After My Fiancé Gifted My Watch to His Mistress

I smoothed the tablecloth for the third time, adjusting the candle placement until they formed a perfect triangle. The aroma of beef bourguignon filled our small apartment, a recipe I'd spent all afternoon perfecting. Three years. Three years since Ryan had first kissed me outside the law library, his hands trembling slightly as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Tonight will be special," I whispered to myself, checking my watch—the twin of the one I'd spent six months restoring for him. The vintage Rolex had been a piece of junk when I found it at a flea market, but I'd worked on it nights after my shifts at the coffee shop, learning the intricate mechanisms, replacing tiny parts until it ticked perfectly again.

The door opened at 9:47 PM. I'd texted Ryan twice about dinner, receiving only a terse "running late" in response.

"Sorry," Ryan mumbled, dropping his keys on the counter. His tie hung loose around his neck, and I caught the unmistakable scent of expensive perfume mingled with whiskey. "The partners kept us overtime."

I stood up, forcing a smile. "That's okay. Dinner's ready."

He glanced at the table, his eyes barely registering the effort I'd made. "I already ate something at the office."

"But it's our anniversary," I said softly, hating how small my voice sounded.

Ryan sighed, loosening his collar. "Evelyn, I'm exhausted. Can we just... relax?" He pulled out his phone, thumb flying across the screen.

I watched him, my heart sinking as he typed away, a small smile playing on his lips—a smile I hadn't seen directed at me in weeks.

"I have something for you," I said, reaching for the velvet box on the sideboard.

He glanced up briefly. "What is it?"

"A watch. I restored it for you."

I opened the box, revealing the gleaming timepiece. Ryan's eyes flickered over it, unimpressed.

"Nice," he said absently, pocketing it without examining the intricate work I'd put into it. "Thanks."

Before I could respond, his phone rang. He checked the caller ID and his expression changed completely—animated, eager.

"It's Ashley," he said, already moving toward the bathroom. "I need to take this."

I sat alone at the table, the candles burning down, the dinner growing cold.

---

A week later, Ryan insisted I accompany him to a cocktail party at his firm.

"Dress less frumpy," he said, not looking up from his laptop. "These are important people."

I chose a navy dress that had cost me two weeks' tips, smoothing my hands over the fabric as we entered the sleek downtown office. Crystal chandeliers cast a golden glow over groups of sharply dressed lawyers.

"Evelyn!" Ryan's voice carried across the room as he waved me over to where he stood with three older men and a woman about my age.

The woman wore a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, her dark hair cut in a practical bob. She laughed at something one of the men said, throwing her head back in an easy, confident gesture.

"Boss, this is Evelyn," Ryan said, his hand barely grazing my lower back. "My friend from home."

Friend. Not fiancée. Not girlfriend. Friend.

The woman extended her hand. "Ashley Boyd. Ryan's told me so much about you."

Her grip was firm, her smile never reaching her eyes.

"Evelyn doesn't work in law," Ryan explained to the group. "She's more of a domestic type."

I felt my face flush. "I work two jobs to support us while Ryan finishes his degree."

"That's not what I meant," Ryan snapped, then quickly recovered with a laugh. "She doesn't understand the complexities of corporate law. Too many acronyms."

Ashley's laugh cut through me like glass. "Don't worry, Evelyn. We'll protect you from all the boring legal talk."

The circle closed around them, their conversation flowing seamlessly into cases and clients I knew nothing about.

---

In the restroom, I splashed cold water on my face, trying to steady my breathing.

"Did you see that vintage Rolex on Ashley's wrist?" A voice drifted from the stall behind me.

"Ryan gave it to her? That's so sweet."

"A good luck charm for her first big case. She deserves it—she's been killing it lately."

I froze, my hands still dripping.

"He said he found it somewhere special. Must have cost a fortune."

I walked out of the restroom on unsteady legs, scanning the crowd until I spotted Ashley across the room. There it was—my watch, gleaming on her wrist as she gestured animatedly.

I pushed through the crowd to Ryan's side, grabbing his arm.

"We need to talk. Now."

In a quiet corner, away from curious eyes, I demanded, "Why is Ashley wearing the watch I made for you?"

Ryan's face hardened. "Don't be petty, Evelyn. It's just a watch."

"It took me six months to restore it!"

"And I'm sure it was very... cute," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "But Ashley needed a confidence boost right now. She's got real potential."

"What about me?" My voice cracked.

"You're suffocating me," he hissed, then turned away. "I need to get Ashley a drink."

As he walked away, I touched my bare wrist where my twin watch had been—the one I'd kept for myself as a reminder of what love could create when you put your heart into it.