Fiancée for Seven Years, Left for His Ex

Emma's POV

"Jason, let's go inside. I’m starving," I said, trying to keep my tone light.

Jason glanced between me and Ava, a flicker of embarrassment crossing his face. But after a beat, he followed Ava inside without another word. I took a deep breath, mentally telling myself to stay calm, and followed them.

We sat at a table together, and the tension in the air was thick. Jason suddenly started serving me food, most of it being dishes I used to love. But now, looking at them, I felt nothing but disgust.

"Emma, try this. It's your favorite shrimp paste," he said, trying to sound cheerful.

He smiled at me like he was trying to please me, but I could see a smug little glint in his eyes. I scoffed and pushed the shrimp paste aside.

"I don’t like it anymore," I snapped.

Ava, always ready to insert herself into the drama, sweetly interrupted, "Jason, I love it. Serve it to me."

Without hesitation, Jason loaded her plate with a generous portion of shrimp paste. Ava took a bite, savoring it while throwing me a look full of challenges.

"Jason, you really brought me out just to watch you two act all lovey-dovey?" I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Jason finally set down his chopsticks, his patience wearing thin. "Emma, can’t you be a little more understanding? How can you just cancel the wedding like this? Do you know the losses this will cause?"

I raised an eyebrow, my gaze sharp. "Jason, are you worried about money, or are you more concerned about your pathetic little pride?"

His face tightened, and his eyes darted away from mine, unable to meet my gaze.

But Ava, ever the instigator, jumped in, adding more fuel to the fire. "Emma, Jason’s just trying to look out for you. This wedding’s been in the works for so long. Canceling it now? It’ll wreck your reputation."

I laughed, the sound harsh. "My reputation? Do you really think I need you to worry about that? But you, on the other hand, a mistress climbing the ranks and destroying someone else’s relationship—don’t you fear retribution?"

Before Ava could respond, a small child came barreling out of nowhere, running full speed, and collided with a waiter carrying a hot pot. The waiter lost his balance, and in an instant, the boiling soup tipped over, spilling straight toward us.

I barely had time to react when the searing heat blasted into my face.

But in the blink of an eye, Jason pulled Ava close, shielding her with his body.

"Ava, are you okay? Did you get burned?" he asked frantically, holding her protectively.

Meanwhile, I was left standing there, the hot soup splashing onto my arm. The pain hit me like a jolt of electricity.

"Ahh—" I cried out as the sharp burn quickly swelled my skin, turning it red.

The waiter, now pale as a ghost, frantically apologized, bowing over and over.

The surrounding diners began to murmur, their eyes darting to Jason and Ava.

"This guy’s really something, huh? Protecting his girlfriend like that," one of the onlookers said.

"Yeah, now that’s true love," the other one agreed.

Their whispers stung, and I felt my emotions spiraling out of control. I suddenly remembered how Jason used to do the same for me—always leaving the best for me, always making sure I was protected.

But now, he was shielding Ava.

Ava finally lifted her head from Jason’s chest, a concerned look on her face. "Jason, are you okay? Where did you get burned? Let me see!"

That was it. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. My stomach turned, and I just needed to get out of there, away from this hellish scene.

I stood up abruptly, knocking my chair over with a loud crash. The diners around us stared, but I didn’t care. All I wanted was to escape.

Only then did Jason finally notice my arm had been burned.

But instead of concern for me, he snapped, his attention shifting to the waiter and the child.

"Hey! What’s wrong with you?!" he yelled, his voice filled with fury. "Watch where you're going!"

I couldn’t believe it. He wasn’t even worried about me.