Love Didn't Get Me Promoted

I stepped into the house. Everywhere I looked, there were reminders of us.

Matching slippers. Custom pillows. That photo on the table...

I flipped it face down. My birthday last year. I'd begged him to take it with me. He looked stiff, like he couldn't even pretend to be happy.

I started packing—no thinking, just moving.

I opened Eric's study and froze.

The wall was a shrine to Shelly—photos from way back to college. In every single one, he was right there, eyes locked on her, soft and warm.

So this was the "childhood friend" he never mentioned. She'd had his heart the whole time.

Then why take mine? Why mess with me?

In a glass case, lined up like trophies, were birthday gifts he'd saved for her.

And for me? Not even a smile.

He always kept that study off-limits. Never let me near it. Now I knew why—and it felt like getting punched in the chest.

Five years together, and the whole time he'd been in there, stuck in memories of her.

I felt sick. Stormed out, grabbed the only photo we had, and ripped it to shreds. Straight into the trash.

Later that night, he stumbled in, stinking of booze, and dropped a bag at my feet.

No guilt in his eyes.

"Madison, let Shelly take the credit this time. She just got back to Chavena as Deputy CEO—she needs the win more than you."

I didn't say a word. For the first time, I really saw him—shameless to the core.

I'd bled into that proposal. Pulled all-nighters. Drank till I puked just to seal deals. He knew that.

But for Shelly? He could twist anything to justify her.

When I stayed quiet, he switched it up.

"Alright, I'll forget what you said at dinner. I know you've been grinding. Got you that dress you liked. Try it. And be nice to Shelly at work."

Then he walked off to the bathroom like he'd nailed it.

I opened the bag. The dress had been worn. A wine stain stared back at me.

I laughed.

Shelly probably ruined the dress, and Eric just passed it on like a leftover prize.

Classic. He never cared about things meant for me. I was always the backup plan.

I couldn't sleep that night. Heard him whisper Shelly's name in his sleep—soft, like she was the only one who mattered.

My pillow soaked in silence.

I was never in his heart. Just trapped in some dream he built for me.

But I'm wide awake now.

And I'm done.