Happiness, Just Out of Reach

Layne turned to me and said, "I told you, Ruby can't be left alone. She had another episode. I get that your grandpa's condition has you on edge, but my family owes Ruby. I have to repay that debt.

"Anyway, you stay with Mr. Dawson Senior, and don't go home too late. I'm staying over with Ruby tonight. I won't be coming back."

He let out a sigh and lowered his head, about to kiss my forehead, but I turned away.

Watching his back as he left without hesitation, my tears finally broke loose. "Layne, let's end this."

He paused for a second but didn't turn around.

…

Julian Sandoval showed up at the hospital earlier than we'd agreed.

He raised a brow at my red eyes. "So, you've decided to marry me? This is the engagement gift. Take a look."

He slid a stack of documents across the table. It stated that he was transferring 20% of Sandoval Corp's shares to me, along with several properties and land deeds.

Without hesitation, I signed the prenup right away.

Julian glanced at the signed papers and let out a soft laugh before slipping a diamond ring onto my finger. "Alright. Remember, you've got a fiancé now. We'll register the marriage in two days."

I looked at the massive diamond on my finger and let out a quiet laugh. The very thing I had spent two years begging Layne for had fallen into my lap with such effortless ease.

It turned out I could go on with my life without him.

The breakup was sudden, and most of my things were still at Layne's place. I didn't want to see him, so I hired someone to go over and pack everything for me.

20 minutes later, Layne stormed into the hospital.

"Aleah Dawson! Ruby just had a broken water heater and wanted to stay at our place for one night. Why did you send people to threaten her to move out and even say you'd call the police for trespassing? The neighbors all came out and started pointing fingers at her. Do you have any idea how scared she was?"

Ruby was all he cared about.

A sharp ache hit my chest, but I kept my voice calm. "I thought you were home. I just sent someone to pack my things."

He looked away impatiently, like he couldn't be bothered to argue further. "Thanks to the scare your people gave her, Ruby is going to have to stay at our place for a while.

"Go back and clear out your room. It gets the best light, and she likes that. And tear down those photos on the wall. She's sensitive. Seeing them will only make her cry."

"My room?" I couldn't help repeating.

Wasn't that our room?

Every detail in that space, from the walls to the hangers, had been set up by the two of us.

The wall on the west was covered with photos from our college graduation to our early careers. It had memories of how we built a life in this city together.

Layne used to run his fingers over my smile in those yellowing photographs. "These are the most precious memories I have. Aleah, I'll make sure you always smile like this."

And now, just because Ruby didn't like them, the photos and memories had to go.

A faint, bitter smile tugged at my lips. "They're yours. Do whatever you want."

Layne looked at me, confusion flashing in his eyes. "What do you mean they're mine? Aleah, why are you suddenly so cold—"

He stopped mid-sentence. His gaze dropped to the ring on my left hand, and his expression instantly darkened.

"Didn't we already say in front of your grandpa yesterday that we weren't getting married? What's with the ring? Are you trying to make everyone think I proposed, so you can force me into marriage? Aleah, this is just pathetic. Don't throw yourself at me like this."

My nails dug into my palm.

I steadied my trembling hand, keeping my voice even. "You're overthinking it. This ring was from my fiancé. I already accepted someone else's pro—"

Layne's phone rang. That was Ruby's custom ringtone.

He rushed to answer it, turning his back to me. His voice was soft as he replied.

Apparently, Ruby had baked a cake. She was waiting for him to go back and celebrate their anniversary together.

He agreed without hesitation.

After hanging up, he frowned and said, "Take the ring off. If you want to fool your grandpa, fine, but don't let Ruby see it and get the wrong idea. Come back later tonight. I… have an online meeting."

Maybe even he realized how ridiculous it sounded for two people without any formal status to celebrate an anniversary, so he didn't say it out loud.

I just smiled. "Just go. You don't need to come here anymore."