the best.”
Kellen's inner thoughts consumed him. He walked two blocks before arriving home. Central Park West is a happy place to live, if one is surrounded by loved ones. Most condo owners were never lonely, except Kellen. Kellen was picky about the people he chose to partake in his life. His desire for control exceeded his hope of finding true love. He did not want to do the work to repair his insecurities. He wanted everything to go his way, which is ultimately impossible in any romantic relationship. A person bends for the one s/h/they love.
Loneliness is everlasting, despite the figure a trust holds. It is unable to dissipate if one overthinks.
Tragedy happens to those who do not appreciate happiness. An immeasurable loss occurred.
Kellen's father dropped dead of a heart attack on July 20th. Kellen absorbed more monetary funds than he needed and basked in his solitude. Depression lurks in the shadows of those who feign joy.
5 months after the failed proposal, Ellory worried about her cousin, so much so, she paid a gorgeous lady of the night to fly from Roppongi to cheer Kellen up. She hired the young woman to cosplay and date Kellen. She gave a random girl the responsibility of healing Kellen. Ellory lacked the foresight to predict the outcome of her decision.
How was she to know Kellen would actually fall in love with the girl, then feel cheated by his family for introducing him to a former “disgraced hooker?”
Ellory knew the Roppongi woman had only been active with 6 men. It wasn't a substantial number, unlike the body count of some of the crimped-up Park Avenue Princesses who gleefully bragged about the men they had one-night stands with.
She thought Kellen would accept the outside girl, the way he once accepted Bethany. Ellory discovered by chance that Bethany gave oral to a middle-aged stockbroker for a Chanel bag, by overhearing a discreet conversation in the bathroom of a Speakeasy bar. Bethany was not perfect, nor was the Roppongi girl.
“We all make mistakes. We all deserve love and acceptance,” Ellory whispered to herself.
She believed all people had redeeming qualities. Ellory accepted her friends for who they were. Girls and boys were catty sometimes. That does not define them.
Intimate affairs are fueled by childhood trauma, a dark desire to be wanted by someone, and illogical verdicts. A secure person does not search for external validation.
A man who does not worry about money and receives a weekly allowance will not lead the same life as a woman who works around the clock to pursue her dreams.
Life punished Ellory in brutal ways in her youth, a large reason behind her desire for relaxation and luxury in her early twenties.
There is no life without suffering, but wise suffering results in positive outcomes. Chasing paper may not heal the heartbreaks, yet it is a smarter action than chasing love.
True love is stable. It is not tangible, sellable, profitable, or materialistic. Love the person for their flaws, or someone else will love their flaws and enjoy their presence, company, time, and future.
Disregard the past to make room for the present and future. Life is always worth living. Drama runs its course, leaves knuckles bloody, shatters glasses, and opens a new window. Cause and effect are not only visible in Penn Diagrams; they are felt in grave events.