The Rose is No Longer Gentle, Nor is Her Love

Upon hearing my words, Bradley's face darkened immediately, he said, "Yasmine, what right do you have to talk to me like this? Don't forget, you're living in my house, I'm the one supporting you …"

I wanted to retort. In the seven years we'd been together, we always split expenses equally. Even after quitting my job, I used my own savings.

Before I could speak, the oven beeped. I was too tired to argue with him, so I put on gloves and took the cake out.

Bradley furrowed his brows as he stared at the cake for a while, then softened his tone, "Is today … your birthday?"

Today was my 30th birthday. It was also the seventh anniversary of being with Bradley. I had spent the whole day baking the cake by hand, hoping to celebrate together after he finished work.

Feeling guilty, Bradley took the initiative to find candles and set them on the cake for me and hurriedly said, "I've been really busy with work lately. I'll make it up to you. How about this afternoon I take you to pick out a new, bigger engagement ring?"

He sat down in front of me, his usual gentlemanly demeanor restored. "Yasmine, there's no need to be jealous of Veronica. We did have a relationship when we were young, but that was years ago and I've long since moved on," he said again.

Had he really moved on? I still remember when we hadn't been dating for long. I brought him lunch one day and overheard a conversation he was having with his friends.

They asked him why he was with me. He said, "Anyone is fine, as long as it's not Veronica."

Back then, I was young and proud, thinking that sincerity could overcome anything. Looking back now, I realize how wrong I was. I had made a mistake, one after another and now I had to get out before I lost everything.

I replied coldly, "No need. You go ahead, I'll handle it myself."

Bradley was stunned for a moment. But after years of me swallowing my pride, he had grown used to my submission.

He thought I was forgiving him once again and smiled as he lit the candles for me. "Make a wish," he said.

Every year before, my wish was for happiness and love with Bradley, for us to stay together forever. But this time, I silently wished: "I want to be happy and free from Bradley forever."

After making my wish, I opened my eyes, ready to blow out the candles. But I realized Bradley had already disappeared.

The cake I had spent six or seven hours making had been knocked to the floor. He walked in such a hurry that he not only knocked over the cake, but also failed to close the door in time.

After cleaning up the mess, I checked my phone.

Veronica had posted a new update: [I'm such a little clumsy girl, I was bumping into the cabinet while walking. Luckily, my Prince Charming is always there to protect me.]

In the comments, Bradley, who had ignored me even when I was in a car accident, wrote: [Whenever you need me, I'll be there for you.]

I liked the post. Moments later, I received a new message from Bradley: [Veronica hurt her foot. I'm taking her to the hospital. Come over and clean up her place.]

[And make some bone broth to bring to the hospital. Don't put cilantro in it.]

Suddenly, it all made sense. Bradley didn't have any dietary restrictions. But every time I added cilantro to a dish, he would explode, calling me a useless idiot who couldn't do anything right. It wasn't him who hated cilantro, it was Veronica.

I thought about ignoring his message, but after hesitating for a moment, I headed downstairs.

Bradley was holding Veronica, speaking to her softly. When he saw me, his face instantly hardened and said, "Why are you so late? If Veronica's treatment gets delayed …"

Veronica gently tugged at his sleeve and said, "Bradley, I'm fine. Don't be mad at Yasmine because of me. I know she's never liked me."

Bradley scolded me, "Enough, Yasmine. Clean this place up properly. I'm not going to marry a jealous woman who can't do anything right!" With that, he left with Veronica in his arms.

I watched his retreating figure and whispered, "I wouldn't marry a shameless, cheating man either."

After they left, I looked around the room. The bathroom was soaked with water and in the trash bin, there were two used condoms. A wave of nausea hit me.

No wonder Bradley had been working overtime so much lately. It turned out that he would spend some time with Veronica downstairs every day before returning home upstairs.

I glanced around Veronica's bedroom. It was filled with luxury brand items and expensive skincare products.

I still remembered how, just a few days ago, I had asked Bradley for a lipstick as a birthday present.

He had looked at me with utter disdain while said, "Thirty years old and you still have the nerve to celebrate? Are you trying to act young? Disgusting. Just stay home and do your chores. No amount of expensive makeup will make you twenty again."

I would never be twenty again. But Bradley never lacked twenty-year-old girls around him. His so-called 'ideal woman' Veronica, was probably just his favorite among them.

I took a deep breath and started taking pictures of everything in the room. Then I returned upstairs to pack my things.

In the seven years we had been together, Bradley had given me a few gifts. French kitchenware, a robot vacuum cleaner and a 'master-crafted' knife set. I decided to leave all these behind for him.

As I packed, I couldn't help but laugh at myself. Veronica's things downstairs filled the room. But in this place where I had lived for years, everything I owned could fit into one suitcase.

When I was done, I called my best friend, Merryl Jane, who was overseas. After three missed calls, she finally picked up.

I held back my tears and said, "Merryl, I was wrong. I shouldn't have given up my career and my life for Bradley. I regret it. I want to come find you."

Merryl called me a fool and said I deserved it before hanging up. I sat in the empty room, sadness overwhelming me.

Flashes of all the times she had tried to talk sense into me came to mind and I remembered the look of disappointment on her face when she left.

As the tears started falling, a new message popped up on my phone. Merryl had bought me the earliest available ticket. Three days from now, at noon.

The tears I had been holding back for so long finally burst out. Tears for myself and for the seven years I had wasted.