Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Ryan walked in looking windswept, clutching a bouquet of white lisianthus–my favorite flowers.
He approached me without a hint of guilt or apology on his face. “Evelyn, I got your favorites.”
Lisianthus: symbolizing devotion and lifelong bonds. The irony wasn’t lost on me.
I took the flowers, and Ryan, mistaking this for forgiveness, started explaining. “Look, Chloe has bone cancer. Her one wish was to marry me before…” He paused. “We’ve known each other since we were kids. I couldn’t deny her that. We’re announcing our engagement in three days.”
His tone wasn’t apologetic–it was informative. As if I should just accept this.
“You’ve always been so understanding,” he continued. “I knew you’d get it.”
Three days until his engagement. Coincidentally, exactly when I planned to leave.
I nodded silently.
In the past, Ryan complained about my “princess tantrums” whenever I was upset. He said I was always seeking validation, constantly asking if he loved me. Eventually, I learned to swallow my feelings and become the “cool girlfriend” he wanted.
Now that I wasn’t crying or screaming, he looked almost confused.
“I’m moving in with Chloe tomorrow,” he said. “She needs me more than you do right now. She’s sick…”
I forced a smile and set the flowers aside. When Ryan leaned in to touch my face, I subtly moved away. His collar had a lipstick stain, and his clothes reeked of unfamiliar perfume that made my stomach turn.
Rejected, Ryan’s expression hardened. Without another word, he stormed out of the apartment.
After he left, I tossed both the flowers and the cake into the trash and began packing my things.
I didn’t want his flowers.
I didn’t want Ryan anymore.
And I had zero attachment left to the apartment we’d called home for six years.
20:52
