After Grandfather's Heart Attack, She Regretted It

It was surreal how calmly I managed to say that.

Lily thought I was just being dramatic. "What's gotten into you? Are you having a breakdown? I've explained everything, and now you want to break up over this minor issue?"

Ethan's smirk grew as he heard us.

He looked like he was watching a trainwreck unfold, which nearly triggered a punch in his face from me.

He and Lily were childhood buddies, played together, studied together, and were practically raised together.

Their families once hoped they would end up together, but Ethan fell for someone else and pursued her abroad, forcing his family to accept her.

Seeing they weren't destined to be, their families let go of the idea of pairing them up.

Still, Lily and Ethan remained close, sharing their lives on social media.

After we became a couple, Ethan came back from abroad once.

Back then, Lily introduced him without hesitation, calling him her childhood friend, her brother, and her indispensable confidant.

Despite my doubts, their openness about their relationship, and Lily's assurances left me convinced they were just friends, especially when she was all girly and claimed that I was her only love.

Lily was my love, and she deserved her freedom. I never wanted to chain her down or control her friendships in the name of love.

Initially, their contact was just through messages on WhatsApp, meeting seldom. But eventually, they grew closer, hanging out at movies, malls, bars, and exclusive clubs. Often, when I picked up a drunken Lily late at night, she would be clinging to Ethan, spouting tipsy nonsense.

I was naive, never suspecting more than platonic feelings, just concerned about her well-being.

I hoped we could resolve our issues through conversation.

But Lily was visibly annoyed, declaring, "We've been together forever—if something was off, it would have surfaced by now! We're purely platonic!"

She even said defiantly, "If you don't trust me, fine, we can break up!"

I loved her too deeply to risk losing her, so I relented.

I grew up without parents, and Grandpa was all I had.

Seeing me upset, he tried to console me, saying it's rare to find someone you truly love; you must cherish and work through differences.

His marriage with Grandma was full of mutual respect and love—I had always wanted the same with Lily. But it seems I was mistaken.

As I watched her fuss over Ethan, I declared coldly, "We're done."

Lily, irked, retorted, "You've lost your mind! I'm calling Grandpa to straighten you out!"

It was absurd. She didn't know Grandpa couldn't answer the phone anymore. I mocked, "Go ahead, call. See if he picks up."

"Grandpa adores me; he'd never ignore my call!"

Lily waved her phone, smirking, "Plus, I've lined up a top specialist for Grandpa. If he doesn't support me, I'll cancel it all."

Grandpa's condition was beyond current medical help, despite the experts we consulted. But Lily thought we hadn't tried hard enough and arranged further consultations.

She didn't realize Grandpa didn't need her meddling; he just appreciated her efforts and let her make arrangements.

Ironically, she thought this leverage could manipulate us both.

How absurd!

I watched her dial, unmoved. She snorted at my firm gaze.

When the call connected and the phone in my hand rang, she froze.