A Love Misgiven

How quickly his promises soured.

So, that was what I meant to him.

Edward got antsy when I did not respond for a while."Jennifer, Chloe matters a lot to me. I don't want her to die with regrets."

I let out a bitter laugh. "She matters to you, but what about me? What's our seven-year relationship worth?"

I laughed again, but there was no humor in it. "We've been together for seven years, and you've never even met my family. Every time you said you'd come home with me, something always 'came up'.

"Your first love, she just has to whisper one word and you'd ditch me in a heartbeat. If she means that much to you, go ahead and marry her, and don't bother coming back here, ever—"

"That's enough," Edward snapped, his voice rising with frustration.

"Will you just cut it out? I told you. It's just two months. Can't you hold on just a bit longer? Are you that desperate to tie the knot?"

Edward's anger caught me off guard.

I stared at him, stunned.

He had never blown up at me like that before.

It was his promise he broke, but somehow, I was the one in the wrong.

By then, my tears were beyond control, spilling one by one onto the floor.

With a shaky voice, pointing to the door, I managed to say, "Leave!"

Edward's expression was hard as he hesitated, not rushing to comfort me at the sight of my tears like he used to.

Before he walked out, he laid it out for me. "Jennifer, you've got to see the tough spot I'm in. No matter how much of a scene you make, Chloe's the one I'll be marrying in ten days."

As I watched him leave without a backward glance, my tears fell even harder.

'Edward, you really chose her over me.'

I figured that if he divorced Chloe Smith and went through with our wedding, I would convince my brother to call off the plans at home.

However, he ended up disappointing me after all.

With puffy eyes, I began to pack my bags.

My hand brushed against a figurine on the vanity.

Memories flooded back to seven years ago.

It was my birthday, and Edward had surprised me with a present.

"Surprise! Happy birthday to Jenny, my princess."

I could not believe my eyes as I asked, "Is this the limited edition Psyduck figurine?"

Edward beamed with pride. "Obviously. I worked my tail off for this, staying up night after night to get it."

Back in the day, even though he was not rolling in dough, he always treated me like a princess.

He would give me anything I ever wished for.

However, all those sweet memories were just history.

I fought back tears and looked up to see the photo frame on the counter.

It was a snapshot of us at the company's grand opening.

The festive moments from back then were still crystal clear in my mind.

Edward gazed at me with deep affection.

"Jennifer, thanks for standing by me. Don't worry, I'll make sure our company soars, and then, I'll sweep you off your feet and take you home in style."

However, then...

Staring at those mementos, my heart fell into pieces.

I once thought we would be together until our hair turned gray. It felt like a cruel joke.

Why hang onto love that was gone?

I gathered up everything that reminded me of us and tossed it all away without a second thought.

'Edward, I'm done lowering myself to love you,' I told myself silently.

After a restless night's sleep, Edward never showed up. He only dropped me a single message.

[Jennifer, I didn't mean to snap at you. I'll come home with a gift later to make it up to you.]

I let out a sharp huff.

It was a classic move. He would hurt me, then try to sweeten the blow.

I was over it.