Chapter 2

2

When I walked back into the ballroom, the room was buzzing. Our friends and family were checking their watches, wondering where we were.

The host handed me the microphone. I walked onto the stage under a hundred curious eyes. I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the ring box in my pocket.

"Today is actually my housewarming party," I announced. "I'm so glad you could all make it to celebrate my new home."

Caleb had invested all his money into his startup. After he proposed, I had used my savings to buy a house for us. I wanted us to have a beautiful place to start our lives.

I had spent months picking out furniture and designing the layout. The renovations had finally finished just a few days ago.

But that house was never going to be our home now. It was just my house.

The room erupted into whispers. My parents and Caleb's parents were sitting at the front table, looking shocked. I didn't offer any further explanation.

I handed the mic back to the host and sat down. He was a pro, quickly turning the mood from confused to celebratory.

Some people had already guessed what happened. They gave me sympathetic looks throughout the night. But for the most part, the party went on smoothly.

After the guests left, I went to the new house with both sets of parents. Caleb had moved some of his things in, but not much.

I spent ten minutes tossing his stuff into a cardboard box. I placed the engagement rings right on top. Then, I handed the box to his parents.

"I'm sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes. I don't think we are going to be a family after all. Please give these back to Caleb. I hope he finds what he's looking for."

They had watched me grow up and always treated me like a daughter. They were devastated. They tried to refuse the box, begging me to reconsider.

I didn't want to argue. Just then, my phone buzzed with a notification from a friend. She told me to check Skylar's social media.

I opened the app and saw a new photo. It was a shot of a man and a woman from behind. They were holding hands, walking along the beach at sunset.

The caption read: "Let's walk like this forever."

The man was wearing a custom-made suit. I recognized it immediately. It was the suit I had bought Caleb for his birthday.

Caleb's parents saw the photo over my shoulder. They recognized their son instantly. They looked ashamed and started apologizing profusely.

"Jade, honey, Caleb is a fool. We are so sorry. But please, think of your history together. Give him one more chance to make it right."

I shook my head slowly. I didn't blame them for their son's mistakes. But I was done being the bigger person.

I had forgiven Caleb more times than I could count. I had let him slide when he stayed out late with her. I had ignored the way he prioritized her needs over mine.

Not this time.

Skylar had been my roommate in college. We were close until I realized she was obsessed with my life. She constantly tried to insert herself between Caleb and me.

She would call him during our dates with fake emergencies. She would buy the same clothes as me. Eventually, I had cut her off.

But Caleb never did. He fell for her act every single time.

Before the engagement, Skylar had pulled me aside. She asked me if I wanted to bet on who Caleb would choose in the end.

The result was clear. Skylar won.

But it didn't feel like I had lost. I had just finally gotten rid of a man who didn't deserve me.

The next morning, I went to work as usual. My coworkers whispered as I passed, their eyes full of pity. I ignored them and went straight to my boss's office.

"Sir, is that General Manager position at the Seattle branch still open?" I asked.

I had been with this company since graduation. My boss had always been my mentor. He had offered me the promotion weeks ago, but I turned it down.

I hadn't wanted to move away from Caleb. I thought we were getting married. Now, I realized Caleb wasn't worth sacrificing my career for.

My boss looked surprised but pleased. He knew my work ethic and he knew why I had initially refused. He didn't ask about the breakup.