When My Boyfriend Refused to Be My Groom, I Found Another

After speaking, I cracked open the first bottle of liquor and downed it in one go.

The fiery burn scorched my throat, forcing an uncontrollable cough to escape me.

Across from me, Alexander’s expression hardened further, his eyes growing colder. He clenched his jaw and barked my name sharply.

To make sure he didn’t back out, I gritted my teeth and endured the burning discomfort of my allergy.

By the time I reached the third bottle, I could barely stand, my body leaning heavily against the table for support.

Seeing this, Madeline moved closer. “Scarlett, if you can’t drink anymore, why don’t we just forget this whole thing?”

The familiar scent of sage filled my senses, wrapping around me like a haunting memory.

The same scent clung to Alexander countless nights when he returned home late.

I recoiled instinctively from her touch.

I raised a trembling hand, but she stumbled backward.

Without hesitation, Alexander caught her, his concern evident in the way he looked at her.

In the chaos, I lost my balance and fell to the ground.

The alcohol spun my head, but the sharp sting of pain snapped me back to reality.

My hands hit the shards of broken glass on the floor, and a long piece pierced deep into my palm, blood flowing freely.

At the sight of it, Madeline gasped, collapsing into Alexander’s arms.

As I watched him prepare to leave, Madeline clinging to him, I ignored the pain and crawled toward him, my fingers gripping the hem of his pants.

“Alexander, you promised me. There are still seven bottles left; I’ll finish them…”

He looked down at me, his gaze thick with disdain.

“Stop this, Scarlett. I thought you’d learned by now after all this time being ignored. But here you are, still stubborn. You even went so far as to have your mother fake her death to force me into marriage. Let me make it clear: Madeline’s birthday is in three days. Even if your mother really is dying, she’ll have to wait until after Madeline’s day is over.”

With those words, he turned and walked away without sparing me another glance.

Madeline’s friends rushed to her side, but I was left there, alone and broken, lying in despair.

My allergy made breathing harder with each passing second. In my desperation, I dialed a number.

***

When I woke, I could feel the cold IV fluid seeping into my veins, the steady drip a reminder of how close I’d come to losing everything.

My hands were wrapped in bandages, and my best friend sat by my bedside, her face etched with worry.

As soon as I saw her, I lost all control. My voice came out hoarse and weak. “Amanda.”

She pulled me into her arms, her embrace tight with worry and love.

Through her tears, she scolded me, blaming me for not taking care of myself. The doctor had told her that if she’d arrived even ten minutes later, I could’ve suffocated from the allergic reaction.

Once the tears slowed and I could breathe again, I told her everything that had happened with Alexander. Her fury flared, her voice rising angrily, filling the sterile hospital room.

I stayed silent, unable to say anything.

The doctor had been sending me messages, one after another, about my mother’s worsening condition.

I’d always known this day would come; the end was near for her. The only thing keeping her alive was her hope, her desire to see me happy.

And yet, I couldn’t even give her that simple wish.

Amanda looked at me carefully, her voice gentle as she probed, “Do you still remember Tristan? He’s waited for you all these years.”

The image of his gentle, refined face flashed in my mind. Our moments together had been few and far between, but I hadn’t forgotten him.

She continued before I could process her words, “If Alexander refuses, then we will find someone else. We can’t let Auntie leave with regrets.”

Without waiting for my response, my impulsive best friend dialed Tristan Walker’s number.

My heart leaped into my throat.

The idea seemed absurd, but it was my last glimmer of hope.

When I heard his warm, nervous voice on the other end of the line, saying, “Okay,”

I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I broke down, tears spilling uncontrollably.