The Tenth Time She Rejected My Proposal

Once, I'd take any excuse Felicity offered, loving her despite Julian's apparent games.

Not tonight. I was done.

Her face twisted, either because I'd struck a nerve or because she couldn't stand me criticizing her darling. Her eyes blazed as she hurled the umbrella to the ground. "What do you mean by that? You think he faked it? Not everyone is as petty as you, okay?"

The rain stung my skin, cold and relentless, mirroring the gash in my heart. I stared at the discarded umbrella, feeling like a clown. The ten years we shared bound only me.

She would never let Julian get wet, and now she didn't care that I'd just gotten over a fever. Maybe she never cared about me at all.

"I'm going abroad next week," I said, turning to go back. "Take care."

She grabbed my wrist, her face twisted, not with regret, but irritation. "Now you're using leaving to manipulate me? I told you I just need to sort things with Julian. You've waited ten years. What's a little longer?"

That was a sheer lie. If she really wanted to sort things out, she wouldn't have done so many years ago. Her entitled attitude made me laugh bitterly. She acted like being with her was my greatest honor, blind to Julian's obvious manipulation.

Her expression softened when she saw the scorn in my eyes. She reached for my cheek. "Come on, babe. Don't be like this. I'll clear things up with him soon, I promise."

I stepped back, dodging her touch, a move that surprised us both.

I hadn't realized how much I'd come to resent her. A bitter chuckle escaped my mouth. "If you wanted to cut him off, you would've done it years ago. I'm done playing your clown. You've always known I loved you, and you used it to walk all over me."

Her pride couldn't handle me walking away first. She glared at me, her voice sharp. "Stop blowing this out of proportion! I've been with you for ten years. What else do you want? Julian never pressures me like you do."

In her mind, being with her was some grand prize, but that was not the worst part. Everyone saw through Julian but her, lost in their fleeting romance.

"Then go to him," I said, walking away.

Her shouting echoed behind me, but I didn't look back. "Felicity Hill, I'm done loving you."